Toronto Nationals
Encyclopedia
The Hamilton Nationals are a Major League Lacrosse
(MLL) professional men's field lacrosse
team based in Hamilton, Ontario
, Canada
. They began play in the 2009
season from Toronto
, Ontario
as the Toronto Nationals, becoming the first-ever Canadian team in MLL history. In 2009, they played their home games at BMO Field
, which is also home to Major League Soccer
's Toronto FC
but moved to the smaller Lamport Stadium
for the 2010 season. On February 3, 2011, the Nationals announced that they were relocating to Hamilton, Ontario, and would play their home games at Ron Joyce Stadium on the campus of McMaster University
.
The Hamilton Nationals' identity represents both the Canadian and Iroquois
communities. The team's logo incorporates the Canadian maple leaf and the Iroquois Five Nations belt pattern taken from each respective flag. Additionally, the Nationals continuously sign Iroquois players.
. Before the 2009 season
, part of the Rattlers' roster was transferred to the new Nationals' team; however, the name, colours, and history are staying behind in Rochester to be potentially used by a future MLL team. In November of 2010, it was reported that the Chicago Machine
had moved to Rochester, NY and resumed operation of the Rattlers franchise.
The Nationals started play in the MLL on May 15 2009 and won against Washington Bayhawks 17-16. They won their first home game over the Chicago Machine
15-11. The Nationals qualified for the playoffs as the second seed with a 7-5 record and the best offense in MLL with 184 goals for. The Nationals played their first playoff game against the Long Island Lizards
at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium
in Annapolis, Maryland
. Toronto won their semi-final matchup 14-13 thanks to a strong game by Merrick Thomson
scoring 4 goals. Toronto (at the time) went on to face the Denver Outlaws
in the Steinfeld Cup
Final. The Nationals were tied with the Outlaws 9-9 with over a minute to go in the game. Nationals head coach Dave Huntley called a time-out to draw out a strategy. With 45 seconds left to go, Joe Walters
passed to Shawn Williams
and Williams scored the winning goal to give the Toronto Nationals their first championship victory 10-9 over the Denver Outlaws. Merrick Thomson
was named Playoff MVP and Brodie Merrill
won the Major League Lacrosse Defensive player of the Year Award
.
On February 3, 2011, the Nationals announced that they would be moving to Hamilton and would be known as the Hamilton Nationals. It was also announced that Arrow Express Sports would take sole ownership of the team and the team would play their home games at Ron Joyce Stadium on the campus of McMaster University
. Jody Gage
was announced as the new general manager for the team, while Regy Thorpe
was named the new head coach.
Major League Lacrosse
Major League Lacrosse, or MLL, is a professional men's field lacrosse league that is made up of five teams in the United States and one team in Canada.- History :...
(MLL) professional men's field lacrosse
Field lacrosse
Field lacrosse, sometimes referred to as the "fastest sport on two feet," is a full contact outdoor men's sport played with ten players on each team. The sport originated among Native Americans, and the modern rules of field lacrosse were initially codified by Canadian William George Beers in 1867....
team based in Hamilton, Ontario
Hamilton, Ontario
Hamilton is a port city in the Canadian province of Ontario. Conceived by George Hamilton when he purchased the Durand farm shortly after the War of 1812, Hamilton has become the centre of a densely populated and industrialized region at the west end of Lake Ontario known as the Golden Horseshoe...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. They began play in the 2009
2009 MLL season
The 2009 Major League Lacrosse season was the 9th season of the league. The season began on May 15, 2009 and concluded with the championship game on August 23, 2009.-Rule changes:...
season from Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
, Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
as the Toronto Nationals, becoming the first-ever Canadian team in MLL history. In 2009, they played their home games at BMO Field
BMO Field
BMO Field is a Canadian soccer stadium located in Exhibition Place in the city of Toronto. The open-air structure can seat up to 21,800 spectators, depending on seating configurations. It is owned by the City of Toronto, and managed by Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment Ltd...
, which is also home to Major League Soccer
Major League Soccer
Major League Soccer is a professional soccer league based in the United States and sanctioned by the United States Soccer Federation . The league is composed of 19 teams — 16 in the U.S. and 3 in Canada...
's Toronto FC
Toronto FC
Toronto FC is a Canadian professional soccer club based in Toronto, Ontario which competes in Major League Soccer , the top professional soccer league in the United States and Canada....
but moved to the smaller Lamport Stadium
Lamport Stadium
Allan A. Lamport Stadium is a multi-purpose stadium on King Street West in the Liberty Village neighbourhood of Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It is used mostly for soccer. It was built in 1974 on the site of the notorious Andrew Mercer Reformatory for Women, opened in the fall of 1975 and holds 9,600...
for the 2010 season. On February 3, 2011, the Nationals announced that they were relocating to Hamilton, Ontario, and would play their home games at Ron Joyce Stadium on the campus of McMaster University
McMaster University
McMaster University is a public research university whose main campus is located in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. The main campus is located on of land in the residential neighbourhood of Westdale, adjacent to Hamilton's Royal Botanical Gardens...
.
The Hamilton Nationals' identity represents both the Canadian and Iroquois
Iroquois
The Iroquois , also known as the Haudenosaunee or the "People of the Longhouse", are an association of several tribes of indigenous people of North America...
communities. The team's logo incorporates the Canadian maple leaf and the Iroquois Five Nations belt pattern taken from each respective flag. Additionally, the Nationals continuously sign Iroquois players.
Franchise history
The Nationals have their roots in the MLL's charter franchise the Rochester RattlersRochester Rattlers
The Rochester Rattlers are a Major League Lacrosse professional men's field lacrosse team based in Rochester, New York. They are a charter member of the MLL. From their inaugural season in 2001 to 2005, they were in the National Division. From 2006 to 2008, they were a member of the Eastern...
. Before the 2009 season
2009 MLL season
The 2009 Major League Lacrosse season was the 9th season of the league. The season began on May 15, 2009 and concluded with the championship game on August 23, 2009.-Rule changes:...
, part of the Rattlers' roster was transferred to the new Nationals' team; however, the name, colours, and history are staying behind in Rochester to be potentially used by a future MLL team. In November of 2010, it was reported that the Chicago Machine
Chicago Machine
The Chicago Machine is a mens field lacrosse team that plays in Major League Lacrosse that was based in Chicago, Illinois until the franchise left after the 2009 season to be a travel team in 2010. The team then transferred its roster to the reborn Rochester Rattlers on November 23, 2010 when it...
had moved to Rochester, NY and resumed operation of the Rattlers franchise.
The Nationals started play in the MLL on May 15 2009 and won against Washington Bayhawks 17-16. They won their first home game over the Chicago Machine
Chicago Machine
The Chicago Machine is a mens field lacrosse team that plays in Major League Lacrosse that was based in Chicago, Illinois until the franchise left after the 2009 season to be a travel team in 2010. The team then transferred its roster to the reborn Rochester Rattlers on November 23, 2010 when it...
15-11. The Nationals qualified for the playoffs as the second seed with a 7-5 record and the best offense in MLL with 184 goals for. The Nationals played their first playoff game against the Long Island Lizards
Long Island Lizards
The Long Island Lizards are a Major League Lacrosse professional men's field lacrosse team based in Hempstead, New York, USA, located on Long Island. They are original members of the MLL and lost in the league's inaugural game on June 7, 2001 to the Baltimore Bayhawks , 16-13...
at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium
Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium
Navy – Marine Corps Memorial Stadium is an outdoor athletic stadium near the campus of the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland. It is the home field of the Navy Midshipmen football team, the men's lacrosse team, and the Chesapeake Bayhawks lacrosse team....
in Annapolis, Maryland
Annapolis, Maryland
Annapolis is the capital of the U.S. state of Maryland, as well as the county seat of Anne Arundel County. It had a population of 38,394 at the 2010 census and is situated on the Chesapeake Bay at the mouth of the Severn River, south of Baltimore and about east of Washington, D.C. Annapolis is...
. Toronto won their semi-final matchup 14-13 thanks to a strong game by Merrick Thomson
Merrick Thomson
Merrick Thomson is a former lacrosse player from Hamilton, Ontario. He played the attack position for the Hamilton Nationals of Major League Lacrosse and for the Philadelphia Wings of the National Lacrosse League.-College career:...
scoring 4 goals. Toronto (at the time) went on to face the Denver Outlaws
Denver Outlaws
The Denver Outlaws are a Major League Lacrosse professional men's field lacrosse team based in Denver, Colorado. They began playing in the MLL in 2006 as an expansion team. From 2006 to 2008, they were in the Western Conference. With the MLL contraction in the 2009 season from 10 to 6 teams The...
in the Steinfeld Cup
Steinfeld Cup
The Steinfeld Cup is the trophy given annually to the winners ofthe New Balance Major League Lacrosse Championship. It is named after MLL founder Jake Steinfeld...
Final. The Nationals were tied with the Outlaws 9-9 with over a minute to go in the game. Nationals head coach Dave Huntley called a time-out to draw out a strategy. With 45 seconds left to go, Joe Walters
Joe Walters
Joe Walters is a professional lacrosse player for the Rochester Knighthawks of the National Lacrosse League and the Toronto Nationals in the Major League Lacrosse.-Collegiate:...
passed to Shawn Williams
Shawn Williams
Shawn Williams is a Canadian lacrosse player who plays for the Edmonton Rush of the National Lacrosse League and formerly of the Hamilton Nationals of Major League Lacrosse.-NLL career:...
and Williams scored the winning goal to give the Toronto Nationals their first championship victory 10-9 over the Denver Outlaws. Merrick Thomson
Merrick Thomson
Merrick Thomson is a former lacrosse player from Hamilton, Ontario. He played the attack position for the Hamilton Nationals of Major League Lacrosse and for the Philadelphia Wings of the National Lacrosse League.-College career:...
was named Playoff MVP and Brodie Merrill
Brodie Merrill
Brodie Merrill is a Canadian lacrosse player. He currently plays in the National Lacrosse League for the Philadelphia Wings and Major League Lacrosse for the Hamilton Nationals.-High school career:...
won the Major League Lacrosse Defensive player of the Year Award
Major League Lacrosse Defensive Player of the Year Award
Warrior Major League Lacrosse Defensive Player of the Year Award is given annually to the individual judged to be, from amongst all MLL players, the best all-around defensively across a given season. Brodie Merrill has largely dominated this award, winning it a record six consecutive...
.
On February 3, 2011, the Nationals announced that they would be moving to Hamilton and would be known as the Hamilton Nationals. It was also announced that Arrow Express Sports would take sole ownership of the team and the team would play their home games at Ron Joyce Stadium on the campus of McMaster University
McMaster University
McMaster University is a public research university whose main campus is located in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. The main campus is located on of land in the residential neighbourhood of Westdale, adjacent to Hamilton's Royal Botanical Gardens...
. Jody Gage
Jody Gage
Joseph William "Jody" Gage is a former professional ice hockey right winger. He was drafted in the third round, 45th overall, by the Detroit Red Wings in the 1979 NHL Entry Draft....
was announced as the new general manager for the team, while Regy Thorpe
Regy Thorpe
Regy Thorpe was a professional lacrosse player for the Rochester Knighthawks in the National Lacrosse League who is now retired. He played his entire NLL career with the Knighthawks. He also played with the Rochester Rattlers of Major League Lacrosse...
was named the new head coach.
Season-by-season
| Hamilton Nationals | ||||
| Year | W | L | Regular season finish | Playoffs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 2009 Toronto Nationals season The 2009 Toronto Nationals season was the first for the franchise. Their first game in the MLL was on May 15 2009 against Washington Bayhawks, which they won 17-16. They also won their first home game over the Chicago Machine 15-11. The Nationals qualified for the playoffs as the second seed... |
7 | 5 | 2nd in League | Won semifinal 14-13 over Lizards Long Island Lizards The Long Island Lizards are a Major League Lacrosse professional men's field lacrosse team based in Hempstead, New York, USA, located on Long Island. They are original members of the MLL and lost in the league's inaugural game on June 7, 2001 to the Baltimore Bayhawks , 16-13... Won championship 10-9 Over Outlaws Denver Outlaws The Denver Outlaws are a Major League Lacrosse professional men's field lacrosse team based in Denver, Colorado. They began playing in the MLL in 2006 as an expansion team. From 2006 to 2008, they were in the Western Conference. With the MLL contraction in the 2009 season from 10 to 6 teams The... |
| 2010 2010 Toronto Nationals season The 2010 Toronto Nationals season was the second for the franchise. After playing their 2009 season at BMO Field, the Nationals moved their home games to Lamport Stadium for their second season. Coming off a Steinfeld Cup victory in 2009, the Nationals were unable to repeat this achievement. ... |
3 | 9 | 6th in League | Did not qualify |
| 2011 2011 Hamilton Nationals season The 2011 Hamilton Nationals season was the third for the franchise. After playing their 2010 season at Lamport Stadium, the Nationals moved their home games to Ron Joyce Stadium for their third season. They finished third in the league in 2011 with a 7-5 record... |
7 | 5 | 3rd in League | Won semifinal 11-9 over Denver Outlaws Denver Outlaws The Denver Outlaws are a Major League Lacrosse professional men's field lacrosse team based in Denver, Colorado. They began playing in the MLL in 2006 as an expansion team. From 2006 to 2008, they were in the Western Conference. With the MLL contraction in the 2009 season from 10 to 6 teams The... Lost championship 10-9 to Boston Cannons Boston Cannons The Boston Cannons are a Major League Lacrosse professional men's field lacrosse team based in Boston, Massachusetts. They have played in the MLL since the 2001 season. From 2006 to 2008, they were in the Eastern Conference. From the league's inception in 2001 through 2005, they were in the... |
| Totals | 17 | 19 | Regular Season Win % = .472 | Total Playoff Record 3 - 1 Playoff Win % = .750 |