Brooklin Redmen

The Brooklin Redmen are a box lacrosse team from Whitby, Ontario. The Redmen play in the Major Series Lacrosse (MSL) league (formerly known as Senior "A"). The MSL, and it's counterpart, the Western Lacrosse Association, represent the highest level of competitive box lacrosse in Canada. Both league champions compete each September for the Mann Cup, one of the most historic and treasured sports trophies in Canada.

Throughout team history, the Brooklin Redmen has always been a community based team that represents the best box lacrosse players from Brooklin, Whitby, Durham and nearby regions. The lacrosse club is a non-profit, volunteer operated organization.

History

Mann Cup Canadian Champions: 7 times
1968 * 1969 * 1985 * 1987 * 1988 * 1990 * 2000
Ontario Senior Champions: 13 times

2008 Season

The Brooklin Redmen had hit an all-time low in 2006 and 2007, missing the MSL playoffs both years. With the return of Redmen greats Peter Vipond as Head Coach, and Wayne Colley as GM and Assistant Coach, the Redmen embarked an a rebuilding program featuring young, local talent. With a number of high profile National Lacrosse League players such as Gavin Prout and Mike Hominuck no longer on the roster, eight new rookies joined the line-up with Shawn Williams, the 2007 MSL Scoring Champion, taking on the role of leader.

The young team started slowly, but began to gel in mid-season, winning key games, including an impressive on the road 10-7 defeat of the defending Mann Cup Champions, the Peterborough Lakers. The Redmen were now becoming known for their fast, aggressive, no quit style of box lacrosse.

After finishing last the previous season, the Redmen finished in 4th for the 2008 MSL Regular Season, gaining the home floor advantage for the first round playoff series. Shawn Williams, the Redmen Captain, finished 3rd in MSL scoring, and rookie sensation, Derek Hopcroft, finishing in 9th place in league scoring.

The Redmen swept the Kitchener-Waterloo Kodiaks in three straight games in the First Round MSL Quarter Final Series. However, the Redmen ran into a highly talented Brampton Excelsiors squad, and were eliminated in 4 games in the Semi Finals. Likely the most heartbreaking game of the season for the Redmen was the third game of the Brampton series. The Redmen, having held the lead since the start of the game, could not stop Brampton from scoring the final 3 goals of the game, with the final marker coming with 2 seconds on the game clock to steal a 9 to 8 victory at the Iroquois Park Sports Complex.

2008 Season Awards

Brooklin Redmen forward Derek Hopcroft was named co-winner of the Gene Dopp Award for Rookie of the Year. He shared the award with Kyle Sorenson of the Peterborough Lakers. The Brooklin coaching staff, Peter Vipond and Wayne Colley were named the Coaches of the Year in Major Series Lacrosse in recognition of their turnaround success with the young team.

External links

* [http://www.brooklinredmen.ca/ Brooklin Redmen - Official Website]
* [http://www.majorserieslacrosse.net/ Major Series Lacrosse League]
* [http://bible-of-lacrosse.com/ The Bible of Lacrosse]
* [http://www3.sympatico.ca/glendundas/unofficialola.html Unofficial OLA Page]