Canadian University Field Lacrosse Association

Canadian University Field Lacrosse Association
Current season, competition or edition:
Current sports event 2014
Sport Field lacrosse
Founded 1985
President David Fenicky (2014- present)
No. of teams 15
Country Canada
Most recent champion(s) Guelph Gryphons (2014)
Official website http://cufla.ca

The Canadian University Field Lacrosse Association (CUFLA) is an association of men’s field lacrosse teams connected with several universities in Ontario and Quebec. Teams compete in the fall with league playoffs typically in early November.

History

Western midfielder during 2014 season.

Founded in 1985, the Canadian University Field Lacrosse Association, or the "CUFLA," was originally known as the Ontario University Field Lacrosse Association (OUFLA) and, as the name suggests, was entirely Ontario-based. Throughout the 1980's and 1990's, OUFLA expanded to include more teams across Ontario.

Having grown to 10 teams in 2002, OUFLA changed its name to the Canadian University Field Lacrosse Association to reflect the additions of McGill University and Bishop’s University, both located in Quebec.

The league expanded to 12 teams in 2007 with the additions of Trent (Peterborough) and Laurentian (Sudbury) universities. With these additions the league split into two divisions (east and west) based on geographic location of member schools.

Concordia University in Montreal became the 13th member, the third in Quebec, in 2012.

As it celebrates its 30th year in 2014, the CUFLA has expanded again to 15 teams with the addition of Nipissing University and the University of Ottawa.[1] This ongoing growth bodes well for the continued expansion of men's field lacrosse at various universities across Canada.

Teams

Guelph goalie in 2014.
Western player in 2014.
School Location Head Coach
Bishop's Gaiters Lennoxville, Quebec Drew Pollock
Brock Badgers St. Catharines, Ontario Justin Kennedy
Carleton Ravens Ottawa, Ontario Raj Wasson
Concordia Stingers Montreal, Quebec Paul Dannenberg
Guelph Gryphons Guelph, Ontario Sam Kosakowski
Laurentian Voyageurs Sudbury, Ontario George Sheppard
McGill Redmen Montreal, Quebec Tim Murdoch
McMaster Marauders Hamilton, Ontario Jason Tallevi
Nipissing Lakers North Bay, Ontario Jon Moore
Ottawa Gee-Gees Ottawa, Ontario Jeremy Kearns
Queen's Golden Gaels Kingston, Ontario Don Tough
Toronto Varsity Blues Toronto, Ontario Joe Nizich
Trent Excalibur Peterborough, Ontario Geoff McKinley
Western Mustangs London, Ontario Mike Frith
Wilfrid Laurier Golden Hawks Waterloo, Ontario Garrett Clifford

Former

Champions

The Baggataway Cup is the Canadian university field lacrosse championship, awarded annually to the winner of the post-season tournament by the Canadian University Field Lacrosse Association. The Baggataway Cup tournament is typically held the second weekend in November, and is hosted by one of the member schools.

Guelph midfielder in 2014.
Year Champion Finalist Score
1985 Western Mustangs
1986 Brock Badgers
1987 McMaster Marauders
1988 Western Mustangs
1989 Brock Badgers
1990 Brock Badgers
1991 Brock Badgers
1992 Brock Badgers
1993 Brock Badgers
1994 Brock Badgers
1995 Guelph Gryphons
1996 Brock Badgers Guelph Gryphons
1997 Brock Badgers Guelph Gryphons
1998 Brock Badgers Guelph Gryphons 8-6
1999 Brock Badgers Western Mustangs
2000 Guelph Gryphons Brock Badgers 13-11
2001 Western Mustangs
2002 Brock Badgers Bishop's Gaiters 9-8, 3OT
2003 Brock Badgers Bishop's Gaiters 10-5
2004 Brock Badgers Bishop's Gaiters 10-9
2005 Brock Badgers Guelph Gryphons 14-7
2006 Brock Badgers Bishop's Gaiters 11-8
2007 Brock Badgers Guelph Gryphons 13-10
2008 Guelph Gryphons McGill Redmen 14-9
2009 Brock Badgers McMaster Marauders 12-11[2]
2010 McMaster Marauders Brock Badgers 11-10[3]
2011 Bishop's Gaiters Brock Badgers 11-6[4]
2012 McGill Redmen Western Mustangs 7-6, 2OT[5]
2013 Guelph Gryphons McGill Redmen 14-11[6]
2014 Guelph Gryphons McGill Redmen 15-12
Western goalie in 2014.
Team Championships Most recent
Brock University 18 2009
University of Guelph 5 2014
Western University 3 2001
McMaster University 2 2010
Bishop's University 1 2011
McGill University 1 2012

Executive

Guelph player in 2014.

The operations of CUFLA are handled by an executive that reports regularly to the team presidents, typically at annual general meetings. Currently, the executive[7] is composed of a Commissioner, an Assistant Commissioner, a Treasurer, a Director of Communications, Media Relations and a Referee-in-Chief.

Player eligibility

Only current students registered at their respective universities with a full course load are deemed eligible to play in CUFLA competitions. Players who have played professional field lacrosse (such as Major League Lacrosse) are prohibited from playing in CUFLA.

However, players who play professional box lacrosse (such as the National Lacrosse League) are eligible to play. Throughout the years, the league has seen many current and former NLL players scattered throughout various teams.

Alumni

Many current and former players have met with a great deal of success representing their countries or playing professional lacrosse in the National Lacrosse League and Major League Lacrosse.

Player Alma Mater National Lacrosse League Major League Lacrosse International Competition
Pat Campbell Brock University Calgary Roughnecks, Edmonton Rush, Toronto Rock None None
Angus Dineley University of Toronto New York Titans/Orlando Titans, Philadelphia Wings None Team Canada
Colin Doyle Wilfrid Laurier University Ontario Raiders/Toronto Rock, San Jose Stealth Toronto Nationals Team Canada
Greg Harnett Bishop's University Calgary Roughnecks None None
Jon Harnett University of Guelph Boston Blazers None None
Steve Hoar University of Toronto Toronto Rock Toronto Nationals Team Canada
Carter Livingstone University of Toronto Boston Blazers, Chicago Shamrox, Rochester Knighthawks None None
Creighton Reid University of Toronto (Practice Squad) Toronto Rock, Colorado Mammoth None None
Sean Thomson University of Guelph Philadelphia Wings, Minnesota Swarm None None
Jay Thorimbert University of Guelph Buffalo Bandits, Boston Blazers, Minnesota Swarm None None
Josh Wasson Trent University Chicago Shamrox, Toronto Rock None None
Casey Zaph University of Toronto Rochester Knighthawks None None

Media coverage

Media coverage of CUFLA has grown in recent years, with local and student newspapers devoting several articles to CUFLA's game results. Several lacrosse websites (Lacrosse All Stars, The Lacrosse News, etc.) and magazines have taken notice and included CUFLA in their ongoing coverage of the world of lacrosse.

References

  1. ↑ "Gees lacrosse goes competitive". The Fulcrum. Retrieved 23 January 2014.
  2. ↑ "Brock University wins Baggataway Cup with help from Durham players". DurhamRegion.com. 12 November 2009.
  3. ↑ "McMaster Marauders beat Brock Badgers 11-10". Inside Lacrosse. 7 November 2010.
  4. ↑ "Bishop's wins CUFLA Baggataway Cup". Inside Lacrosse. 7 November 2011.
  5. ↑ "Sharples leads McGill past Western to win men’s university field lacrosse title". The Hamilton Spectator. 4 November 2012.
  6. ↑ "Guelph Gryphons win Baggataway Cup, Canada's university men's lacrosse title". Times Colonist. 3 November 2013.
  7. ↑ "CUFLA Elects new Commissioner, two Assistant Commissioners". CUFLA. Retrieved 14 July 2014.

External links