Off-season changes needed to repair ailing MSL
The Century 21 Lakers and Six Nations Chiefs are about to determine Ontario’s representative in this year’s Mann Cup series in British Columbia.
This past season has shown that the MSL have made attempts to deal with some of the problems the league is experiencing. Hopefully over the off-season they arrive at a permanent commissioner to run the league. Taking a year to make that determination was wise only if they do their due diligence and select someone who can bring some professionalism and integrity to the league. No more playoff teams switching places!
This winter the league must address parity among the teams. The playoffs showed, when the teams have all their players playing with purpose, there are four very strong franchises. The problems are with Brampton and Cobourg.
Ways must be found to make them competitive throughout the season. Some kind of reverse draft should be looked at so the two teams have a chance at some of the experienced professional players that seem to end up on the top four teams.
A major problem of teams not having access to all their players in the early part of the season is a much more difficult situation. MSL players on the National Lacrosse League teams are involved in playoffs to the end of May. Even after they are finished, some key players are slow returning to their MSL teams after a winter on the road.
Like the NHL in pre-season games requiring teams to have a set number of regular players in the lineup, the MSL could look at some kind of ruling that require teams to make a concerted effort to have as many available regular players in the lineup, especially for road games.
Another easier fix for the MSL is to get rid of the two three-team divisions and create a balanced schedule where teams like Six Nations come into Peterborough more than once during the regular season. Also ways should be explored to have games start at 7 p.m. Before the summer school break the 8 p.m. starts make late nights for kids.
Some serious thought should be given into the way the game is played. First, maybe a third referee on the floor solely responsible for watching the benches on changes is now in order. The way teams change, with the speed and agility of the players, there is continual cheating resulting in fewer odd-man breaks, one of the more exciting aspects of box lacrosse.
Too often it is five against five for 20 seconds then down the floor for a repeat. The front-door, backdoor game is here to stay, unfortunately, so ways must be found to put more individual and team skills into the game.
When the shot-clock was first introduced it was 45 seconds needed for a shot on goal. Maybe it is time to look at bringing that extra 15 seconds back to give offences time to run some plays. An alternative is to give the teams 10 seconds to clear their zone with the ball then start the 30 second clock.
As for NLL rules, the MSL should seriously consider running the shot-clock when teams are killing a penalty. Too often we see teams not pressure the short-handed team especially if they have a healthy lead and just let the penalty run down as the players stand on the floor looking at each other.
Also it’s time the MSL get rid of the 10 minute overtime period and have sudden death overtime from the end of a tied game with no break; regular season and playoffs.
Finally with the future of the Lakers in question after next season because of the closing of the Memorial Centre, the MSL should be seriously considering contingency plans.