Ontario Series Lacrosse Arena Series - Lakefield-Smith Community Centre

As we draw closer to the start of the season, the Ontario Series Lacrosse League is proud to continue our special weekly feature highlighting the teams that make our league so competitive — and the arenas they call home.


Lacrosse History at Lakefield-Smith Community Centre

Nestled in the heart of Lakefield, Ontario, the Lakefield-Smith Community Centre has long served as a gathering place for sport and community events. While best known as a winter hockey venue, the arena floor transforms each spring and summer into a battleground for one of Canada’s oldest and most storied sports — lacrosse.

A Summer Home for Box Lacrosse

Like many Ontario arenas, the Lakefield facility shifts with the seasons. Once the ice is removed, the floor becomes an ideal setting for box lacrosse. Over the years, the arena has hosted practices, league games, and championship matchups, helping solidify Lakefield’s role within the province’s vibrant lacrosse landscape.

Situated just minutes from Peterborough — one of the most historic lacrosse communities in the world — Lakefield benefits from a deep regional passion for the sport. Players, coaches, and fans from across the Kawartha region have contributed to the growth of the game within the arena’s walls.

Home of Local Teams: Lakefield Rage & Ennismore James Gang

The arena has served as a home venue for several competitive teams, including the Lakefield Rage, a Senior “C” box lacrosse club competing in Senior Series Lacrosse, and more recently the Ennismore James Gang, an Ontario Series Lacrosse Senior "B" team from nearby Ennismore.  This partnership has strengthened the arena’s role as a central hub for senior box lacrosse in the Kawartha Lakes region.

Championship Moments

The most notable chapter in Lakefield Arena’s lacrosse history came with the success of the Lakefield Rage. Founded as part of the league’s inaugural 2019 season, the Rage quickly established themselves as contenders, reaching the Legends Cup Final against the Six Nations Tomahawks. In 2021, they completed a perfect 11–0 season and captured the Ontario Senior “C” championship, winning the Nobile Cup.

While the Ennismore James Gang are newer to the Lakefield floor, their participation continues to bring high-level competition and excitement to the arena, keeping the community engaged with senior lacrosse.

Community Impact

Beyond championships, the arena has served as a development hub. Minor lacrosse players from surrounding associations have stepped onto the same floor as senior athletes, reinforcing the pathway from grassroots to senior competition. In a region synonymous with lacrosse excellence, Lakefield Arena has played its part in sustaining that tradition.

A Continuing Tradition

Today, lacrosse remains an important part of the arena’s seasonal identity. Each summer, the boards echo with the sound of sticks and the sharp pop of rubber on mesh — reminders that the sport’s roots in Ontario remain strong.

From local league play to provincial championships, the Lakefield-Smith Community Centre stands as a proud chapter in Ontario’s lacrosse story — proof that even smaller communities can leave a lasting mark on Canada’s national summer sport.