The Ontario Junior Lacrosse League (OJLL) and St. Catharines Athletics, in collaboration with Sport Niagara and the City of St. Catharines, proudly announce that St. Catharines has been chosen as the host location for the 2025 Minto Cup, the National Junior A Lacrosse Championship of Canada.
In August 2025, St. Catharines will welcome the best men’s Junior A box lacrosse teams from the top leagues in Canada to vie for the national championships at the Meridian Centre. The 2025 Minto Cup will take place August 16-24, 2025 with a nine-day celebration of Canada’s national summer game, including cultural gatherings, fan festivals and more.
Bid presentations were held on February 11, 2024, where the St. Catharines Athletics demonstrated the city's commitment to lacrosse and earned the honour to host the prestigious tournament. The Athletics last hosted the Minto Cup in 2001 and were slated to host the 2020 Minto Cup, which was inevitably canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
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"On behalf of the league, I want to congratulate St. Catharines on their impressive bid and commitment to hosting the 2025 Minto Cup,” said OJLL Commissioner Mark Grimes. “We look forward to showcasing the best lacrosse in the country at the Meridian Centre and we have no doubt the Athletics will deliver an exceptional experience for players and fans alike.”
"The upcoming 2025 Minto Cup presents another exciting opportunity to highlight the hospitality and hosting excellence of St. Catharines," said Mat Siscoe, Mayor of St. Catharines. "With a deep-rooted history in the sport, we anticipate strong support from our community, reminiscent of the enthusiasm shown during the lacrosse events at the Niagara 2022 Canada Summer Games and the victorious home claim of the Minto Cup by the Athletics in 2001."
Long before settlers came into the area now known as St. Catharines, lacrosse was an integral part of Indigenous life for centuries as a game of healing and identity. Lacrosse continues to thrive locally with more than 1,500 youth playing minor lacrosse at all levels across Niagara.
The Minto Cup storied history dates back to 1901 when men’s amateur senior and professional teams challenged for the cup. However, it’s been the pre-eminent symbol of excellence for Junior A lacrosse in Canada since the 1937. The St. Catharines Athletics has claimed the Minto Cup six times: 1947, 1950, 1990, 1991, 2001 and 2003.