Further OLA Expansion Update
December 24, 1997 The Akwesasne Thunder (Cornwall) have been awarded a "Major" franchise for the 98 season. The Thunder won the Presidents Cup in 97.They will play out of the Akwesasne Arena on Cornwall island. As Well ... The Oshweken Wolves have been added to the pack. The Wolves will make the Hamilton Mountain Arena their home. This brings the number of OLA "Major" teams to operate in 98 to 7.
Further OLA Expansion Update
OLA Expansion Update December 5, 1997 The Akwesasne Thunder (Cornwall) have been awarded a "Major" franchise for the 98 season. The Thunder won the Presidents Cup in 97. Orillia moves up from Jr "B" to Jr "A". The Kahnawake Eagles (across the St.Lawrence from Kanehsatake) join the Jr "B" East and the Wallaceburg Red Devils the Jr "B" West.
OLA Expansion November 20, 1997 The Toronto Beaches will fly again as one of a clutch of new entries expected to join the ranks of the Ontario Lacrosse Association. The Beaches were forced to suspend operations in 1997 when they couldn't secure a home arena. This left the OLA Junior A league with 10 teams. The Whitby Warriors won and went on to take the Minto Cup as national champs. The Beaches will make Ted Reeve Arena, which had undergone renovations last summer, their home base. An Orillia entry is also expected to join the Junior A league. "It's great to have the Beaches back" said Stan Cockerton,the OLA's executive director. "And Orillia should be a solid addition. They've had a strong junior "B" organization." The junior "B" league is also flexing it's wings with new teams from Wallaceberg and Kanawake which played an exhibition schedule last season. From: Homelife/ Shepley Real Estate: shepley@kent.net We are the latest addition to the Jr. "B" league and the furthest southwest team in the League. Our team name has been selected; The Wallaceburg Red Devil Jr. B Lacrosse Club.We are looking forward to a very competitive year. We will be developing a Web site as the formation of the team progresses. Rick Shepley- President The OLA Major league will decide on applications from Akwesasne (Cornwall) and from a Six Nations team that played at Oshweken in the Can-Am native league.
