2025 BLC Season Preview

By Mark Stehlin

With a record of 9-3, the 2024 version of the Brooklin Lacrosse Club finished second overall in the seven-team Major Series Lacrosse (MSL) league. They beat the Brampton Excelsiors three straight in a best of five opening round playoff series. Unfortunately, they struggled in the semi-finals against the Peterborough Lakers going down four straight in a best of seven series. On a bright note, Goalie Zach Higgins was named the 2024 MSL Most Valuable Player. In addition, coaches Joel Johnson, Brad Reed and Clancy Almas were named 2024 Coaching Staff of the Year. 

The BLC is prepared to commence the 2025 regular season and make strides over last year. A great deal of work went on during the off-season in an effort to improve and maintain progress as a squad. The Major Series Lacrosse (MSL) entry draft saw General Manager (GM) Gavin Prout protect Michael White and Jake Darlison from the Whitby Warriors Jr A squad.  He drafted the following players:

  • Will MacLeod from the Burlington Blaze Junior A  -  1st Round, 2nd overall.
  • Nicholas Volkov from the Mimico Mountaineers Junior A - 1st Round, 7th overall
  • Justin Lee from the Mimico Mountaineers Junior A - 2nd Round, 11th overall
  • Owen Wills from the Toronto Beaches Jr A - 2nd Round, 13th overall
  • Nate Ruff from the Orangeville Northmen Junior A - 3rd Round, 20th overall

Prout also pulled off a blockbuster trade with the Six Nations Chiefs. BLC sent the playing rights for Graeme Hossack and Dawson Theede to the Chiefs for the 2025 and 2026 season and in return received Robert Morgan, a fourth round pick in the 2026 entry draft and future considerations. 

Also departing BLC is Goaltender Riley Hutchcraft, who as a result of a move to St Catharines and the addition of new member of the family requested the move.

 "With my growing family and a move to St. Catharines a year ago, I couldn’t commit full-time to BLC and it was important that I was being fair to the team", Hutchcraft said. 

Prout and the entire team are sad to part ways with Hutchcraft , who they drafted in the first round third overall in the 2019 MSL entry draft from Mimico.

“Riley was a total professional when he played with the BLC. Not only are we trading away a great player but an even better person" said BLC General Manager, Gavin Prout.

"His priority to his young family as well as coaching in St. Catharines made it impossible for him to continue to play with Brooklin. We will miss him and wish him all the best in his endeavours", he added.

BLC will be home on Wednesday May 21, 2025 at 8 pm to host the Peterborough Lakers before they hit the road the next day for a visit to Brampton at 8 p.m.

Fans will note the new turf surface at IPSC after the Town of Whitby struck a deal with the defunct New York Riptide who moved to Ottawa as the Black Bears and had a turf with which they could part. The BLC booster club also makes a return as the Lax Lounge in Whitney Hall which has re-opened in partnership with BarDown Gastropub to provide fans with an ice-cold beverage in a space that overlooks the playing surface.