Windsor AKO Fratmen Lacrosse Team

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Windsor AKO Fratmen
City:	Windsor, Ontario
League:	Ontario Lacrosse Association Jr. "B"
Conference:	Western
Division:	Far-West
Founded:	2003
Home Arena:	Forest Glade Arena
Colours:	Black, Gold and White
Head Coach:	Greg Ducharme
General Manager:	Mike Soulliere

The Windsor AKO Fratmen Lacrosse Team is a member of the Junior "B" league in the Ontario Lacrosse Association. The team is sponsored by the AKO Fraternity in the city of Windsor, Ontario, Canada and is part of the AKO Fratmen series of sports teams.

[edit] History

The team made its expansion debut in the OLA Jr. "B" league in 2003. The team's first win was on April 30, 2003 against Wallaceburg, 21-12. In four completed seasons, the team has never failed to make the playoffs. The Fratmen hosted the 2005 Junior "B" All-Star Game, and in the team's forth season Windsor hosted the 2006 Founders Cup. The Fratmen's first ever playoff victory came against the Six Nations Red Rebels in the 2005 Conference Semi-final. On July 2, 2005, the Fratmen defeated Six Nations in the first game of the series 6-4. Their first playoff round victory came in the 2006 Conference Semi-final against the Owen Sound Rams, 3-games-to-1.

AKO's current coaching staff consists of Head Coach Greg Ducharme and Associate Coaches Ron Martinello and Eddie McGaffey. All three coaches were members of the 1991 Detroit Turbos World Championship team. The team's President and General Manager is Mike Soulliere, who has been involved with the team since its inception.

[edit] 2006 Founders Cup

At the 2005 All-Star Game in Windsor, Ontario, it was announced that the AKO Fratmen would host the 2006 Founders Cup Tournament.

At the 2006 Founders Cup on August 23, the Fratmen opened up the tournament with a 20-9 dismantling of the Nova Scotia Knights. Later that night, the Fratmen also beat the Langley Thunder 11-4. On August 24, the Fratmen topped the Edmonton Warriors by a score of 11-7. On August 25, AKO beat the Iroquois Lacrosse Associaton (a team mostly comprised of players from Kahnawake, Quebec) by a score of 12-8. The victory clinched first place and a bye to the semi-final for the Fratmen, as both teams were undefeated (3-0) going into the game. Jamie Pillon lead all Round Robin scoring with 22 points (9 goals, 13 assists), he was closely followed by the Andrew Ryckman (6 goals, 15 assists) and 2005 OLA Most Valuable Player David Hodgins (9 goals, 12 assists).

In the Semi-final on August 26, the Fratmen took on their most competitive opponent of the tournament to date, the Iroquois Lacrosse Association, for the second time. They came out on top again with a tight 6-3 victory. The Fratmen will face the OLA Champion Oakville Buzz in the Founders Cup Final. The Fratmen (5-0) and Buzz (4-0) are the only two undefeated teams left in the tournament. The two teams have not played against each other yet this season.

On August 27, the AKO Fratmen played in the National Championship Game against the Oakville Buzz. The Fratmen and Buzz were tied 1-1 after the first. The second saw the Buzz come alive, at the end leading by a score of 5-2. In the third, the Buzz came alive and blew the game wide open. The final score was 10-4, but the Fratmen held tough until the end. Cam Brown was named the Fratmen's Game MVP, while both Jamie Pillon and Matt Soulliere were named to the Founders Cup All-Star Team.

[edit] Season-by-Season Results

Captain Blaic Naysmith and Goalie Devan Mighton versus Sarnia (2004)

Note: GP = Games played, W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties, Pts = Points, GF = Goals for, GA = Goals against

[edit] Playoff Results

• 2003 Lost Conference Quarter-final to Spartan Warriors 3 games to none
• 2004 Lost Conference Quarter-final to Elora Mohawks 3 games to none
• 2005 Lost Conference Quarter-final to Six Nations Red Rebels 3 games to 1
• 2006 Won Conference Quarter-final against Owen Sound Rams 3 games to 1
  Lost Conference Semi-final to Niagara Thunderhawks 3 games to 2

[edit] Team Captains

Jamie Pillon (2003)

Blaic Naysmith (2004)

Trevor Veres (2005 to Present)

[edit] Coaches and Management

[edit] Head Coaches

Bob Laforet (2003)

Greg Ducharme (2004 to Present)

[edit] General Managers

Mike Soulliere (2003 to Present)

[edit] Presidents

Mike Soulliere (2003 to Present)

[edit] Individual Awards

• 2003 Western Rookie of the Year - David Hodgins
• 2004 Western Most Sportsmanlike Player - David Rivait
• 2005 Western Most Valuable Player - David Hodgins
• 2005 Western Scoring Champion - David Hodgins
• 2006 All-Star Game Most Valuable Player - Andrew Ryckman
• 2006 All-Star Game Skills Competition Champion - Andrew Ryckman
• 2006 Founders Cup All-Star Team - Jamie Pillon
• 2006 Founders Cup All-Star Team - Matt Soulliere

[edit] All-Star Game Invites

• 2003: David Hodgins, Jamie Pillon
• 2004: David Rivait, Matt Soulliere
• 2005: David Hodgins, Karontose Jacobs
• 2006: Andrew Ryckman, Matt Soulliere, Trevor Veres

[edit] External links

• AKO Fratmen Lacrosse Team
• Ontario Lacrosse Association
• Unofficial OLA Webpage

Greg Martinello (7), Andrew Ryckman (6), Drew St. Louis (12), and Goalie Matt Soulliere versus Wallaceburg (2004)

OLA Junior B Lacrosse League

Current Teams: Akwesasne Lightning | Barrie Tornado | Clarington Green Gaels | Cornwall Celtics | Elora Mohawks | Gloucester Griffins | Guelph Regals | Halton Hills Bulldogs | Hamilton Bengals | Huntsville Hawks | London Blue Devils | Markham Ironheads | Mimico Mountaineers | Mississauga Tomahawks Jr. B | Nepean Knights | Niagara Thunderhawks | Oakville Buzz | Orangeville Northmen | Owen Sound Rams | Sarnia Pacers | Scarborough Saints | Six Nations Red Rebels | Spartan Warriors | Wallaceburg Red Devils | Welland Warlords | Windsor AKO Fratmen Former Member Teams: Kitchener-Waterloo Braves | Mississauga Tomahawks | Orangeville Northmen | Orillia Rama Kings | Six Nations Arrows | Toronto Beaches | Windsor Warlocks Ontario Lacrosse Association | Canadian Lacrosse Association | Founders Cup