The 2025 Presidents Cup: Brooklin Merchants Review

By Mark Stehlin

On July 15, 2024, the Brooklin Merchants issued a press release to announce their successful bid for hosting the 2025 Presidents Cup, the National Senior B level box lacrosse championship for Lacrosse Canada. Immediately following the announcement, the organizing committee started work to ensure a memorable tournament for participants and fans alike. Thirteen months later, eight teams from across the country descended on Iroquois Park Sports Centre in Whitby for the competition from August 23-30, 2025.

The Merchants, with a regular season record of 14-2, were awarded the Clare Levack trophy as Ontario Series Lacrosse (OSL) champions. The team featured five players in the top 10 league scorers and defeated Owen Sound two games to none in a first round playoff series, followed by a 3-0 sweep of their rivals, the Six Nations Rivermen, for the Ontario crown.

After seven days of competition and 22 scheduled games in the Presidents Cup, the Snake Island Muskies took the main prize with an 11-5 win over the host Brooklin Merchants. The bronze medal was awarded to the Edmonton Miners who took out the Six Nations Rivermen by a final score of 12-2.

The field was divided into two groups: Brooklin was joined by the Allegany Arrows, the three-time defending champion Ladner Pioneers, and the Winnipeg Blizzard. The hosts went 3-0 in round-robin play with wins of 12-10 over Allegany, 9-7 over Ladner and 14-9 over Winnipeg. The other group featured Snake Island, Six Nations Rivermen, Edmonton Miners and the Saskatchewan Roadrunners. In a consolation game the Merchants dispatched Saskatchewan by a score of 19-5. They handed the Rivermen a 12-8 defeat in the semi-finals before the loss to the Muskies in the final.

“I knew from my own experience as a player in the 2016 Presidents Cup that the week was a grind. We did our best to make sure the guys knew that, and we provided them with trainers, ice-baths, and massages to have them as prepared as possible. I felt our team was well conditioned and I think we outran every team,” said head coach, Ryan Degerdon.

He added “Would I have liked to hoist the trophy, of course. I am proud of the players and the organization as I think there was buy-in to the process. I am excited about the fact that we will now be part of the conversation in OSL. My first year as assistant coach we lost out to Six Nations, last year (first as head coach) we lost to them again in the Ontario finals and this year we won the league and the Ontario trophy, so we will continue to grow and gel as a group going forward.”

Team veteran and team captain, Devin Pipher, said “This was my fourth summer with the team and we just keep improving, this year I look back as a steppingstone to the next level as champions.”

He noted “I felt that we were tight as a group, we welcomed some new faces to the team, and we got to know each other better as we spent time together all week. I see the compete level of my teammates and the dedication that they bring to the rink. While we were disappointed not to win I am excited about what is to come with these guys.”

Three members of the team were given all-star recognition:

•Will MacLeod (5 games, 10 goals, 11 assists, 21 points) first team all-star

•Alex Marinier (5 games, 13 goals, 7 assists, 20 points) first team all-star

•Goaltender Deacan Knott (5 games, 8.10 GAA and 0.789 save %) second-team all-star

Notes:

Local business Town Brewery was chosen as the official beer supplier of the 2025 Presidents Cup. They set up a popular beer garden to the east side of the rink for fans to enjoy a cold beer and talk lacrosse.

All 22 games were streamed live by JVI Sports Network and can be found on their YouTube channel for viewing anytime.

An army of volunteers were on hand to take care of fans, organizers, and participants. A big thank you to those who sold and took tickets, sold and displayed merchandise, provided security in the rink and the beer tent, and our scorekeepers and clock operators. It truly does take a village.

The organizers were grateful to the assistance received via sponsorships and community partnerships through the tournament. Thanks go to all out supporters and specifically:

•Durham Tourism, Sport Durham

•Superior Crane

•Langille’s Metal Recycling

•Boyle Excavating

•Eco Air Flow

•Twisted Heads Custom Lacrosse

•Oshawa Centre

•Manulife

•Billyard Insurance Group

•Got Skill

•Special Benefits Insurance Services

•Summit Access Solutions

•DKI CRCS