# Major Series Lacrosse

Major Series Lacrosse (MSL) is a Senior A box lacrosse league with 7 teams based in Ontario, Canada, sanctioned by the Ontario Lacrosse Association. The league championship team each year goes on to play against the champions of the Western Lacrosse Association for the Mann Cup in September. The championship is hosted alternately between Ontario and British Columbia.

## History
### Field Era

Major Series Lacrosse originated in the late 19th century as the Canadian Lacrosse Association. In its early days, it had competition from the semi-professional National Lacrosse Union that ran from around 1880 until around 1920 with teams in the Toronto, Ottawa, and Montreal markets. In the early 20th century the CLA had another rival league, the Dominion Lacrosse Association in much of the same markets as the NLU. In these early days, all lacrosse was field lacrosse. Early powerhouses in the league were the Orangeville Dufferins (1890s) and the St. Catharines Athletics (1900s and 1910s).
In 1913, the CLA became the Ontario Amateur Lacrosse Association. The league had a Western Division with teams in Toronto and the Golden Horseshoe and an Eastern Division with teams in the Ottawa District, but a year later the Ottawa teams left the league. In 1920, the NLU had dropped to 3 teams and elected to disband. The OALA was left as the only Senior A league in Ontario and only had to face the Ontario Intermediate A champion for a berth into the Mann Cup National Senior championships.
In 1926, an OALA team won its first Mann Cup. Until this point, the Mann Cup was a challenge trophy, mostly dominated by British Columbia's New Westminster Salmonbellies, in 1926 the entire country could compete for the trophy in a playdown style. As standings leaders of the OALA at midpoint, the Weston Westonmen were awarded the right to represent the OALA for the Mann Cup. The Westonmen were met by the Winnipeg Tigers, whom they defeated 11-3 to become the first Mann Cup champion of the playdown era. The Westonmen were then forced to face the Brampton Excelsiors in the Ontario final who beat them 10-goals-to-6 in a two-game series. The Westonmen would dominate the Ontario scene in the 1920s with 5 league titles and the 1926 Mann Cup. In 1931, the Excelsiors defeated the Toronto Native Sons 2-games-to-1 to win the OALA championship. The Excelsiors would go on to defeat New Westminster in the Mann Cup final 2-games-to-1. This marked the end of Field Lacrosse for this league and the last Mann Cup to ever be conducted on a field.

### Indoor Era

The Mimico Mountaineers would defeat the Fergus Thistles 2-games-to-1 to become the first Ontario Senior A box lacrosse champions. They would later host the Winnipeg Argos at Maple Leaf Gardens and win the first ever indoor Mann Cup 2-games-to-none.
The Orillia Terriers would be the most dominant OALA team in the 1930s, winning four straight OALA title (1934–1937) and three consecutive Mann Cup (1934–1936) becoming the first team of the Indoor Era to accomplish that streak.
In 1939, the league became the Ontario Lacrosse Association Senior A League (OLA).
The St. Catharines Athletics found their stride in 1938 and would win the OLA seven times in nine seasons (losing 1942 and 1943 to Brampton). The Athletics would be National Champions five times in that span, beating the New Westminster Adanacs 3-games-to-none in 1938, the Vancouver Burrards 3-games-to-1 in 1940, the Richmond Farmers 3-games-to-2 in 1941, the New Westminster Salmonbellies 3-games-to-2 in 1944 and the 'Bellies again in 1946 3-games-to-none.
In 1951, the core of the 1950 Mann Cup winning Owen Sound Crescents, including star goalie Lloyd "Moon" Wootton transferred to the Peterborough Trailermen. The move would lead to one of the biggest dynasties ever in lacrosse, including 8 OLA championships in 9 years, 4 Mann Cups, and an infamous standoff with the Canadian Lacrosse Association that left the entire team suspended for five years. From 1951 until 1957, the Trailermen won 7 straight OLA League titles and the first four years they won the Mann Cup, becoming the first indoor team to win four years straight. In 1951, the Trailermen defeated the Vancouver Combines 4-games-to-3 to win their first Mann Cup, then beat Vancouver (Burrards) again in 1952 4-games-to-none to win it again. In 1953 and 1954, the Trailermen defeated the Victoria Shamrocks 4-games-to-1 and 4-games-straight respectively to cap off the four cup run. Victoria would return the favour in 1955, beating the Trailermen in 5 games, and the Nanaimo Timbermen would do the same in 1956. The Trailermen would win their league again in 1957, but controversy ensued at the Mann Cup. Peterborough's star scorer Bob Allan left a BC team without receiving a release to come play for the Trailermen. Although the OLA ruled him eligible, when the team arrived in BC to play the Mann Cup, the CLA barred him from playing. Peterborough refused to take the floor for the first game without Allan and the CLA kicked them out of the playoffs and suspended every player on the team for five seasons. The Trailermen were replaced by a rusty Long Branch Pontiacs squad that were easily swept by Victoria. The Trailermen players sat out their suspension in 1958, but their suspensions were commuted in time for the 1959 season. Peterborough would win yet another league title in 1959, but could not muster any past success in the Mann Cup final. The dynasty had ended and Peterborough did not make another final for six seasons.

## Teams

| Team | Joined | Centre |
| Brampton Excelsiors | c. 1887 | Brampton |
| Brooklin Lacrosse Club | 1961 | Brooklin |
| Cobourg Kodiaks | 2016 | Cobourg |
| Oakville Rock | 2010 | Oakville |
| Owen Sound North Stars | 2001 | Owen Sound |
| Peterborough Lakers | 1949 | Peterborough |
| Six Nations Chiefs | 1993 | Hagersville |

## All-Star Game

During the 2012 MSL Entry Draft, the league announced it would be holding its first ever All-Star Game. Peterborough was set to host, citing average attendance as the driving factor. However, in April that same year, the game was cancelled due to two major issues. The first was concern of unnecessary risk of injury and the other was the distribution of revenue.

## Champions

| Year | Champion | Finalist | Series |
| Field Lacrosse Era ||||
| 1887 | Toronto | | |
| 1888 | Paris Brants | | |
| 1889 | St. Catharines Athletics | | |
| 1890 | St. Catharines Athletics | | |
| 1891 | Niagara Falls | | |
| 1892 | Stratford | | |
| 1893 | Stratford | | |
| 1894 | Stratford | | |
| 1895 | Seaforth | | |
| 1896 | Toronto Tecumseh | | |
| 1897 | Toronto Tecumseh | | |
| 1898 | Orangeville Dufferins | | |
| 1899 | Orangeville Dufferins | | |
| 1900 | Orangeville Dufferins | Toronto Tecumsehs | 8-0 (2 gm) |
| 1901 | Orangeville Dufferins | St. Catharines Athletics | 7-5 (1 gm) |
| 1902 | Brantford L.C. | Woodstock Beavers | 15-3 (2 gm) |
| 1903 | Brantford L.C. | St. Catharines Athletics | 12-2-0 |
| 1904 | Brantford L.C. | Toronto Tecumsehs | 10-4-2 |
| 1905 | St. Catharines Athletics | Toronto Tecumsehs | 14-2-0 |
| 1906 | | | |
| 1907 | St. Catharines Athletics | Hamilton Tigers | 12-0-0 |
| 1908 | St. Catharines Athletics | Hamilton Tigers | 6-0-0 |
| 1909 | St. Catharines Athletics | | |
| 1910 | St. Catharines Athletics | Toronto Tecumsehs | 5-2-0 |
| 1911 | St. Catharines Athletics | Toronto Junction Shamrocks | 7-0-0 |
| 1912 | St. Catharines Athletics | Toronto Eatons | 5-1-1 |
| 1913 | Brampton Excelsiors | Almonte L.C. | 38-4 (2 gm) |
| 1914 | Brampton Excelsiors | Ottawa Shamrocks | 19-1 (1 gm) |
| 1915 | Toronto Young Torontos | St. Catharines Athletics | 2-0-0 |
| 1916 | Toronto Young Torontos | St. Catharines Athletics | 4-0-0 |
| 1917 | Toronto Young Torontos | | |
| 1918 | Toronto Maitlands | St. Catharines Athletics | 11-10 (2 gm) |
| 1919 | Toronto St. Simon's | Brampton Excelsiors | Default |
| 1920 | Toronto St. Simon's | Brampton Excelsiors | 8-2 (1 gm) |
| 1921 | Toronto Riverside | Toronto St. Simon's | 8-3 (2 gm) |
| 1922 | Weston Westonmen | Toronto St. Simon's | 6-5 (2 gm) |
| 1923 | Weston Westonmen | Brampton Excelsiors | 1-0-1 |
| 1924 | Weston Westonmen | Toronto Maitlands | 2-0 |
| 1925 | Weston Westonmen | Brampton Excelsiors | 10-8 (2 gm) |
| 1926 | Brampton Excelsiors | Weston Westonmen | 10-6 (2 gm) |
| 1927 | Weston Westonmen | Brampton Excelsiors | 2-0 |
| 1928 | Oshawa Generals | Brampton Excelsiors | 7-? (2 gm) |
| 1929 | Oshawa Generals | Brampton Excelsiors | 2-0 |
| 1930 | Brampton Excelsiors | Oshawa Generals | 2-0 |
| 1931 | Brampton Excelsiors | Toronto Native Sons | 2-1 |
| Indoor Lacrosse Era ||||
| 1932 | Mimico Mountaineers | Fergus Thistles | 2-1 |
| 1933 | Hamilton Tigers | Mount Dennis Firemen | 2-0 |
| 1934 | Orillia Terriers | Hamilton Tigers | 2-0 |
| 1935 | Orillia Terriers | Burlington Beavers | 2-1 |
| 1936 | Orillia Terriers | Hamilton-Burlington Combines | 2-1 |
| 1937 | Orillia Terriers | Mimico Mountaineers | 3-1 |
| 1938 | St. Catharines Athletics | Orillia Terriers | 3-1 |
| 1939 | St. Catharines Athletics | Mimico Mountaineers | 3-1 |
| 1940 | St. Catharines Athletics | Brampton Excelsiors | 4-1 |
| 1941 | St. Catharines Athletics | Etobicoke Indians | 2-1 |
| 1942 | Mimico-Brampton Combines | St. Catharines Athletics | 4-3 |
| 1943 | Mimico-Brampton Combines | Toronto Lakeshores | 4-2 |
| 1944 | St. Catharines Athletics | Mimico Mountaineers | 4-2 |
| 1945 | St. Catharines Athletics | Brampton-Lakeshore Combines | 4-2 |
| 1946 | St. Catharines Athletics | Mimico Mountaineers | 4-3 |
| 1947 | Mimico Mountaineers | St. Catharines Athletics | 4-0 |
| 1948 | Hamilton Tigers | Mimico Mountaineers | 4-0 |
| 1949 | Hamilton Tigers | Brampton Excelsiors | 3-0 |
| 1950 | Owen Sound Crescents | St. Catharines Athletics | 4-3 |
| 1951 | Peterborough Timbermen | Mimico Mountaineers | 4-1 |
| 1952 | Peterborough Timbermen | Weston Yorks | 4-3 |
| 1953 | Peterborough Trailermen | St. Catharines Athletics | 4-1 |
| 1954 | Peterborough Trailermen | St. Catharines Athletics | 4-0 |
| 1955 | Peterborough Trailermen | Fergus Thistles | 4-0 |
| 1956 | Peterborough Trailermen | Hamilton Burners | 4-2 |
| 1957 | Peterborough Trailermen | Long Branch Pontiacs | 4-0 |
| 1958 | Welland-Crowland Switsons | Brampton Excelsiors | 4-0 |
| 1959 | Peterborough Mercurys | Brampton Excelsiors | 4-0 |
| 1960 | Port Credit Sailors | St. Catharines Athletics | 4-1 |
| 1961 | Brampton Ramblers | Port Credit Sailors | 4-3 |
| 1962 | Brampton Ramblers | Brooklin Hillcrests | 4-1 |
| 1963 | St. Catharines Athletics | Port Credit Sailors | 4-0 |
| 1964 | Brooklin Hillcrests | Brampton Sealtests | 4-3 |
| 1965 | Brooklin Merchants | Brampton Excelsiors | 4-3 |
| 1966 | Peterborough Pepsi Petes | Brampton Excelsiors | 4-3 |
| 1967 | Peterborough Don Byes | Brampton Excelsiors | 4-3 |
| 1968 | Brooklin Redmen | Brampton Excelsiors | 4-0 |
| 1969 | Brooklin Redmen | Brantford Warriors | 4-0 |
| 1970 | Peterborough Lakers | Brantford Warriors | 4-1 |
| 1971 | Brantford Warriors | Peterborough Lakers | 4-2 |
| 1972 | Brantford Warriors | Peterborough Lakers | 4-3 |
| 1973 | Peterborough Lakers | Brantford Warriors | 4-2 |
| 1974 | Windsor Warlocks | Fergus Thistles | 4-2 |
| 1975 | Brampton Excelsiors | Owen Sound North Stars | 4-0 |
| 1976 | Brampton Excelsiors | Fergus Thistles | 4-1 |
| 1977 | Brampton Excelsiors | Owen Sound North Stars | 4-1 |
| 1978 | Peterborough Red Oaks | Owen Sound North Stars | 4-0 |
| 1979 | Peterborough Red Oaks | Brampton Excelsiors | 4-1 |
| 1980 | Brampton Excelsiors | Peterborough Red Oaks | 4-1 |
| 1981 | Brampton Excelsiors | Owen Sound North Stars | 4-2 |
| 1982 | Peterborough Lakers | Fergus Thistles | 4-1 |
| 1983 | Peterborough Lakers | Brooklin Redmen | 4-3 |
| 1984 | Peterborough Lakers | Brooklin Redmen | 4-0 |
| 1985 | Brooklin Redmen | Peterborough Lakers | 4-1 |
| 1986 | Brooklin Redmen | Peterborough Lakers | 4-2 |
| 1987 | Brooklin Redmen | Peterborough Lakers | 4-0 |
| 1988 | Brooklin Redmen | Peterborough Lakers | 4-0 |
| 1989 | Brooklin Redmen | Peterborough Lakers | 4-3 |
| 1990 | Brooklin Redmen | Peterborough Lakers | 4-1 |
| 1991 | Brooklin Redmen | Brampton Excelsiors | 4-1 |
| 1992 | Brampton Excelsiors | Peterborough Lakers | 4-0 |
| 1993 | Brampton Excelsiors | Brooklin Redmen | 4-0 |
| 1994 | Six Nations Chiefs | Brooklin Redmen | 4-2 |
| 1995 | Six Nations Chiefs | Brooklin Redmen | 4-0 |
| 1996 | Six Nations Chiefs | Brampton Excelsiors | 4-1 |
| 1997 | Niagara Falls Gamblers | Brampton Excelsiors | 4-3 |
| 1998 | Brampton Excelsiors | Buffalo Gamblers | 4-1 |
| 1999 | Brampton Excelsiors | Akwesasne Thunder | 4-1 |
| 2000 | Brooklin Redmen | Brampton Excelsiors | 4-3 |
| 2001 | Brampton Excelsiors | Brooklin Redmen | 4-1 |
| 2002 | Brampton Excelsiors | Brooklin Redmen | 4-1 |
| 2003 | Brampton Excelsiors | Peterborough Lakers | 4-1 |
| 2004 | Peterborough Lakers | Brampton Excelsiors | 4-3 |
| 2005 | Peterborough Lakers | Brampton Excelsiors | 4-3 |
| 2006 | Peterborough Lakers | Brampton Excelsiors | 4-2 |
| 2007 | Peterborough Lakers | Brampton Excelsiors | 4-2 |
| 2008 | Brampton Excelsiors | Peterborough Lakers | 4-3 |
| 2009 | Brampton Excelsiors | Peterborough Lakers | 4-2 |
| 2010 | Peterborough Lakers | Brampton Excelsiors | 4-3 |
| 2011 | Brampton Excelsiors | Peterborough Lakers | 4-2 |
| 2012 | Peterborough Lakers | Six Nations Chiefs | 4-1 |
| 2013 | Six Nations Chiefs | Brooklin Redmen | 4-0 |
| 2014 | Six Nations Chiefs | Peterborough Lakers | 4-3 |
| 2015 | Peterborough Lakers | Six Nations Chiefs | 4-3 |
| 2016 | Six Nations Chiefs | Peterborough Lakers | 4-3 |
| 2017 | Peterborough Lakers | Six Nations Chiefs | 4-1 |
| 2018 | Peterborough Lakers | | |
| 2019 | Peterborough Lakers | Six Nations Chiefs | 4-2 |
| 2022 | Peterborough Lakers | Langley Thunder | 4-3 |
| 2023 | Six Nations Chiefs | Peterborough Lakers | 4-0 |

## Defunct teams

* Aurora Astros
* Akwesasne Thunder
* Barrie Lakeshores
* Brantford Warriors
* Buffalo Gamblers
* Fergus Thistles
* Hastings Legionnaires
* Huntsville Hawks
* Kitchener-Waterloo Kodiaks
* Mississauga Renegades
* Mississauga Braves
* Niagara Falls Gamblers
* Orangeville Northmen
* Oshweken Wolves
* Sarnia Lumley Wrecking
* Scarborough Saints
* St. Catharines Athletics
* St. Regis Indians
* Toronto Shooting Stars
* Toronto Maple Leafs
* Windsor Warlocks