Windsor AKO Fratmen Lacrosse Team

The Windsor Clippers is a member of the Junior "B" league in the Ontario Lacrosse Association. The team, from Windsor, Ontario, Canada, was known as the Windsor AKO Fratmen from 2003 until 2009 as they were sponsored by the AKO Fraternity.

History

The team made its expansion debut in the OLA Jr. "B" league in 2003. The team's first win was on April 30, 2003 against Wallaceburg, 21-12. In four completed seasons, the team has never failed to make the playoffs. The Fratmen hosted the 2005 Junior "B" All-Star Game, and in the team's fourth season Windsor hosted the 2006 Founders Cup. The Fratmen's first ever playoff victory came against the Six Nations Red Rebels in the 2005 Conference Semi-final. On July 2, 2005, the Fratmen defeated Six Nations in the first game of the series 6-4. Their first playoff round victory came in the 2006 Conference Semi-final against the Owen Sound Rams, 3-games-to-1.

The team's current coaching staff consists of Head Coach Greg Ducharme and Associate Coaches Ron Martinello and Eddie McGaffey. All three played Junior and Senior lacrosse in the Windsor area. Ducharme and Martinello were members of the 1975 Founders Cup National Champion Windsor Warlocks. Martinello also played four professional seasons in the National Lacrosse League with the Detroit Turbos (1989–1992) and won the 1991 league championship with them. McGaffey played two professional seasons in goal for the Turbos (1989 and 1990). The team's President and General Manager is Mike Soulliere, who has been involved with the team since its inception.

2006 Founders Cup

At the 2005 All-Star Game in Windsor, Ontario, it was announced that the AKO Fratmen would host the 2006 Founders Cup Tournament.

At the 2006 Founders Cup on August 23, the Fratmen opened up the tournament with a 20-9 dismantling of the Nova Scotia Knights. Later that night, the Fratmen also beat the Langley Thunder 11-4. On August 24, the Fratmen topped the Edmonton Warriors by a score of 11-7. On August 25, AKO beat the Iroquois Lacrosse Association (a team composed mostly of players from Kahnawake, Quebec) by a score of 12-8. The victory clinched first place and a bye to the semi-final for the Fratmen, as both teams were undefeated (3-0) going into the game. Jamie Pillon lead all Round Robin scoring with 22 points (9 goals, 13 assists), he was closely followed by the Andrew Ryckman (6 goals, 15 assists) and 2005 OLA Most Valuable Player David Hodgins (9 goals, 12 assists).

In the Semi-final on August 26, the Fratmen took on their most competitive opponent of the tournament to date, the Iroquois Lacrosse Association, for the second time. They came out on top again with a tight 6-3 victory. The Fratmen will face the OLA Champion Oakville Buzz in the Founders Cup Final. The Fratmen (5-0) and Buzz (4-0) are the only two undefeated teams left in the tournament. The two teams have not played against each other yet this season.

On August 27, the AKO Fratmen played in the National Championship Game against the Oakville Buzz. The Fratmen and Buzz were tied 1-1 after the first. The second saw the Buzz come alive, at the end leading by a score of 5-2. In the third, the Buzz blew the game wide open. The final score was 10-4, but the Fratmen held tough until the end. Cam Brown was named the Fratmen's Game MVP, while both Jamie Pillon and Matt Soulliere were named to the Founders Cup All-Star Team.

Season-by-season results

Note: GP = Games played, W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties, Pts = Points, GF = Goals for, GA = Goals against

Playoff Results

Awards

• 2005 Far-West Division Champions
• 2006 Far-West Division Champions
• 2006 Founders Cup Silver Medallists
• 2007 Far-West Division Champions
• 2008 Far-West Division Champions
• 2009 Far-West Division Champions
• 2009 Western Conference Regular Season Champions
• 2010 Far-West Division Champions
• 2011 Far-West Division Champions
• 2013 Far-West DIvision Champions

External links

• AKO Fratmen Lacrosse Team
• Ontario Lacrosse Association
• Unofficial OLA Webpage