The Top 50 Junior A Players: 2026 Edition
Justin Tavares (Photo: Dave Fryer)
It’s been 20 years since we named Shawn Evans our very first #1.
In 2024, American Joey Spallinatook the honour after our much mentioned list returned.
Last year, Cody Malawskywas tagged our top player, and then over the next week had a Minto performance for the ages while helping the Coquitlam Adanacs to a rare back-to-back Cup win.
Who is our #1 this year?
Well, it came down to two players: Jameson Bucktooth and Justin Tavares.
Was it the Junior game’s most gritty and gifted pure goal scorer in Bucktooth? Or was it the game’s most complete offensive package in Tavares?
Keep reading (or just frantically scroll to the bottom of this page) to see who joins Evans, Spallina, and Malawsky as The Lax Mag’s #1 ranked player in all of Junior ‘A’ lacrosse.
Austin Vanichuk, Langley Thunder (Photo: Ryan Molag)
50. Austin Vanichuk
Team: Langley Thunder
Position: Forward
School: Uncommitted
NLL Draft Eligible: 2028
We do a lot of statistical analysis as part of our annual Top 50. Not nearly as much as we can complete for our various NLL player evaluations, but still quite a bit based on the data available online. One player that is a bit buried in the BCJALL’s straight stats but pops off the page in our more in-depth data dive, is Langley’s Austin Vanichuk. Although he did lead the Thunder in points this past summer, Vanichuk was only fifth on the team in shots on goal - not many if any fifth place shooters lead their team in PTS. Of all the players in B.C. that averaged at least 1 goal per game during the regular season (that’s 28 players total to be exact), the only player with a better shooting percentage than Vanichuk’s .263, was league goal-scoring leader Lincoln Wall (.300). With two seasons of Junior ‘A’ ball left, except to see some even stronger O stats from the hometown product in 2027 and beyond.
49. Dexter Hannigan
Team: Calgary Mountaineers (RMJALL)
Position: Forward
School: Seton Hill University
NLL Draft Eligible: 2029
He led the RMJALL in goal scoring during the regular season with 40, and then added another 10 during Calgary’s opening playoff series against Edmonton. His pace has slowed down since, but Hannigan largely lands on this year’s 50 due to his dominant regular season run. Below are the only Junior ‘A’ players in all of Canada that scored 40 or more during the regular season this year.
Jameson Bucktooth (St. Catharines) 56
Justin Tavares (Mimico/Oakville) 43
Lincoln Wall (Port Coquitlam) 42
Jameson Steele (Oakville) 41
Max Wetherup (Whitby) 41
Dexter Hannigan (Calgary) 40
Dexter Hannigan, Calgary Mountaineers (Photo: Billie Barett)
48. Ryan Lowe
Team: Victoria Shamrocks
Position: Forward
School: Drexel University
NLL Draft Eligible: 2027
There were a number of Victoria Shamrocks forwards that were in consideration for this year’s 50, including the clutch touch they picked up at the trade deadline in Evan McDougall (Canisius University) or Jett Klassen (Lafayette College), who missed most of the regular season with an injury, but has been his usual electric self since returning. But we’ll go with Ryan Lowe, who actually had the second highest points per game on the Vic roster during the regular season (3.0), followed that up with an even stronger BCJALL playoff campaign while leading the Shamrocks in goals (17 in 10), and then was easily one of the top offensive assets on any team during the round-robin stage of the Minto, scoring 8 times in Victoria’s first four games.
Zach Moen, Raiders Lacrosse Club (Photo: Claire Mikuska)
47. Zach Moen
Team: Raiders Lacrosse Club (RMJALL)
Position: Defense
School: University of Ottawa
NLL Draft Eligible: 2026
Noah Everson was our highest ranked RMJALL defender last year, and while he was often inside our 50 when we rearranged our order throughout the season, it’s teammate Zach Moen that slips onto this year’s list after an outstanding regular season and playoffs for the Minto Finals-bound Raiders. Much like Everson, Moen is a physical, relentless, and imposing defender that has zero quit. His play, and the Raiders’ aggressive D unit in general, is a big reason why they’ve experienced so much success this summer.
46. Sawyer English
Team: Burlington Blaze (OJLL)
Position: Transition
College: Brown University
NLL Draft Eligible: 2029
The Blaze feature a number of two-way players that are capable of holding their own on either side of centre. Much like anyone with the last name English playing lacrosse in Ontario these days, Sawyer English kinda does it all. English is a dependable defender who seemingly stays on the floor and transitions to O on every single shift. He’s an athletic, mobile, hard to handle two-way talent that led Burlington D/T players in point production this summer (8G, 25A during the regular season + 6G, 6A during their single playoff series).
Koji Okuyama, Langley Thunder (Photo: Ryan Molag)
45. Koji Okuyama
Team: Langley Thunder (BCJALL)
Position: Transition
School: University at Albany
NLL Draft Eligible: 2030
The Langley Thunder have made major on-floor strides in recent summers after years of struggling severely in the BJALL standings. While there are a lot of impressive pieces on the Thunder’s roster (a legit and lengthy playoff run is right around the corner), one of Langley’s most legit and lethal assets is the transitional play of Koji Okuyama, who is a speed freak with way above average finishing skills. He averaged nearly a goal per game during the regular season, his shorties just absolute back breakers for the opposition.
Cole Downey, Orangeville Northmen (Photo: Dave Fryer)
44. Cole Downey
Team: Orangeville Northmen (OJLL)
Position: Goalie
School: Johns Hopkins University
NLL Draft Eligible: 2031
This past summer featured one of the youngest Orangeville rosters we’ve seen in a minute, and most felt 2026 was going to be a real rebuilding year for the Northmen, who had gone to the Minto the previous two seasons. Yes, the Horn Heads were young, but their results didn’t really feel like a rebuild. Orangeville would upset Six Nations in the opening round of the playoffs, and then gave the eventual Ontario champion St. Catharines a tough test in the semis. A lot of that can be credited to the play of Cole Downey between the pipes. Only the A’s Ty Wilson had a slightly stronger save percentage than Downey’s .841 during the regular season, that tendy trend happening again during the playoffs – Wilson #1 at .838 and Downey #2 amongst starters at .811. The Hopkins-bound Downey is super mobile, anticipates well, and can come up with those clutch stops most goalies can’t and don’t get to.
Brady Murphy, Calgary Mountaineers (Photo: Billie Barrett)
43. Brady Murphy
Team: Calgary Mountaineers (RMJALL)
Position: Transition
School: Wingate University
NLL Draft Eligible: 2030
The NLL has bastardized the definition of transition as a position during the modern era, teams sticking a T on seemingly anyone these days no matter what role they play. Calgary’s Brady Murphy is an old school two-way defender that is a true transitional threat every time he touches the floor. Turning just 18 at the start of the 2026 season, the ceiling on Murphy is sky high. A solid defender who strides up the floor with speed, smarts, and an undeniable confidence, Murphy has slick finishing skills too.
Luke Neary, Port Coquitlam Saints (Photo: Tristan Bates)
42. Luke Neary
Team: Port Coquitlam Saints
Position: Defense
School: Iona University
NLL Draft Eligible: 2028
A 16-year-old gold medalist with U18 Team BC and former first overall BCJALL Entry Draft pick in 2023, Luke Neary has become one of the best defensive defensemen in BC over the past two summers. A big, athletic, bruising defender, Neary is a highly sought-after D prospect in a 2028 NLL Draft where he should go pretty high. He’s one in a long line of Port Coquitlam defenders that NLL scouts have had their eye on in recent seasons, including: Brayden Laity (9th overall in 2023), Levi Touhey (59th overall in 2025) and Luke’s brother, Jordy Neary (69th overall in 2024), who came in at #48 in 2024’s Top 50.
Marcelo Carreiro, Victoria Shamrocks (Photo: Gord Rufh)
41. Marcelo Carreiro
Team: Victoria Shamrocks (BCJALL)
Position: Forward
School: Mount St. Mary’s University
NLL Draft Eligible: 2028
Last year, Marcelo Carreiro was a Top 50 lock prior to an injury that ended his season early in Brampton. In fact, Carreiro had one of the highest points-per-game averages in Ontario last year (4.55), only bettered by a high-profile list of OJLL top talent: Will Firth (6.29), Lucas Littlejohn (5.90), Justin Tavares (5.56), Liam Matthews (5.47), Daniel Clark (5.25), and Nolan Byrne (4.70). No too bad, huh? Now in Victoria, Carreiro picked up right where he left off last year, leading the Minto Cup-contending Shamrocks in regular season goals (24) and points (51). Carreiro competes with a combo of grit (finished seventh during the BC regular season in PIMs) and skill (we’ve already mentioned his PTS totals), adding another 5 goals to his 2026 stat line during the team’s first four games at this year’s Minto Cup.
Chace Cogan, Six Nations Arrows (Photo: B. Taylor)
40. Chace Cogan
Team: Six Nations Arrows (OJLL)
Position: Forward
School: Uncommitted
NLL Draft Eligible: 2028
The Arrow’s offense is most definitely a by-committee approach, so it’s hard to single out specific studs. While Winter Rivera (University of Albany) and Matt Hamill (Marquette University), who both just missed Top 50 inclusion this year, plus Daylin John-Hill amassed more points than him, Chace Cogan actually led Six Nations in goal scoring during the regular season (32) and had the highest points-per-game average on the team (4.00) during the reg. and post-season combined. In fact, his 2.29 goals per during the regular season was only topped by four players in the province: Jameson Bucktooth (3.11), Justin Tavares (2.53), Ethen Fines (2.50), and Matthew Ford (2.31). He’s maybe not the most obvious choice for our Top 50 this year based on his straight stat line, but when you dissect the data and his overall impact per game (he also easily led the team with 7 hat-tricks this summer), Cogan actually gets in this year’s 50 with ease.
Kayden Yeaman, Calgary Mountaineers (Photo: Billie Barrett)
39. Kayden Yeaman
Team: Calgary Mountaineers (RMJALL)
Position: Forward
School: Uncommitted
NLL Draft Eligible: 2028
Calgary’s Kayden Yeaman is a bit of a unicorn. He was last year’s RMJALL Transition Player of the Year, largely due to his draw-taking ability coupled with a high-end scoring touch. He finished second during the regular season and first in the playoffs for unassisted goals, all seemingly coming straight off a FO win and then running it right down the opposition’s throat in transition. Yeaman’s not just scoring in those situations, he’s also a top O guy in the league, and can cause the opposition damage from all over the floor. He was named Series Standout by the RMJALL after the Calgary Mountaineer’s semi-final series win over the Edmonton Miners, and then followed that up with some outstanding early games at the Minto. If lacrosse had a Frank J. Selke Trophy, Yeaman would be at minimum a finalist every summer.
38. Daylin John-Hill
Team: Six Nations Arrows (OJLL)
Position: Forward
School: University at Albany
NLL Draft Eligible: 2028
One of our highest ranked offensive OJLL players last year, Daylin John-Hill slides a bit after seeing a significant decline in his goal scoring (42 G to 19) in 2026. Part of that was due to the A-level development of top forwards like Winter Rivera and Chace Cogan, but still, it’s was a decided drop for sure. With that said, John-Hill plays a skilled and scrappy style of ball that provides the Arrows value that goes beyond his stat line, which includes a quiet yet convincing level of leadership too. After the Arrows early playoff exit, John-Hill, along with talented Arrows teammates Cogan and Obrigh Tallchief, suited up for the Buffalos of the Upstate Collegiate Box Lacrosse League, and winning USBOXLA’s NCBS National Championship.
37. Vincent Ward
Team: Brampton Excelsiors (OJLL)
Position: Forward
School: Uncommitted
NLL Draft Eligible: 2030
Although the OJLL had yet to name their finalists or award winners prior to publishing this year’s Top 50, we’d be shocked if Vincent Ward wasn’t voted the league’s Joe Nieuwendyk Award recipient, AKA Ontario’s Rookie of the Year. Why? Do you really need to ask? Ward had the OJLL’s 13th highest points-per-game average (4.33) and 8th best assists per too (2.89). We’d list the few names statistically above him, but trust us, they are the elite of the elite, a group Ward quickly found himself included in.
36. Luca Pivetta
Team: Victoria Shamrocks (BCJALL)
Position: Defense
School: University of Utah
NLL Draft Eligible: 2027
Big, strong, physical and fearless, Luca Pivetta is a smash mouth defender that is likely already ready for a spot in the WLA or NLL. Although we don’t have the stats to back it up (they’re aren’t tracked anywhere in the country, outside of the broadcast booth at this year’s Minto), Pivetta is clearly a caused-turnover creating machine who picks up his fair share of loosies too. While he was limited to just 5 GP during the regular season, Pivetta’s performance during the BCJALL playoffs and at the Minto so far easily convinced us he needs to be in this year’s 50. In addition to his defensive skillset, Pivetta can produce in transition too, scoring five times during Victoria’s impressive provincial playoff run, and then netting a nasty shorty in the Shamrock’s massive win in the Minto semifinals.
35. Levi Wilson
Team: Elora Hawks (OJLL)
Position: Forward
School: Uncommitted
NLL Draft Eligible: 2029
While Elora’s first-year stats have been extremely difficult to decipher with several players (including Levi Wilson) owning multiple player profiles (some spelled differently than their affiliated player version), make no mistake, Wilson had an outstanding summer during the Mohawks’ inaugural OJLL season. After breaking out the calculator and adding up his numbers (we actually used Swarmitup.com, which is an invaluable resource for lacrosse media and NLL scouts), Wilson’s stat line was right up there with some of the top producers in all of Ontario. Wilson also spent time with Guelph in Ontario’s Junior ‘B’ loop, where he again, consistently put up solid numbers.
34. Parker Sorenson
Team: New Westminster Salmonbellies/Victoria Shamrocks (BCJALL)
Position: Defense
School: John Hopkins University
NLL Draft Eligible: 2029
The Maple Ridge product is one of several gold-medal winning Team Canada U20’s from last summer that cracked this year’s Top 50, while others like Zach Tucker (Whitby), Luke Robinson (Kitchener), and Lucas Fraser (Burlington) just missed mention. Parker Sorenson is an athletic, versatile, gritty, ground-ball getter that has quietly added a lot of the Shamrocks’ own end after being acquires at the trade deadline from New West. His transitional production in the playoffs was significant added value the Shamrocks maybe weren’t even expecting when they picked Sorenson up. In addition to that Team Canada trio mentioned above, Sorenson’s Vic teammate, Cooper Anderson (Canisius University), was a strong contender for the 50 this year too.
Dylan Sanderson, Orangeville Northmen (Photo: Daver Fryer)
33. Dylan Sanderson
Team: Orangeville Northmen (OJLL)
Position: Forward
School: Providence College
NLL Draft Eligible: 2030
Since his outstanding rookie season in 2024, Dylan Sanderson has seen a steady climb in his stat line almost across the board. This year’s biggest statistical spike was seen in his helpers, Sanderson with one of the best per-game assist averages in Ontario (3.00) – not so shocking considering the genes he inherited. Only Ayden Matthews had more playoff goals for the Northmen (24) than Sanderson (22), who also led Orangeville in the postseason with six hat-tricks. A pesky offensive producer that much like his old man (for those unaware, Dylan’s dad is NLL Hall of Famer, Josh Sanderson), can excel as a facilitator or goal scorer, both owning a competitive fire that few can match.
Marcus Khan (Photo: Ryan Molag and Shelly Fey)
32. Marcus Khan
Team: Langley/Coquitlam (BCJALL)
Position: Goalie
NLL Draft Eligible: 2026
Although there are a few spots between them on this year’s 50, not much really separates the Khan brothers, Macrus & Caleb. Marcus, who was surprisingly traded from Langley to Coquitlam at this year’s dealing deadline, utilizes his size exceptionally well, plays his angles pretty precisely, and has one of the best outlet slings of any goalie in Junior ‘A’ lacrosse today. With the older generation of NLL goalies starting to retire in recent years (or seemingly will soon), getting your hands on top-shelf tendies has become more important for many pro teams. With Marcus Khan declaring early for the upcoming NLL Entry Draft, expect him to go reasonably high as teams look to add quality shot-stopping prospects over the next number of drafts.
Matthew Ford, Whitby Warriors (Photo: Dave Fryer)
31. Matthew Ford
Team: Whitby Warriors (OJLL)
Position: Forward
School: University of Richmond
NLL Draft Eligible: 2030
How good was Matthew Ford’s 2026 season? In short, pretty spectacular actually. In long… Only Jameson Bucktooth (3.11), Justin Tavares (2.53) and Ethen Fines (2.50) averaged more goals per game than Ford’s 2.31 per in the OJLL. After missing Whitby’s first two series in the playoffs, Ford got back to scoring in the OJLL Finals, even registering a 5-goal (scored 5 of Warriors 7 in that one) Game 3 against St. Catharines. Ford is an elusive forward that is hard to get a straight check on, battling hard through heavy traffic while driving to the cage, and usually scoring.
30. Ayden Matthews
Team: Orangeville Northmen (OJLL)
Position: Forward
School: Penn State University
NLL Draft Eligible: 2031
Most players see a statistical decline in the playoffs while consistently competing against the league’s better teams and talent when it matters most. As we’re quickly finding out, Ayden Matthews is not most players. Check out his regular season versus playoff stat line (per-game averages) from this summer…
Regular Season: 17 GP, 1.82 G, 2.35 A, 4.18 PTS
Playoffs: 11 GP, 2.18 G, 3.36 A, 5.55 PTS
Difference: +0.36 G, +1.01 A, +1.37 PTS
Most players don’t do that, and the ones that do, are usually pretty elite. Matthews led the Northmen in goals (24), assists (37), and obviously points (yes, even more than Max Kruger), during this year’s postseason. His 5.55 points per during the playoffs was tied for the tops in the league too.
29. Jacob Janke
Team: Brampton Excelsiors (OJLL)
Position: Forward
School: Hobart College
NLL Draft Eligible: 2029
His second straight year in the 50 and sitting at about the same spot, Jacob Janke had another strong season with the Brampton Excelsiors during a year the team seemingly exceeded most critic’s expectations, especially as the season progressed. He had one of the highest assists-per-game averages in all of Ontario during the regular season, one of only five players in the OJLL to average three or more helpers per GP:
Justin Tavares (Mimico/Oakville) 3.71
Jacob Janke (Brampton) 3.22
Max Fratttaroli (Kitchener) 3.11
Zack Toll (St. Catharines) 3.06
Dylan Sanderson (Orangeville) 3.00
Over the past two summers, Janke has also been called up to play for the MSL’s Excels, where he’s posted 18 points over seven games.
Wyatt Viste, Raiders Lacrosse Club (Photo: Claire Mikuska)
28. Wyatt Viste
Team: Raiders Lacrosse Club (RMJALL)
Position: Forward
School: New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT)
NLL Draft Eligible: 2030
Over the past two summers, Wyatt Viste has registered a total of 142 regular season points. No one else (in the RMJALL) over that span comes anywhere near that silly sum. Although he finished runner-up to Raiders teammate Cash Frijters in this year’s scoring race (and likely MVP vote too), Viste is easily one of Alberta’s most elite, consistent, and clutch goal scorers. Although Calgary’s Dexter Hannigan led the three-province league in the G column, it was actually Viste’s 2.52 goals per game that topped the RMJALL. Oh right, his 37G a year earlier was far and away the best total in 2025 too. While the Mountaineers’ Kayden Yeaman led the post-season goal-scoring category in straight goals (16), Viste again, had a higher per-game average (2.17 to Yeaman’s 2.00). While he’s been snake bitten a bit at the Minto again (just 3 goals in his first 3 GPs), Viste is more than capable of being a game changer in the Cup finals versus Victoria.
Greysen Thompson, Victoria Shamrocks (Photo: Gord Rufh)
27. Greysen Thompson
Team: Victoria Shamrocks (BCJALL)
Position: Forward
School: Yale University
NLL Draft Eligible: 2028
Greysen Thompson didn’t land on any of the BCJALL’s year-end all-star teams. Fair enough, but get this… Thompson finished just two points behind Marcelo Carreiro for the team point lead during the regular season. In the BCJALL playoffs, although he missed a pair of games due to injury, Thompson had the highest per-game point average on the entire Shamrocks roster (3.3). Victoria’s captain missed the Minto Cup opener as a result of resting that same injury, but again leads the team in points per and is tied with Evan McDougall for the most assists with one less game played than most. In addition to the leadership Thompson brings to the Vic lineup, his energy and determination are contagious. For anyone that’s watched the Shamrocks games during this year’s Minto, it’s painfully obvious how much better this team is when Thompson is in the lineup. Also, with 5 game-winning goals during the BC regular season & playoffs, Thompson also led Victoria in that all-important category. The kid is as clutch as they come, and a big reason why the Shamrocks went from potentially choking to crushing at this year’s Minto Cup.
Caleb Khan, Langley Thunder (Photo: Ryan Molag)
26. Caleb Khan
Team: Langley Thunder (BCJALL)
Position: Goalie
NLL: Las Vegas Desert Dogs
NLL Entry Draft: 17th overall 2025
How good is Caleb Khan? Good enough to become just the 18th goalie in NLL history (and yes, that includes the Eagle Pro and MILL editions) to be drafted in the first round of the league’s entry draft (see them all below). Doesn’t seem that significant? Well, it is. There have been 411 first round picks over the years, meaning just 4% of all those selections were used on a goalie, arguably the most important position on the floor. Go check where some of today’s top tendies went in the draft, and often, it’s not even close to the first round. Just 18 years old when he was drafted by the Desert Dogs last year, the very recently retired Matt Vinc had already spent over a season in the NLL before Khan was even born. All that fantastic trivia alone would suggest just how good Khan already is, but add in another solid BCJALL season between Langley’s pipes (earning a second-team league all-star nod for his efforts), and his pro potential just keeps peaking higher and higher.
Goalies Drafted in the NLL Entry Draft’s First Round
1988 – Tom McClelland (3rd overall) Baltimore Thunder
1995 – Derek Collins (5th overall)) Rochester Knighthawks
1996 – Brian Dougherty (2nd overall) Baltimore Thunder
1997 – Jim Rankin (4th overall) Syracuse Smash
1998 – Chris Sanderson (4th overall) Baltimore Thunder
1998 – Matt Disher (7th overall) Buffalo Bandits
1999 – Gee Nash (2nd overall) New York Saints
2002 – John McLellan (13th overall) Toronto Rock
2004 – Matt Morehouse (9th overall) Calgary Roughnecks
2005 – Matt Vinc (6th overall) San Jose Stealth
2006 – Paul Dawson (7th overall) San Jose Stealth
2011 – Evan Kirk (6th overall) Minnesota Swarm
2013 – Dillon Ward (3rd overall) Colorado Mammoth
2020 – Laine Hruska (13th overall) Georgia Swarm
}2022 – Brett Dobson (11th overall) Georgia Swarm
2023 – Connor O’Toole (18th overall) Vancouver Warriors
2025 – Waukiigan Shognosh (14th overall) Buffalo Bandits
2025 – Caleb Khan (17th overall) Las Vegas Desert Dogs
Zack Toll, St. Catharines Athletics (Photo: Dave Fryer)
25. Zack Toll
Team: St. Catharines Athletics (OJLL)
Position: Forward
School: University of Vermont
NLL Draft Eligible: 2029
With a number of notable names lost to aging out, opportunity presented itself to take an increased roll on the A’s offense, and Zack Toll embraced that challenge and then some. Few players anywhere in Canada saw as significant a statistical spike as what Toll achieved this summer…
2025: 15 GP, 1.07 G, 1.87 A, 2.93 PTS
2026: 18 GP, 1.22 G, 3.06 A, 4.28 PTS
Difference: +0.16 G, +1.19 A, +1.34
Those increased per-game averages spread over a full season saw Toll go from a 40-point guy to a nearly 80-point season. The A’s captain helped lead the team to their first non-hosting Minto Cup entry since 2003, and although they failed to match that year’s Cup-winning success, St. Catharines had an unexpectedly strong season. Plus, next year, this group loses few players and will be hungrier than ever.
24. Chris Rathwell
Team: Kitchener Kodiaks (OJLL)
Position: Forward
School: Lehigh University
NLL Draft Eligible: 2028
While the Kitchener Kodiaks failed to live up to many pundit’s pre-season prognostications, Chris Rathwell registered arguably his most successful campaign in 2026. He came just two goals shy of a 40/40 season, a goal-assist slash that only three players in all of Canada hit in 2026. A super athletic, hard-working, complete offensive weapon, Rathwell has range but can bury just as effectively driving to the net. Plus, betcha didn’t know Rathwell led the country in GWGs during the regular season this year…
Regular Season Game-Winning Goals
Chris Rathwell (Kitchener) 5
Josh Mills (Port Coquitlam) 4
Charlie Boon (Oakville) 4
Brodie Haynes (Brampton) 4
Kariwanoro Nolo Squire (Six Nations) 4
Cash Frijters (Raiders) 3
Brayden Longacre (Langley) 3
Daniel Battistin (Langley) 3
Greysen Thompson (Victoria) 3
Jordan Reed (Coquitlam) 3
Nathan Chalmers (Coquitlam) 3
Turner Anderson (Delta) 3
Ryker Babcock (Brampton) 3
Arrow Booth (St. Catharines) 3
Jameson Bucktooth (St. Catharines) 3
Matthew Ford (Whitby) 3
Max Kruger (Orangeville) 3
Finn Morgan (Oakville) 3
Max Wetherup (Whitby) 3
Ethan Fines, Toronto Beaches (Photo: Austin Owens)
23. Ethen Fines
Team: Toronto Beaches (OJLL)
Position: Forward
School: Drexel University
NLL Draft Eligible: 2030
One of the youngest players in this year’s 50 (he’s still 18 for a few more months), Ethen Fines put up a stronger stat line during his first full season with the Toronto Beaches versus what he produced in Junior ‘B” with the West Durham Ironheads in past seasons. He played with a confidence that most players, even the most elite ones, usually only start showcasing after a full year or more at the ‘A’ level. He’s creative, smart, and is one of those greasy-in-traffic players defenders struggle to get a straight check on. Fines clearly has the goods to rank #1 here in future seasons. Seriously.
Cash Frijters, Raiders Lacrosse CLub (Photo: Claire Mikuska)
22. Cash Frijters
Team: Raiders Lacrosse Club (RMJALL)
Position: Forward
School: University of Delaware
NLL Draft Eligible: 2030
We have not had a Rocky Mountain player ranked this high since the opening edition of our Top 50 in 2006 when Nick Johnson (Calgary Raiders) came in at #19. In 2024 our highest rated Alberta-based ball player was Jack Royer at #26, and last year it was Wyatt Viste at #33. Cash Frijters, who already snuck into our 50 as a 16-year-old two summers ago, had a statement season with the Raiders this year. If you combined Frijters’ goals, assists, and point from 2024 and 2025, that combined number would actually be lower than this year’s totals. Frijters’ 5.80 points per game during the regular season was one of the highest averages in Rocky Mountain history, well, since 2009, which is the furthest back stats are available online…
2016 – Sean Tyrrell (Raiders) 6.40
2012 – Jimmy Delaney (Raiders) 6.31
2016 – Keenan Koswin (SWAT) 6.28
2017 – Brett McIntyre (Raiders) 6.06
2026 – Cash Frijters (Raiders) 5.80
2016 – Baden Boyenko (SWAT) 5.75
2016 – Nik Farrus (Miners) 5.60
2012 – Holden Cattoni (Raiders) 5.59
2013 – Dan Taylor (Mountaineers) 5.54
2016 – Jack Foster (Mountaineers) 5.53
2016 – Brett McIntyre (Raiders) 5.35
2021 – Kyle Playsted (Mountaineers) 5.29
2017 – Lyndon Bunio (Mountaineers) 5.22
2018 – Brett McIntyre (Raiders) 5.14
2021 – Jake Bowen (Miners) 5.07
2014 – Dan Taylor (Mountaineers) 5.00
2018 – Liam Diebel (SWAT) 5.00
Keegan Laity, Coquitlam Adanacs (Photo: Shelly Fey)
21. Keegan Laity
Team: New Westminster/Coquitlam (BCJALL)
Position: Forward
School: Uncommitted
NLL Draft Eligible: 2027
Statistically speaking, Keegan Laity was the BCJALL’s top face-off taker (248/343, .723 W%) this past summer, owning 58 more dot wins than the next closest competitor. He was also one of British Columbia’s most productive point producers, finishing seventh in the province in both straight points (58) and PTS per game (3.41). His skills at centre and around the opposition’s crease are a rare combo that only a handful of players have pulled off, and even fewer filling both roles as ridiculously well as Laity.
20. Oskar Lucas
Team: Burnaby/Port Coquitlam (BCJALL)
Position: Forward
School: Simon Fraser University
NLL Draft Eligible: 2027
Oskar Lucas was one of only three BCJALL players to average four or more points during the regular season. Just as impressive, he was one of only two players (the other was Josh Mills) to rank Top 5 in per-game averages for goals, assists, and points…
Goals
Lincoln Wall (Port Coquitlam) 2.47
Keegan Laity (New West/Coquitlam) 2.12
Jared Maznik (Delta/PoCo) 2.00
Josh Mills (Port Coquitlam) 1.82
Oskar Lucas (Burnaby/PoCo) 1.78
Assists
Parker Kennedy (Coquitlam) 2.78
Josh Mills (Port Coquitlam) 2.47
Nathan Chalmers (Coquitlam) 2.28
Oskar Lucas (Burnaby/PoCo) 2.22
Elijah Terry (Port Coquitlam) 2.06
Points
Josh Mills (Port Coquitlam) 4.29
Parker Kennedy (Coquitlam) 4.11
Oskar Lucas (Burnaby/PoCo) 4.00
Nathan Chalmers (Coquitlam) 3.83
Jared Maznik (Delta/PoCo) 3.79
His playoff numbers didn’t come close to those strong averages above, while the Port Coquitlam Saints exited the BCJALL playoffs faster than most thought they would - on paper, they had a roster worthy of a meaningful run at the Minto, really. Still, Lucas was one of the province’s most potent point producers, and his 6’3” frame will be tempting to many NLL scouts when he’s available in next year’s pro draft.
Nate Whittom, Raiders Lacrosse Club (Photo: Claire Mikuska)
19. Nate Whittom
Team: Mimico Mountaineers/Raiders Lacrosse Club (OJLL/RMJALL)
Position: Goalie
NLL: Colorado Mammoth
NLL Entry Draft: 21st overall 2024
The addition of Nate Whittom on the Raiders Lacrosse Club gave Alberta’s Minto representative arguably their strongest stopper since they started playing in the four-team tourney in 2003. Just barely missing mention in last year’s 50, Whittom is currently two wins away from helping the Raiders capture the RMJALL’s first-ever Minto Cup championship. The Colorado Mammoth backup backstop (he owned a pretty impressive .838 SV% relieving future HOFer Dillon Ward last year) has had a tremendous playoffs and Minto Cup so far. Whittom was selected the RMJALL’s Playoff MVP after posting eight shutout periods in the Raiders’ sweep of the Calgary Mounties, resulting in an unheard of .906 SV%.
18. Jameson Steele
Team: Oakville Buzz (OJLL)
Position: Forward
School: Brown University
NLL Draft Eligible: 2029
With a few fewer games this year after the Elora expansion and structuring the league into an East and West Division, there were only three 40/40 (G/A) seasons, which included Jameson Steele. See all 40/40 seasons in the OJLL since 2022…
2026
Justin Tavares (Mimico/Oakville) 43/63
Jameson Steele (Oakville) 41/47
Max Wetherup (Whitby) 41/49
2025
Justin Tavares (Mimico) 52/48
Nolan Byrne (Whitby) 50/44
Lucas Littlejohn (Whitby) 49/59
Liam Matthews (Orangeville) 43/50
Willem Firth (Toronto) 42/46
Daylin John-Hill (Six Nations) 42/41
2024
Joey Spallina (Orangeville) 40/76
Liam Matthews (Orangeville) 45/67
Finn Thomson (Mimico) 49/56
Nolan Byrne (Brampton) 45/54
Trey Deere (Orangeville) 46/50
Will Sheehan (Oakville/Toronto) 50/40
2023
Willem Firth (Toronto) 55/57
Alex Marinier (Burlington) 49/46
Koleton Marquis (Orangeville) 44/68
Justin Lee (Mimico) 42/41
Finn Thomas (Mimico) 42/88
2022
Brock Haley (Whitby) 74/46
Finn Thomson (Mimico) 52/72
Willem Firth (Toronto) 50/56
Carson Moyer (Mimico) 46/43
Adam Poitras (Whitby) 40/64
On his towering size alone (6’5”), Steele present awkward matchups for the opposition, but he’s extremely skilled too, make major on-floor strides in recent seasons. Steele has a really solid freshman season at Brown too, scoring 19 times and starting in 12 of 13 games he appeared in. Right now at least, you’d have to think Steele has serious first-round potential in the NLL’s 2029 Entry Draft.
Nathan Chalmers, Coquitlam Adanacs (Photo: Shelly Fey)
17. Nathan Chalmers
Team: Coquitlam Adanacs (BCJALL)
Position: Forward
School: University of Utah
NLL Draft Eligible: 2028
A ton of top talent aged out in Coquitlam after winning their second straight Minto Cup last summer. Coquitlam remained competitive, however, and the play of Nathan Chalmers certainly kept them in contender mode for most of the season. Chalmers saw a bit of a decline in his offensive stat line versus last year, but still remained one of BC’s biggest point producers…
Points Per Game
Regular Season: 3.83 (4th in BCJALL)
Playoffs: 3.56 (4th in BCJALL)
With nearly 90 goals over the previous three seasons, Chalmers is one of ‘A’ ball’s most consistent shooters, and he should go high in 2028’s NLL Entry Draft.
16. Charlie Boon
Team: Oakville Buzz (OJLL)
Position: Forward
School: Hamilton College
NLL Draft Eligible: 2029
“A boon is a helpful benefit, blessing, or godsend that makes life easier and improves your situation.”
Over the past two summers, Charlie Boon has been hands down one of if not the most clutch and relied on goal scorer in the OJLL, giving the Oakville Buzz exactly what that Cambridge Dictionary definition described above. Most expected the post Will Sheehan-era rebuild to take a while after so many top locals aged out. Well, it didn’t take long at all actually, and leading the Buzz’s next gen has been Boon. His points per game during the regular season (4.89) were tied for the seventh highest average in Ontario, then in the playoffs, where Oakville upset the higher ranked Kitchener Kodiaks in the opening round, Boon was one of only five players to average five or more points per GP…
OJLL Playoff Points Per Game
Ayden Matthews (Orangeville) 5.55
Max Wetherup (Whitby) 5.50
Charlie Boon (Oakville) 5.22
Chace Cogan (Six Nations) 5.00
Max Kruger (Orangeville) 5.00
Jordan Reed, Coquitlam Adanacs (Photo: Shelly Fey)
15. Jordan Reed
Team: Coquitlam Adanacs (BCJALL)
Position: Transition
School: Canisius University
NLL Draft Eligible: 2027
Coming in at #30 last year, Jordan Reed jumps 15 spots after another strong season for the BCJALL’s perennial powerhouse, the Coquitlam Adanacs. With an increased defensive role and having a C stitched onto his sweater while replacing outgoing club legend, Ty Banks, as the team leader, Reed was easily one of this summer’s top two-way defensive players. The Coquitlam cappy had more regular season goals this year than his previous two campaigns combined, all while remaining one of the team’s top pure defenders too. Even though next year’s NLL Entry Draft will be one of the most stacked in league history, Reed most definitely has first-round potential and should be high on most scout’s wish list leading into September 2027.
14. Jared Maznik
Team: Delta/Port Coquitlam (BCJALL)
Position: Forward
School: Harvard University
NLL Draft Eligible: 2028
Jared Maznik buried 79 goals over the past two BCJALL regular seasons, one of the highest two-year totals anywhere in Canada. In fact, only Justin Tavares (95) and Jameson Bucktooth (82) had more than Maznik during their province’s regular season. This year’s solid stat line jumped Maznik from 27 to 14 in this year’s 50 as a result, the only thing keeping him just outside our Top 10 was his reduced post-season numbers, where Maznik and Port Coquitlam were held relatively in check against the Victoria Shamrocks in the opening round. Due to his size (6’2”, 190 lbs.) and highly skilled scoring touch, expect Maznik to be taken fairly early in the first round of 2028’s NLL Entry Draft.
13. Max Frattaroli
Team: Kitchener Kodiaks (OJLL)
Position: Forward
School: University of Vermont
NLL Draft Eligible: 2027
Ranking just a few spots outside of last year’s Top 50, Max Frattaroli made it impossible to leave him off the list again, adding nearly 30 extra points to his regular season stat line (65…93), and becoming one of the most complete offensive players in Junior ‘A’ ball this summer. Only Justin Tavares (6.24) and Jameson Bucktooth (5.22) averaged more points per regular season game than Frattaroli (5.17), who was in on (G or A) nearly half of all Kitchener goals this year. His 93 points were the highest regular season-ending total for any player on this Kitchener club (K-W too) since Dhane Smith in 2013 (112).
12. Lincoln Wall
Team: Port Coquitlam Saints (BCJALL)
Position: Forward
School: Drexel University
NLL Draft Eligible: 2029
Many likely have a few other BC forwards ranked ahead of him, but we’ve had Lincoln Wall positioned about this high all summer long. Only an ’07, Wall might not have the same sustained rep as others, but give him time, he made major statistical strides this year. Wall has a sneaky stutter step that can be a bit unexpected for a big man like him (6’4”), but once he decides to take aim at the cage, look the fuck out. He was one of only six players to hit 40 or more goals this year (42), and BC’s lone 40-goal guy. In fact, since coming out of the pandemic, Wall is one of the very few BCJALL players to post 40 in one regular season, the others either still crushing in Junior or already producing in the NLL..
BCJALL 40-Goals Scorers Since 2021
‘23 Thomas Vela (Burnaby/Victoria) 54
‘23 Marcus Klarich (Burnaby/Victoria) 50
‘24 Lukas Nielsen (New Westminster) 50
‘25 Jett Klassen (Victoria) 44
‘25 Jared Maznik (Delta/Nanaimo) 41
‘26 Lincoln Wall (Port Coquitlam) 42
11. Ari Steenhuis
Team: St. Catharines Athletics (OJLL)
Position: Transition
NLL: San Diego Seals
NLL Entry Draft: 18th overall 2025
Another elite player that was just outside of our 50 from a year ago, Ari Steenhuis has had quite a 2026 campaign. Drafted relatively early by the San Diego Seals in last year’s NLL Entry Draft, Steenhuis not only made the team out of camp, he played (and played well) in 21 of 22 San Diego regular season and playoff games as the second youngest player in the entire pro league. With St. Kitts this summer, Steenhuis went from being a really good transitional defender, to being one of Junior’s absolute best two-way threats. He plays a physical brand of defense similar to his uncle Billy Dee Smith, but also has that transitional O pop that his dad Mark Steenhuis built his early rep on. He’s not an exact match to either NLL legend, but the shared genes are definitely visible via his on-floor vibe. His athleticism is unmatched, and his confidence (especially pressing up the floor, where he more than doubled his offensive production: 34 GP, 20 G, 14 A) clearly went up a lot after spending an entire winter with the Seals. Like most of the A’s lineup, Steenhuis is still Junior ‘A’ eligible next year, and with another upcoming NLL year under his belt, this kid is gonna be an absolute killer in 2027.
Hayden Hiltz, Burlington Blaze (Photo: Dave Fryer)
10. Hayden Hiltz
Team: Burlington Blaze (OJLL)
Position: Tansition
School: Marquette University
NLL Draft Eligible: 2028
Hayden Hiltz is the only player to rank in our Top 50 in each of the past three seasons: #19 in 2024, #15 in 2025, and now #10 in 2026. There may be no more complete overall player in the Junior game today than Hiltz, who is a solid-ass defender for the Blaze, but also seemingly always staying and playing once the ball transition to the other end of the floor. There are a number of Burlington players that play that same heavy both-sides style, but no one does it as seamlessly and superbly as Hiltz. He is the type of anywhere-on-the-floor player that NLL scouts salivate for. His former Minto Cup-winning Blaze teammate Sam English is already one of the pro league’s top two-way talents after just his first season in the NLL. English went second overall to Toronto two drafts ago. Hiltz honestly could go #1 in 2028, he’s that good.
Ty Wilson, St. Catharines Athletics (Photo: Dave Fryer)
9. Ty Wilson
Team: St. Catharines Athletics (OJLL)
Position: Goalie
School: Robert Morris University
NLL Draft Eligible: 2029
The OJLL’s likely Goalie of the Year (the league had not announced their award winners as of publishing this year’s Top 50), Ty Wilson had a very strong regular season backstopping the #1 ranked St. Catharines Athletics (no team stayed at #1 longer than the A’s on The Lax Mag’s weekly National Junior ‘A’ Rankings this summer), and then had arguably and even better playoffs, being named the league’s post-season MVP while St. Kitts went 12-3. Prior to the Minto, Wilson sported an almost unheard over 28-5 record (regular season + playoffs). Wilson saw 142 more shots (938) than the next closest goalie in the OJLL (Zach Constantpoulos, 796), and get this… he made more regular season stops (798) than that previously mentioned second place stopper had shots against. No keeper in the country dealt with as much heat as Wilson in 2026, who still put up silly stats across the board with that high-end workload.
Josh Mills, Port Coquitlam Saints (Photo: Tristan Bates)
8. Josh Mills
Team: Port Coquitlam Saints (BCJALL)
Position: Forward
School: Mercyhurst University
NLL Draft Eligible: 2028
NLL scouts are looking for big bodies that can put the ball in the back of the net, and few have done that more consistently at the Junior ‘A’ level over the last number of seasons than Port Coquitlam’s Josh Mills.
Josh Mills Goals Scored
’23 Port Coquitlam: 36 (18 GP)
’24 Port Coquitlam: 28 (12)
’25 PoCo/Toronto: 38 (18)
’26 Port Coquitlam: 31 (17)
Mills was easily one of the top power forwards anywhere in Canada this past summer, a physical and super-skilled scorer that kinda gives off Rob Van Beek vibes – a fellow former Saint that played with that same gritty goal-scoring style.
Owen Lee, Whitby Warriors (Photo: Dave Fryer)
7. Owen Lee
Team: Whitby Warriors (OJLL)
Position: Defense
School: Ohio State University
NLL Draft Eligible: 2029
Last year, even with an above average five Whitby Warriors placing in our Top 50 (only the Minto-bound Coquitlam Adanacs and Orangeville Northmen had more), Whitby GM Joel Watson chirped us on social media (as he tends to do) for not including defenseman Owen Lee on last year’s list. Honestly, like a few elite others, Lee just missed making the cut, but a year later, not only is he here, he was easily one of 2026’s top overall talents, and our highest ranked D or T positioned player. No defender covered more ground in his team’s own end than Lee did for Whitby. He is incredibly mobile, a suffocating shutdown defender that is a pestering pain in the ass on every shift. With still a year of ‘A’ ball left, and Whitby only losing a few to graduation, the Lee-led Warriors are already an early Minto favourite for many in 2027.
Max Kruger, Orangeville Northmen (Photo: Dave Fryer)
6. Max Kruger
Team: Orangeville Northmen (OJLL)
Position: Forward
School: Syracuse University
NLL Draft Eligible: 2031
Last year’s OJLL Rookie of the Year had anything but a sophomore slump in 2026, Max Kruger seeing his already super high per-game averages in goals, assists, and points go up, and again performing at an even higher level in the playoffs.
2025: 20 GP, 1.75 G, 2.50 A, 4.25 PTS
2026: 18 GP, 2.06 G, 2.89 A, 4.94 PTS
Difference: +0.31 G, +0.39 A, +0.69 PTS
Nothing too crazy when it comes to his regular season numbers, but again, it’s in the playoffs where Kruger has really taken things up a notch for a second straight summer. Kruger was one of only five players in the OJLL playoffs to average five points or more, and scored three game winners (out of five Orangeville post-season Ws, Ayden Matthews buried the other two) too. Although a lot can happen over the next five years, from reviewing the already on-radar prospects for the 2031 NLL Entry Draft, it’s hard not to see a Max (see #4 below for more on that) going first overall at this point.
Parker Kennedy, Coquitlam Adanacs (Photo: Shelly Fey)
5. Parker Kennedy
Team: Coquitlam Adanacs (BCJALL)
Position: Forward
School: Providence College
NLL Draft Eligible: 2027
He led the BCJALL in assists with 50 (based on per-game averages, the player in second would have needed an extra four games to match Kennedy’s 18-game A total), and his goal scoring and point production were comparable to many of the other top offensive players this summer. So why is Kennedy our highest ranked B.C.-based forward? Well, even though his Adanacs failed to go to their fourth straight Minto and capture their third consecutive Cup, Kennedy’s playoff performance was better than all of those other top-tier O players, some of which saw a serious drop in the post-season stat line this year. Kennedy led the BCJALL playoffs in goals (18), assists (23) and of course points (41). All of that was done in just nine games (Victoria players had a max of ten). When was the last time BC had a triple-crown winner during the postseason? You’d have to go back over a decade to the 2014 season (FYI, Kennedy was all of 9-years-old at the time) when Tony Malcom led the league in all three categories while playing for the New Westminster Salmonbellies (Malcom actually co-led in assists, but we’ll give it to him). Statistically speaking (and for those that say numbers don’t matter, well, you probably have shitty stats), Kennedy owned one of the most impressive stat lines anywhere in the country, seeing his NLL draft stock rise significantly as a result.
Max Wetherup & Max Kruger, 2022 Jr. NLL Tournament (Photo: Daver Fryer)
4. Max Wetherup
Team: Whitby Warriors (OJLL)
Position: Forward
School: University of Maryland
NLL Draft Eligible: 2031
Based on average player age, this year’s Top 50 is the youngest group we’ve ever assembled, and Max Wehterup is one of the youngest players to ever rank this high on our annual list. An ’08 that still has a few summers left of playing at this level, Wetherup is already hands down one of the absolute best Junior ‘A’ players in the country. He had a decent rookie year in 2025, but was understandably further down the Whitby depth charts with names like Lucas Littlejohn (more on him in a sec), Nolan Byrne, Gabriel Sorichetti, Ryan Langille, and even Jack Oldman getting more looks than Wetherup. A year later, the Warriors unleashed the beast, Wetherup leading a very young Warriors offense that came a series win away from going to the Minto Cup. Few players, if any, saw the same significant stat line spike as Wetherup this year, who added almost another four points per game in 2026…
2025: 19 GP, 0.53 G, 0.58 A, 1.11 PTS
2026: 18 GP, 2.28 G, 2.72 A, 5.00 PTS
Difference: +1.75 G, +2.14 A, +3.89 PTS
Littlejohn had a crazy point-collecting summer in 2025, but at just 18-years-old, Wetherup posted an identical (like legit totally identical) regular season + playoff stat line to his former high-profile teammate…
’25 Lucas Littlejohn: 34 GP, 67 G, 111 A, 178 PTS, 6 GWG, 11 hat-tricks
’26 Max Wetherup: 34 GP, 67 G, 111 A, 178 PTS, 6 GWG, 11 hat-tricks
Absolutely absurd, for two reasons. One, how in the hell does that happen, that they registered EXACTLY THE SAME stats like that (screen-grabbed proof below for anyone that thinks we screwed up transcribing those numbers). And two, the fact that Wetherup achieve that line at such a young-ass age. One last thing, it was actually Wetherup’s 178 during the reg. and postseason that led all of Canada, one more point than even Jameson Bucktooth finished with. Ranked fourth in The 50 this year, we honestly could have argued Wetherup even higher.
3. Greyson Beggs
Team: Delta/Victoria (BCJALL)
Position: Goalie
NLL Draft Eligible: 2026
Greyson Beggs led all BCJALL goalies in probably the most telling straight stopper stat available, SV% (.868). Most of his summer was spent with the Delta Islanders, who struggled to find their form throughout the regular season, eventually being dealt to the Victoria Shamrocks, a legit Minto Cup contender (and currently only two wins away from taking Canada’s national title when this list was published). That’s when Beggs really started to shine, helping lead Victoria to an almost sweep of the Port Coquitlam Adanacs in round one of the playoffs, and then doing what no team could do over the previous three years, knocking off the Coquitlam Adanacs in the B.C. Finals. Although he had a horrific start to the Minto Cup (allowing five goals on the first five shots he faced in the tourney opener), since then he’s been back to his usual brilliant self. Beggs was named the BCJALL’s regular season MVP, the league’s Most Inspirational Player, and maybe most impressively, their Playoff MVP too. We don’t have access to the B.C. record books, but that trophy trifecta surely must be about as rare as it gets when it comes to individual provincial accolades. Ridiculous.
Jameson Bucktooth, St. Catharines Athletics (Photo: Dave Fryer)
2. Jameson Bucktooth
Team: St. Catharines Athletics (OJLL)
Position: Forward
NLL: Colorado Mammoth
NLL Entry Draft: 30th overall 2025
Last year, after Justin Tavares scored over 50 times during the OJLL regular season, we looked back at how rare a 50-goal season was in Ontario. Spoiler alert, during the league’s more modern era, it’s pretty, pretty, pretty rare. But not rare enough for Jameson Bucktooth, who had 56 goals in 2026 to Tavares’ 52 a year ago. Bucktooth’s G total is the highest we’ve seen since Brock Haley’s unreal 74 snipes back in 2022, which he did in just 16 regular-season starts. Below are the only OJLL players since 2000 who have scored at least a Bucktooth-matching 56 during the province’s regular season (including GP)…
2008 – Cody Jamieson (Six Nations) 59 (21)
2010 – Kiel Matisz (Burlington) 59 (22)
2011 – Johnny Powless (Six Nations) 65 (22)
2013 – Dhane Smith (Kitchener-Waterloo) 61 (20)
2014 – Austin Shanks (Whitby) 57 (20)
2016 – Austin Staats (Six Nations) 72 (20)
2016 – Jeff Teat (Brampton) 56 (19)
2022 – Brock Haley (Whitby) 74 (16)
Pretty decent company. The last time St. Kitts had anyone have that hefty a goal haul was Grant Johnston in 1995 with 60. Bucktooth was this year’s most creative, clever, and clutch goal getter, making moves in traffic that most players wouldn’t even daydream about let alone pull it off in an actual game. The other thing that jumps out from Bucktooth’s full stat line is his 100 PIMs during the regular season and playoffs, by far the highest combined sin-bin total of any player in Canada this year. Although the A’s Minto was a massive disappointment after finishing last in the four-team tournament, Bucktooth still led the event in points after the round-robin round with 15.
Justin Tavares (Photo: Dave Fryer)
1. Justin Tavares
Team: Mimico/Oakville (OJLL)
Position: Forward
School: Cornell University
NLL Draft Eligible: 2029
While Jameson Bucktooth was this year’s best pure goal scorer, Justin Tavares was the summer’s most complete point producer, owning a 6.24 PTS/GP average, which was over a full point more per game than Ontario’s second highest forward, who was actually the previously mentioned Bucktooth (5.22). Below are the only players to average 6.00 or more points during the OJLL’s Gamesheet-tracking era…
’22 Brock Haley (Whitby) 7.50
’24 Joey Spallina (Orangeville) 7.25
’23 Finn Thomson (Mimico) 6.84
’24 Willem Firth (Toronto) 6.59
’22 Finn Thomson (Mimico) 6.53
’25 Willem Firth (Toronto) 6.29
’26 Justin Tavares (Mimico/Oakville) 6.24
’21 Thomas McConvey (Mimico) 6.14
It’s obviously not a long list, with under 1% of all players over that time good enough to achieve that hellaciously high an average.
So, that was pretty rare, right? Well, how rare was JT’s back-to-back 100-point performance?
We went back to 2010 to see how many OJLL players were able to register consecutive 100s during the regular season, and again, the list isn’t too long. See the Ontario Junior ‘A’ royalty that were able to hit 100 in consecutive campaigns…
Willem Firth, Toronto Beaches
2022: 19 GP, 106 PTS, 5.58 AVG
2023: 17 GP, 112 PTS, 6.59 AVG
Reilly O’Connor, Whitby Warriors
2012: 20 GP, 104 PTS, 5.20 AVG
2013: 19 GP, 101 PTS, 5.32 AVG
2014: 20 GP, 117 PTS, 5.85 AVG
Johnny Powless, Six Nations Arrows
2011: 22 GP, 102 PTS, 4.64 AVG
2013: 17 GP, 104 PTS, 6.12 AVG
Austin Shanks, Whitby Warriors
2014: 20 GP, 104 PTS, 5.20 AVG
2015: 20 GP, 107 PTS, 5.35 AVG
Dhane Smith, Kitchener-Waterloo Braves
2012: 19 GP, 107 PTS, 5.63 AVG
2013: 20 GP, 112 PTS, 5.60 AVG
Joey Spallina, Orangeville Northmen
2023: 19 GP, 102 PTS, 5.37 AVG
2024: 16 GP, 116 PTS, 7.25 AVG
Justin Tavares, Mimico/Oakville
2025: 18 GP, 100 PTS, 5.56 AVG
2026: 17 GP, 106 PTS, 6.24 AVG
Joel Tayler, St. Catharines Athletics
2010: 22 GP, 104 PTS, 4.73 AVG
2011: 22 GP, 100 PTS, 4.55 AVG
Jeff Teat, Brampton Excelsiors
2016: 19 GP, 145 PTS, 7.63 AVG
2017: 19 GP, 136 PTS, 7.16 AVG
2018: 17 GP, 112 PTS, 6.59 AVG
Finn Thomson, Mimico Mountaineers
2022: 19 GP, 124 PTS, 6.53 PTS/GP
2023: 19 GP, 130 PTS, 6.84 PTS/GP
2024: 19 GP, 105 PTS, 5.53 PTS/GP
What Tavares did last year and then again this year is about as rare as it gets unless you are the absolute best in the game, which is why JT Jr. is our #1 ranked Junior ‘A’ player in 2026.