Mark Stehlin
May 4, 2025
The Brooklin Merchants of the six-team Ontario Series Lacrosse Senior B league are preparing for another exciting season. This may be a silver anniversary year for the Merchants, but their aim is gold, medal that is, at the Presidents Cup later this summer.
In 2024, they finished with a 13-3 record good for second place behind the Six Nations Rivermen. They came up just short in the Ontario finals against the Rivermen and are planning for a different outcome this season.
The team distributed the following internal awards to celebrate the success of the 2024 season:
• Defensive Player of the Year – Jacob Hickey
• Most Valuable Player – Deacan Knott
• Most Dedicated Player – Ed Renaud
• Top Scorer – Parker Pipher
The Merchants were well-represented as Ontario Series Lacrosse announced their 2024 regular season league awards:
Most Valuable Player - Enrico Caruso Award - Deacan Knott
Coaching Staff of the Year - Brooklin Merchants – Ryan Degerdon and Mark Debrone
Best Two-way Player - Parker Pipher
Leading Scorer - Parker Pipher 15GP 26G 40A 66PTS
Right behind Parker in the scoring race, was Devon Pipher in second overall with 64 points and Ed Renaud in third with 63 points.
The team is looking forward and are excited for a busy summer as they celebrate 25 years in existence. The club was awarded the right, by the Canadian Lacrosse Association, to host the Presidents Cup, emblematic of Senior B lacrosse supremacy in Canada. The event will be held August 23-30, 2025 at Iroquois Park Sports Centre, Whitby, ON.
"This season is a special season for Brooklin being the 25th anniversary along with hosting the Presidents Cup for the first time ever", said GM Gavin Prout.
"We are looking at building the team together with Ryan Degerdon and Mark Debrone so we aren't only putting the best lacrosse people on the floor but also some really great people off the floor. This team chemistry is paramount in the success this year and many years to come", added Prout.
"We are looking forward to seeing what this well built team can do this season. Can't wait to get this season started and see what we are made of", he said.
“This is an exciting year for lacrosse in Brooklin, the connection between BLC and the Merchants has grown over the years and has come to fruition these last couple of years”, said Head Coach Ryan Degerdon.
“We have had four pre-season sessions and I am seeing some new players out due in part to us hosting the Presidents Cup. As the final roster comes together, I think I may have some tough decisions to make”, added Degerdon.
After last season, the team has to deal with some unfinished business. The Ontario final loss to Six Nations was difficult and has acted as a motivator to the players and coaches in the Merchants room.
“We have two goals this year, winning Ontario and winning the Presidents Cup”, said Degerdon.
“I know that as hosts we get an automatic berth into the tournament but once the season gets underway, I don’t want to hear any talk about the Presidents Cup”, cautioned Degerdon. “We are here to win the league and earn our way into the Prezzy as league champs”, he added.
The team starts the summer campaign with two games on the road. On Sunday May 4 at 4:00 p.m. they travel to Meaford to take on the Owen Sound NorthStars. On Saturday May 10 at 8:00 p.m. they will be at the Iroquois Lacrosse Arena to tangle with the Six Nations Rivermen.
The home opener for the Merchants is set for Sunday May 11 at 6:00 p.m. when the Collingwood Cruise (Clearview Crushers last season) come to town for a Mother’s Day game.
The Merchants and the Brooklin Lacrosse Club (Major Series Lacrosse) are both based at the Iroquois Park Sports Centre (IPSC) this season. Fans who have not been to IPSC recently will be treated to an air-conditioned environment. As a special added feature this year, the floor of Pad # 1 has been outfitted with artificial turf that will add a new dimension for players and fans.