Expansion lacrosse teams make history as Island Oaks capture Hamilton Cup

The fastest growing junior lacrosse league in Atlantic Canada crowned a new champion this weekend, and it happened in dramatic fashion.

The Island Oaks from P.E.I. defeated the Fundy Riptide 9-8 in a sudden-death overtime to win their first ECJLL Hamilton Cup trophy in Halifax, which is awarded to the best Junior B lacrosse team in the Maritimes.

The finale marked the first time two expansion teams met in the Hamilton Cup and marked the first time a team from Nova Scotia wasn’t in the final.

It’s a sign the sport is growing across the Maritimes.

“That’s the whole point of a Junor B league, is to add growth and provide and option for the select few who don’t have the option to play Junior A,” said East Coast Junior Lacrosse League deputy commissioner Mitch Hannigan. “This (kind of lacrosse) is exactly what’s needed in smaller communities right across the Maritimes.”

The Oaks were trailing by two goals in the final period, but a late comeback forced overtime, where Noah Lynch scored on an outside shot to win it for the team from Prince Edward Island.

“There was like no time left on the shot clock and normally I just try to get a shot off and hit the net,” said Lynch. “That’s what I did, and it went in.”

The Riptides from Saint John joined the league this season as well, and gave the Island Oaks a scare in the final.

Oaks head coach Ethan Malcolm is proud of his team and says this victory will help grown the game on P.E.I. There wasn’t junior lacrosse on the Island when Malcom began his junior playing career and so it forced him to come play in Nova Scotia.

“When I was growing up there wasn’t even the thought of winning a trophy like this when coming from the Island,” said Malcolm. “So now that there is the opportunity to win a trophy, is awesome for these kids and for the generation that’s going to come after them. It’s huge for lacrosse P.E.I.”

The momentum and excitement around our national summer sport isn’t slowing down in the Maritimes.

Next month, Saint John will host the Founders Cup National Junior B Lacrosse Championship.

For more Nova Scotia news, visit our dedicated provincial page