First Nations Junior B Lacrosse League

First Nations Junior B Lacrosse League

Junior B
Sport Box lacrosse
Founded 2014
Commissioner Bob Burr
No. of teams 7
Country  United States
 Canada
Most recent champion(s) Seneca WarChiefs (2015)
Most titles Seneca WarChiefs (2)

The First Nations Junior B Lacrosse League (formerly Iroquois Nations Junior B Lacrosse League) is a box lacrosse league sanctioned by the First Nations Lacrosse Association. The league was formed in 2014 with the restructuring of the Canadian Lacrosse Association. Four teams competed in the inaugural season.

The league winner earns a spot in the Founders Cup, the national championship of Junior B lacrosse in North America.

History

The first game in INJBLL history was contested between Tonawanda and Seneca on May 24, 2014[1] at Cattaraugus Community Center. Seneca won the game 27-4. Brandon Brooks (7 goals, 6 assists) was named Player of the Game.

The WarChiefs finished a perfect 12-0 regular season and went on to win the playoff title over Onondaga 3-1[2][3] (best-of 5 series). Seneca finished as Silver medalist at the 2014 Founders Cup, falling 14-7[4] to the Ontario Junior B Lacrosse League champion Six Nations Rebels.

In 2015 the league joined forces with the Montreal Junior Lacrosse League to for a 7-team league, renamed First Nations Junior B Lacrosse League.[5] Teams play each other twice in the regular season for a 12-game schedule.

Fédération de crosse du Québec (FCQ) member teams Montreal Jr. Shamrocks and Vermont Jr. Voyageurs are not eligible to represent the FNLA at Founders Cup. FCQ teams may have players represented on the Team Quebec All-Stars.

On May 16, 2015 the Montreal Jr. Shamrocks won the first-ever FNJBLL game, 6-5[6] over Kanehsatake Warriors. The game was played at Aréna Kevin-Lowe in Lachute, Québec.

After playing eight games in the 2015 season the Jr. Voyageurs withdrew from the league, citing player commitments.

Seneca repeated as league champion in 2015 winning the two-day playoff tournament on July 24-25 at Cattaraugus Community Center. The WarChiefs defeated Tonawanda Jr. Braves 29-3 in a semifinal before downing Onondaga Jr. Redhawks in the championship game.

Teams

Team City/Area Arena Head Coach
Kanehsatake Jr. Warriors Lachute, Quebec Aréna Kevin-Lowe Ryan Jacobs
Montreal Jr. Shamrocks Montreal, Quebec Aréna Bill-Durnan Chad Fairfoull
Onondaga Jr. Redhawks Nedrow, New York Tsha’Hon’nonyen’dakhwa’ Mike Abrams
Rochester J-Hawks Rochester, New York Total Sports Experience Craig Whipple
Seneca WarChiefs Irving, New York Cattaraugus Community Center Darris Kilgour
Tonawanda Jr. Braves Basom, New York Logan Field Outdoor Box Nate Blueye, Scott Bennett
Vermont Jr. Voyageurs Essex Junction, Vermont Essex Skating Facility Trevor Wagar

Champions

Season Winner Runner-up Finals result
2014 Seneca WarChiefs Onondaga Jr. Redhawks 3-1 (best-of 5)
2015 Seneca WarChiefs Onondaga Jr. Redhawks 21-15

Founders' Cup

Season Team Results
2014 Seneca WarChiefs Silver medal (lost to Six Nations Rebels)
2015 Seneca WarChiefs Silver medal (lost to Akwesasne Indians)

External links

References

  1. "Home Opener". Seneca WarChiefs. Retrieved 30 May 2014.
  2. "Seneca WarChiefs win ILA championship". Salamanca Press. 5 August 2014.
  3. "WarChiefs Win ILA Championship". Seneca WarChiefs. Retrieved 5 August 2014.
  4. "Six Nations Rebels win Founders Cup". Brantford Expositor. Retrieved 24 August 2014.
  5. "Exciting Season Expected in FNJBLL". Indian Time. 12 March 2015.
  6. "Inaugural First Nations Junior B Lacrosse League Season is Underway". Lacrosse All Stars. 19 May 2015.
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