OSHAWA, ON – Lacrosse in the city of Oshawa and the surrounding communities has a long history of championship success. The Oshawa FireWolves will start a new chapter in the region’s history this upcoming National Lacrosse League (NLL) season. The FireWolves will be on a mission to bring the first NLL Championship to this renowned place in lacrosse lore.
Lacrosse has always been in Oshawa. From its Indigenous roots centuries ago to the first organized games held in 1872 against teams from Port Hope, Bowmanville, and Millbrook.
The love of the game here can be seen in people like Larry Powers aka “Wamper” who was an Oshawa native known for writing his Bible of Lacrosse that detailed statistics and the history of the game from decades past. He went to the very first Oshawa Green Gaels games when the team began playing in 1963. In an interview before his passing, Wamper recalled that it was $2 to buy a ticket to a Green Gaels game, but if you didn’t have the money, you could donate blood to get a free ticket. Wamper did this often as a young lacrosse fan who wanted to watch the legendary Green Gaels and his favorite player Gaylord Powless.
That dedication is still burning brighter than ever in Oshawa where lacrosse is literally in the blood of this community. Generation after generation helped build these successful programs from the ground up that would go on to become champions.
During the summer, the rivalries between nearby cities like Whitby and Peterborough are fierce as their teams in the Ontario Junior A and Major Series Lacrosse leagues compete to play for the Minto Cup and Mann Cup. This winter, the FireWolves will welcome the combined support from fans of all these passionate lacrosse communities as they go up against NLL teams from across North America. The Oshawa FireWolves are ready to carry on the legacy of many incredible teams before them and bring professional lacrosse to an area so deserving of it.
Let’s look back at some of the championship history of teams from the Durham Region and surrounding communities:
Junior A – 7x Minto Cup Champions (1963, 1964, 1965, 1966, 1967, 1968, 1969)
Junior A – 8x Minto Cup Champions (1980, 1984, 1985, 1997, 1999, 2011, 2013, 2022)
Junior B – 4x Founders Cup Champions (1998, 2000, 2002, 2004)
Senior A – 7x Mann Cup Champions (1968, 1969, 1985, 1987, 1988, 1990, 2000)
Junior A – 12x Minto Cup Champions (1961, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1975, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1986, 1987, 1989, 2006)
Senior A – 18x Mann Cup Champions (1951, 1952, 1953, 1954, 1966, 1973, 1978, 1982, 1984, 2004, 2006, 2007, 2010, 2012, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2022)
In 2024, the FireWolves had an incredible run to the NLL Finals but would fall short of a championship to the Buffalo Bandits. Thirteen players from that roster will be a part of the team’s first year in Oshawa and will be ready to bring the next championship to this historic lacrosse community.
Be a part of the next chapter of Oshawa lacrosse history at the FireWolves Home Opener against the Toronto Rock on Friday, November 28 at 7:30 pm at the Tribute Communities Centre.
Secure your seat now by placing your Season Ticket Deposit at https://tributecommunitiescentre.evenue.net/events/LAX
About Oshawa FireWolves
The Oshawa FireWolves are Durham Region’s professional box lacrosse team, competing in the National Lacrosse League (NLL) out of the Tribute Communities Centre in downtown Oshawa, ON. For more information, visit OshawaFireWolves.com. Follow the team on Facebook at facebook.com/FireWolvesNLL, Twitter @FireWolvesNLL, and Instagram @FireWolvesNLL.
About National Lacrosse League
The National Lacrosse League (NLL) is North America’s largest professional lacrosse league and welcomed more than 1 million fans for the third consecutive year during the 2024-25 season. Founded in 1986, the NLL is comprised of 14 franchises across Canada and the United States, and recently unveiled its largest brand campaign ever, “Welcome to The Next Major League™” and introduced its comprehensive grassroots initiative, NLL UnBOXed™, that will expand the League’s footprint to 60 communities across North America by 2028. For the latest scores and developments in the National Lacrosse League, please visit: NLL.com and find the NLL on Facebook, Instagram, X, YouTube and TikTok. Games are available live and streaming on TSN, TSN+, the ESPN family of networks, ESPN+, and NLL+.
About Tribute Communities Centre
The Tribute Communities Centre is Durham Region’s premier sports and live entertainment facility and is managed by Oak View Group. The Tribute Communities Centre is home to the Oshawa Generals of the Ontario Hockey League and hosts a myriad of events including concerts,
circuses, ice skating and family shows. Visit TributeCommunitiesCentre.com, and follow on Facebook, Instagram, and X.
About Oak View Group
Oak View Group (OVG) is the global leader in live experience venue development, management, premium hospitality services, and 360-degree solutions for a collection of world-class owned venues and a client roster of arenas, convention centers, music festivals, performing arts centers, and cultural institutions. Founded by Tim Leiweke and Irving Azoff in 2015, OVG
is the leading developer of major new venues either open or under development across four continents. Visit OakViewGroup.com, and follow OVG on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and X.
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