Mimico Lacrosse

The original Town of Mimico, whose name comes from the Ojibwa word meaning “home of the wild pigeon”, was a popular summer vacation destination close to Lake Ontario and its westerly beaches. Originally settled as a farming community, it quickly developed into a hub of activity for new industry; and the ever-expanding railway and heavy manufacturing. Like Toronto, Mimico experienced steady growth during this time, and residents began to settle in the area to work in the local factories, where they were within a short commute to the downtown core.

In those days, you worked for the Railway, Goodyear, Campbell’s Soup or Anaconda Brass.

While the township developed into a bustling suburb of Toronto, the Mimico Lacrosse Club started to churn out some great lacrosse players, builders and teams. Field Lacrosse was played in the early years on pitches bordering Wesley and Portland Streets and at Memorial Park on Hillside Avenue.

In 1931, when the Canadian Lacrosse Association chose the Box game as its new form of play, the Mimico Lacrosse Club built an outdoor box at the corner of Church Street (Royal York) and Drummond Street, where the game has been played continuously until today. It was known across the province as the “Drummond Street Bowl,” which included a dirt floor and old railway boxcars for dressing rooms. Outdoor games at night in front of thousands were the norm for our sport in the golden age. The roar of the crowd and the announcer’s call of the game could be heard all over town.

The Mountaineers brought recognition to the town more than any other sports team, with Mann Cup wins in 1932 and 1942 and Eastern Canadian Senior titles in 1943 and 1947. In WWII, Conn Smythe’s 30th Light Anti-aircraft Battery, dubbed “The Sportsmen’s Battery,” included every member of the Mimico Mountaineers who won the 1942 Mann Cup.

Minto Cup victories were recorded in 1938 and 1951, with Eastern Canadian supremacy logged in 1941 and 1946. Mimico minor lacrosse teams also shared in the success of the Junior and Senior teams, with provincial titles earned as well.

At one point in time, the Southern Etobicoke area boasted thriving lacrosse associations in Mimico, Long Branch and Alderwood, all within minutes of each other. The 1970 Lakeshore Maple Leafs and their Minto Cup win was a combined team from these associations.

Participation in lacrosse dwindled in the late 1970s and 1980s. The Junior A Mountaineers’ last season was in 1978. A short list of dedicated volunteers kept the club afloat, putting in long hours at the arena with various fundraising activities, and driving kids to games and tournaments, keeping the pride and history of Mimico Lacrosse alive.

With the advent of professional box lacrosse, there seemed to be a renewed interest in the game, and membership was on the rise. In 1993, the Mimico Jr. B Mountaineers returned to the ranks of junior competition when a group of former players decided it was time for the players to stay home to play the game. The new team embraced the history of Mimico Lacrosse, honoured past greats from the club, and broadcasted home games on Rogers Cable. Interest in this new team and the sport of lacrosse in the community continued to grow.

Mimico Lacrosse continues to enjoy much success as one of the most significant associations in Ontario with a local box lacrosse league, rep box and field teams at each age division, a thriving women’s field lacrosse program, as well as teams in the Ontario Junior Lacrosse League (Junior A) and Ontario Junior B Lacrosse League (Junior B) and Women’s Major Series Lacrosse (WMSL).

Today, Mimico Lacrosse owes so much to those who came before and laid the foundation for 125 years of memories. There are so many great players, coaches, volunteers and builders of the game from our community, who contributed at the provincial and national level, and each has their own story. Some of these greats have been recognized with inclusion in the Canadian and Ontario Lacrosse Halls of Fame. We appreciate their contribution, and we hope that we honour them with the Mimico Lacrosse Club as it stands today.

Since 1890, Mimico Lacrosse has provided a fun, safe and inclusive lacrosse program that is open to players of all ages and skill levels.

Mimico Lacrosse is the oldest and largest lacrosse club in the City of Toronto. With a wide range of programs for both boys and girls, we are proud to offer a comprehensive experience for kids to learn and play Canada’s national sport in the nation’s largest city.

Ron “Groucho” MacNeil

Ron MacNeil holds the distinction of being the all-time leading goal scorer in the history of box lacrosse in Canada. His remarkable record of 868 goals in 389 regular season contests speaks for itself, highlighting both his exceptional skill and enduring passion for the sport.

Born in 1944 in New Westminster, British Columbia, a renowned lacrosse hotspot, MacNeil moved to Etobicoke, Ontario, at a young age. Despite facing a potentially career-ending leg injury at the age of eight, MacNeil persevered through months of recovery and rehabilitation, earning him the nickname “Groucho” due to his cranky disposition during that period.

Growing up in the Alderwood neighborhood alongside his brothers Cyril, Earl, and Milton, sports became a central part of MacNeil’s life. Excelling in various sports, he found particular success in lacrosse, beginning his journey in the minor ranks of Alderwood’s lacrosse league.

Under the mentorship of coaches like Morley Kells, MacNeil honed his skills and rapidly ascended through the ranks. His talent and dedication were evident as he scored an impressive 114 goals in 24 games at the junior level, establishing himself as an all-star performer.

Upon graduation from junior lacrosse, MacNeil joined the newly formed Toronto Maple Leafs senior team in 1966, where he quickly became known for his scoring prowess. However, as his career progressed, his leg injury began to impact his performance on the field.

Innovative by nature, MacNeil turned his attention to improving lacrosse equipment to accommodate the evolving demands of the game. He opened a sporting goods store in Alderwood and introduced his own line of equipment, including specialized gloves and innovative shoulder pads.

One of MacNeil’s most significant contributions to the sport was the invention of the plastic lacrosse stick. In response to a shortage of traditional hickory sticks, MacNeil designed and produced the first plastic lacrosse stick, revolutionizing the game’s equipment standards.

His invention paved the way for the widespread adoption of plastic sticks, replacing the traditional wooden ones. MacNeil’s commitment to innovation extended beyond equipment design; he also coached minor lacrosse teams and played a key role in identifying and promoting talented young players like Paul and Gary Gait.

MacNeil’s illustrious playing career spanned 17 years, during which he played for teams like the Victoria Shamrocks and the Brantford Warriors, winning the Mann Cup in 1971 with the latter. His prolific scoring and enduring impact on the sport earned him induction into the Canadian Lacrosse Hall of Fame in 1998.

Even after retiring from playing, MacNeil remained actively involved in lacrosse, joining the GBLax equipment company as research and development manager. His continued dedication to improving the sport’s equipment and advocating for its growth and development exemplifies his enduring legacy as a pioneer and innovator in Canadian lacrosse.

Paul Suggate

Paul Suggate is not only an outstanding athlete with many accomplishments, he is also an active member of the Etobicoke community for many years, coaching children as well as Jr A and B lacrosse. Although Paul was born in England, he moved to Alderwood when he was two years old and is still an Etobicoke resident.

Suggate is known to be one of the best lacrosse players of his time, breaking all records for scoring. He is also a Minto Cup Champion (1970) and recognized as a key winning team member.

Some of Suggate’s accomplishments include: being the 2005 Ontario Major Lacrosse Coach of the Year, getting inducted into the Canadian Lacrosse Hall of Fame in 1993, earning MVP honours and being the leading scorer in the National Lacrosse League in 1974 1975 and being the Mann Cup Champion in 1971, to name a few.

Paul Suggate has been a very successful athlete and has significantly impacted developing lacrosse into what it is today. He is known as an exceptional athlete for being a team player and giving the utmost respect to those he played against. He is well respected in the lacrosse community as one of the best players ever to hit the floor!

Ken Cox

Ken Cox was born in Brampton, Ontario, on February 9th, 1917. His family moved to Etobicoke when he was six years old, where he has since been a resident.

At the age of seventeen, Ken (the only original member of the Faustina Sports Club), along with seven other teenagers organized the Faustina Sports Club. Its primary purpose has always been to initiate, promote, sponsor, and lend assistance to minor sports in the area.

Ken played lacrosse, baseball and hockey in Etobicoke as a boy and young man. He refereed in the M.T.H.L. and Little N.H.L. for years. He was referee in chief and president of L.N.H.L. during the era of Bobby Orr and Jerry Cheevers.

During World War II, the club was disbanded. Ken was in the R.C.A.F., and following the war, re-organized the club in 1947. In 1951, when Lakeshore Memorial Arena was built, under Ken’s guidance, Faustina was the first occupant for minor hockey, and is still there providing hockey for young people in the Etobicoke- Lakeshore area.

Through Ken’s efforts and organization, Faustina has provided glasses for the underprivileged, Christmas baskets for the needy and elderly, bursaries for boys who finished their final year in Hockey, to help with their education, donations for the Home for Battered Women, Queensway Hospital, the Sick Children’s Hospital, and more.

Ken was inducted into the Mississauga Hockey Hall of Fame in 1977 and received the Faustina sportsman of the year award in 1995-1996.

Mark Grimes

Mark Grimes, a long-serving city councilor in Toronto, has been a key figure in promoting sports and community development in the city. Throughout his tenure, he has championed various projects aimed at boosting the profile of sports and enhancing recreational facilities.

Grimes’ commitment to sports development began early in his political career when he campaigned on a promise to build a hockey arena in Etobicoke-Lakeshore. In 2009, he fulfilled this promise with the opening of the MasterCard Centre for Hockey Excellence, a state-of-the-art facility that serves as a practice facility for the Toronto Maple Leafs and the Toronto Marlies, among others.

Grimes has also been instrumental in bringing major sporting events to Toronto, such as the NCAA International Bowl, the FIFA U-20 World Cup, and the PGA Championship. He played a key role in the construction of BMO Field, home to Toronto FC and the Toronto Argonauts, and the Biosteel Centre, the Raptors’ practice facility.

In his home ward of Etobicoke-Lakeshore, Grimes has led the construction of several recreational facilities, including an artificial playing turf and dome at Lakeshore Collegiate Institute, a skateboard park on Eighth Street, and the skating trail in Colonel Samuel Smith Park.

Grimes’ efforts have not gone unnoticed, as he has received recognition from various sports organizations, including the Hockey Hall of Fame, the Canada Sports Hall of Fame, and the Toronto Sports Council. He has also been involved in community initiatives, such as the Road Hockey to Conquer Cancer tournament.

Grimes’ dedication to sports and community development reflects his belief in the importance of providing quality recreational facilities and programs for all residents. He continues to work towards creating healthy and vibrant neighborhoods in Etobicoke and across Toronto.

Ken Dixon

In a 1976 piece, sports columnist Red Duddin wrote “The Dixon namewas famous in lacrosse circles in Mimico back in the 1940s and early 1950s. In fact, Ken and Archie Dixon were as well known in those days as lacrosse stars as Vida Blue and Rollie Fingers are today as baseball stars.”

The name Ken Dixon is synonymous with lacrosse in Mimico, at one time a true hotbed of the sport in Canada. Dixon began his career in Canada’s national game in the old Windy Weather league in Mimico during the great depression in the 1930s and throughout the 1940s established himself as one of the game’s biggest stars, scoring over 500 goals during an outstanding 15 year career.

As a junior age rookie with the Mimico senior team, Ken was selected the Ontario Lacrosse Association’s Most Valuable Player, leading Mimico to the Mann Cup in 1942. In the fall of that year Ken was invited to a tryout with the Toronto Maple Leafs. While he made favourable impressions at camp, his budding NHL career was cut short after just one week when he was called to the Armed Services.

The lifelong Etobicoke resident served in the army for the next four years. Upon discharge he joined the Mimico Seniors, guiding the team to an Ontario title and a national championship. Upon his retirement from the game in 1949, in a touching gesture, Ken was presented with a gold watch from the Mimico fans.

In 1976 Ken was elected to the Canadian Lacrosse Hall of Fame. Since his retirement from active sports Ken has coached in the Queensway Minor Hockey League for years and has been an avid participant in the Etobicoke Oldtimers Hockey League.

Brian Shanahan

Brian’s lacrosse career flourished while playing Junior A and Junior B for the Etobicoke Eclipse.

He played sixteen years in senior lacrosse winning 5 straight Mann Cups from 1992-1996. Only eight players have ever won 5 consecutive Mann Cups.

During that time, he was named Defenseman of the Year and MVP of the Ontario Major League in 1995.

For over 30 years, Shanahan has dedicated most of his time, playing, coaching, mentoring and promoting lacrosse. He is universally respected and many of his players that he coached have gone on to play either professional lacrosse or professional hockey.

A longtime Etobicoke resident, Brian is a colour commentator for the National Lacrosse League.

John O’Flaherty a.k.a. “Peanuts”

Born April 10, 1918, in Toronto at St. Michael’s Hospital, “Peanuts” met his wife to be, Kay in grade 8 and married her in 1940. They have nine children and have been residents of Etobicoke continuously since 1943.

Peanuts playing, coaching, managing and scouting career took him across Canada and several cities in the U.S. in a span of five decades.

In 1934, and 1936 as a player and still a teenager Peanuts “won it all” with an O.H.A “Jr. B” Championship with St. Michael’s Buzzers, and a Memorial Cup Championship with West Toronto, respectively.

In 1951 he concluded one of the greatest seasons that any player/coach could conceive of having. Both playing and coaching he led St. Michael’s to the O.H.A “Senior A” Championship while concurrently serving as the coach of the St. Michael’s “Jr. A” team!

In 1937, he led the Senior O.H.A. in scoring with the Toronto Dominions and followed that up with another scoring title the following year with the Toronto Marlboro’s of the O.H.A. “Jr. A” league. Peanuts led the Senior League in scoring one year earlier than he led the Junior League.

Archibald Dixon

Albert Archibald Dixon’s list of lacrosse accomplishments began in 1938 when he was a star defenceman for the Mimico Mounties winning the junior Minto Cup.

Four years later, he again struck gold as a member of the 1942 Senior Mimico team, winning the Mann Cup Championship. Archie began coaching the Long Branch Monarchs in 1955 and was able to bring the Juniors to victory in the Canadian Minto Cup Championship.

In the summer of 1994, the Mimico Mountaineers Lacrosse Club retired his #10 at the Mimico Arena.

After years of dedication to the sport of lacrosse, Archie was inducted into the Canadian Lacrosse Hall of Fame in 1996, when the Hall was officially opened.

In 1997 he was inducted into the Ontario Lacrosse Hall of Fame as a chartered member.

Christine Neatby

Christine Neatby has been a leader in athletics and academics. Her leadership skills have grown through mentoring younger students about her experiences in the Advanced Placement and Gifted/Enrichment program and writing for the program’s newsletter.

Neatby received high honours in this rigorous program in all four years and earned the highest mark in anthropology in grade 11. She was also a leader on the field and on the ice as the captain and MVP of the varsity girls’ hockey team, a force to be dealt with on the Burlington Junior Barracudas provincial hockey team and co-captain for the Mimico U-19 field lacrosse team. Despite her commitment to extra-curricular and co-curricular activities, Neatby took the time to mentor and coach the Mimico U-11 and U-13 field lacrosse teams.

She is currently studying life sciences at the University of Toronto to pave the way for a career in medicine.