St. Catharines Athletics Selected as Host for 2025 Minto Cup
St. Catharines, Ontario - The Ontario Junior Lacrosse League (OJLL) and St. Catharines Athletics, in collaboration with Sport Niagara and the City of St. Catharines, proudly announce that St. Catharines has been chosen as the host location for the 2025 Minto Cup, the National Junior A Lacrosse Championship of Canada.
Bid presentations were held on February 11, 2024, where the St. Catharines Athletics earned the honour to host the prestigious tournament. The Athletics were the sole team to put forward a bid, demonstrating the city's commitment to lacrosse. Notably, the Athletics were slated to host the 2020 Minto Cup, which was inevitably canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
St. Catharines President Paul Coates, OJLL Commissioner Mark Grimes and St. Catharines Mayor Mat Siscoe at the toronto ROck Athletic Centre in Oakville"On behalf of the league, I want to congratulate St. Catharines on their impressive bid and commitment to hosting the 2025 Minto Cup,” said OJLL Commissioner Mark Grimes. “We look forward to showcasing the best lacrosse in the country at the Meridian Centre and we have no doubt the Athletics will deliver an exceptional experience for players and fans alike.”
"The upcoming 2025 Minto Cup presents another exciting opportunity to highlight the hospitality and hosting excellence of St. Catharines," said Mat Siscoe, Mayor of St. Catharines. "With a deep-rooted history in the sport, we anticipate strong support from our community, reminiscent of the enthusiasm shown during the lacrosse events at the Niagara 2022 Canada Summer Games and the victorious home claim of the Minto Cup by the Athletics in 2001."
"We as an organization are absolutely thrilled to bring the Minto Cup home. With a sporting history as old as the community itself, the St. Catharines Athletics Lacrosse Club has been producing top lacrosse talent for more than 145 years and the Minto Cup is another opportunity to highlight the very best. The legacy we aim to build after the event is over presents an incredible opportunity, and we couldn't be more excited to host it downtown at the Meridian Centre," said Paul Coates, President of the St. Catharines Athletics.
The Meridian Centre in St. Catharines will serve as the premier venue for the Minto Cup from August 16 to August 24, 2025. Over nine days, lacrosse enthusiasts can expect a spectacular celebration of Canada's national summer sport, featuring the best lacrosse in the country, cultural gatherings, fan festivals, and more.
For the 2025 Minto Cup, Ontario's representation will include the Ontario champion and the host team, the St. Catharines Athletics. In the event that the Athletics emerge as the Ontario champion, the Ontario finalist will also participate in the championship.
For more information about the Minto Cup, please visit themintocup.com or follow @TheMintoCup on Twitter and Instagram.
About The OJLL
The Ontario Junior Lacrosse League (OJLL), established in 1933, is a Canadian men’s box lacrosse league that has operated under the Ontario Lacrosse Association (OLA) since the 1800s. The league, comprising 11 teams located in Ontario, is the top provider of talent to the National Lacrosse League (NLL), and is considered the most competitive junior men’s box lacrosse league in the world.
About St. Catharines Athletics
Established in 1877, the St. Catharines Athletics Lacrosse Club is one of the nation's oldest lacrosse clubs. The Athletics have claimed the Minto Cup six times in its illustrious history: 1947, 1950, 1990, 1991, 2001, and 2003. Known for producing lacrosse greats who have earned recognition in the Ontario or Canadian Lacrosse Halls of Fame, St. Catharines Athletics continues to be a beacon of excellence, developing players at the professional level.
About The Minto Cup
The Minto Cup is the national junior men's lacrosse championship of Canada. It was donated in 1901 by the Governor-General, Lord Minto and is competed for annually by the Junior A provincial champions of Alberta (RMLL), British Columbia (BCJALL), and Ontario (OJLL).
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