THOMPSON-OKANAGAN JUNIOR LACROSSE LEAGUE HISTORY
The Thompson Okanagan Junior Lacrosse League (TOJLL), inaugurated in 1999, is one of two (Tier I) Junior B box lacrosse leagues sanctioned by the British Columbia Lacrosse Association. The league champion competes for the British Columbia Junior B Tier I Provincial Championship. Teams have competed for the Founders Cup, a national tournament, which determines the Canadian Junior B Tier I lacrosse champion.
The Commissioners:
- Phil Reunoff (2000-01)
- Cam Morrison (2001-06)
- Ed Kwasniewski (2006-11)
- Dan Wray (2011-17)
- Guy Charron (2017-18)
- Jeff Hanley (2018-21)*
- Heather Davis (2021-2024)*
- Wuilbert Jaramillo (2025-Current)
* denotes Vacated Office During Term. NOTE: TOJLL seasons begin in November after the Annual General Meeting.
Pre-League History: Written by Dan Wray a former Commissioner
I realized that starting in 1998 there would be no lacrosse for my 3 boys to play in the Okanagan after graduating out of Minor Lacrosse other than playing Intermediate/Junior and Senior Lacrosse back in the Lower mainland.
We had just moved to Kelowna from Surrey in the summer of 1993.
I immediately started a mass player recruitment drive in Kelowna, to build up the local Minor Association. I was being greedy to have somewhere for my children to play Lacrosse.
Basically one of my decisions for moving to Kelowna, is that they had a little bit of Lacrosse in Kelowna and I knew I could build the numbers up as I had just built (in a very short time) the Surrey Rebels Minor Lacrosse Association into the biggest Minor club in Western Canada as Surrey's Association Head Coach.
I have never played Lacrosse, but I could organize!
When I arrived in Kelowna from Surrey, there were only 3 teams in Kelowna, 1 peewee team, 1 bantam team and 1 midget team. The only other Minor Lacrosse Associations in the area were Vernon, Armstrong and Kamloops with low numbers. sat in different Kelowna arena's during hockey season recruiting hockey players to play Lacrosse during the summer to drive up the Kelowna numbers. We had a tv and Lacrosse video's blaring in the warm area's of the arena's. Parents and kids came in droves to hear me talk about the connection between Hockey and Lacrosse. How Lacrosse gave them the edge in hockey!
In a couple of years, we formed with Vernon, Armstrong and Kamloops the Thompson/Okanagan Minor Lacrosse Commission to co-ordinate growing the game of Lacrosse in our area. This was the idea of CLA Hall of Famer, the late Bill McBain. Bill McBain, Corinne Almas (The new Chair of the TOMLC), and myself sat for hours planning the expansion of Lacrosse throughout the Okanagan Valley.
Bill McBain told us about how small towns in Ontario play Jr. B Lacrosse, using the 5 year age group of 16-21 to could easily fill their rosters. This was a perfect template for small town Lacrosse outside of the Lower Mainland.
So, we needed to build numbers in the existing Minor Lacrosse clubs and develop new minor Lacrosse clubs in the area Corinne Almas and I first started Salmon Arm Minor Lacrosse with the help of her brother Bob Thomson. Their dad is in the Vernon Hall of Fame as a great Lacrosse player. Then we got Penticton Minor Lacrosse going. Somewhere in all this Vernon and Armstrong Minor joined forces with much resistance and became Vernon Minor Lacrosse. Then we got Merritt Minor Lacrosse going. We did try and get West Kelowna started at one time but failed!
Then Finally were got Revelstoke Minor Lacrosse going. This is the history of how the Minor Lacrosse system grew in the Thompson/Okanagan area that will supply players to the up coming TOJLL. On top of that, our Thompson/Okanagan Development team became the BCLA Development team where we went all over B.C. developing new Minor clubs.
Bill McBain, Corinne Almas, myself along with others locally help establish Minor Lacrosse in Cranbrook, Elk Valley, West Kootenay, Hope, Sunshine Coast, Powell River, Gold River, William's Lake, Quesnel, Vanderhoof, Terrace, Houston, Kitimat, Nisga'a and Fort St. John. Honorary mention to small towns we tried to develop minor clubs in, were Grand Forks, Canal Flats, Golden, Lillooet, 100 Mile House, West Kelowna, Prince Rupert and Hazleton.
We, as the BCLA Development team also help establish (5 year aged player range) 2 other Jr. B leagues, the Northwest Junior Lacrosse League on the Island and the Great White North Junior Lacrosse League.
This was all to co-ordinate for a B.C. Junior “B” Provincial Championship with the TOJLL. This was the plan and organization locally and Provincially to get the TOJLL off the ground and give competition the TOJLL Provincially! It was a lot of travel and hard work in many fazes and by many hands!!!! We needed a plan, goals, achievements, help from the B.C.L.A. And we seem to accomplish most of it! And the players, coaches, teams and fans are the benefactors of the most exciting game on 2 feet! Lacrosse! TOJLL style!
Our Development Team:
Bill McBain: past CLA President and BCLA Head Coach and BCLA V.P. Development. CLA Hall of Fame in the Builders category. Winner of the B.C.L.A.'s Mr. Lacrosse award. Along with many, many other Lacrosse awards to his credit. Corinne Almas: Kelowna Minor President, first TOMLC Chair, BCLA V.P. Development and first woman ever to win the B.C.L.A.'s “Mr. Lacrosse” award. They had to change the name of the award to Ms./Mr. Lacrosse. Dan Wray: Surrey Minor Association Head Coach. Kelowna Minor Association Head Coach, V.P. Development TOMLC, Chair B.C.L.A. Minor Directorate, winner of the B.C.L.A.'s Executive of the Year 3 straight years and winner of the B.C.L.A.'s “Mr. Lacrosse”! Known as the “Vision and Action team”! Honorable mentions: Rochelle Winterton B.C.L.A. Executive Director, Myrna Cable of the Great White North Commission and Greg Toll B.C.L.A. Minor Directorate Chair and many, many others!
We tried to establish Intermediate Lacrosse for 3 years before the TOJLL. But always had problems with enough players to play. It was a constant problem. It was then Bill McBain suggested we use the 5 year Jr. “B” program and that seemed to solve the problem.
1997 Interior Intermediate League
Kelowna Kodiaks 4-4, Kamloops Rattlers 4-4
1998 Interior Intermediate League
Prince George Posse 8-0, Kamloops Rattlers 4-4, Kelowna Kodiaks 0-8
1999 Interior Intermediate League
Kelowna Kodiaks 8-0, Vernon Tigers 0-8
Kelowna held the 1st and only Intermediate tournament in the the Interior. It was called the Andy Woods Memorial Tournament.
In 2000 the TOJLL started league play with 5 teams. Kelowna leading the way with 5 strong midget House teams and with the large amount of graduating of players born in 1983, Kelowna was able to establish 3 strong Jr. B teams. The Kelowna Braves made up of mostly Kelowna player, the Kelowna Dragons made up of mainly West Kelowna players and the Rutland Raiders made up of mainly Rutland players.
Not only did Kelowna have 3 Jr. “B” teams, no where else in all of Canada, did 1 city even have 2 Jr. “B” teams! Kelowna had 3 strong teams. Vernon on the other hand is an interesting story. Vernon never had a midge team in 1999. Many of the 1st Vernon Junior Tigers were actually from Winfield or Lake Country who had played for the Kelowna Minor Lacrosse in Midget. Only a handful of actual Vernon minor players played Midget for Kelowna in 1999.
So, in reality, Kelowna had 3 1/2 teams in the TOJLL in the first year....Dan Holte a Kelowna Coach and local Vernon parents established the Vernon Jr. Tigers in 2000. Coach Holte connection to Vernon was he played on the Vernon Tigers Senior “B” that won 3 Canadian Sr. “B” Championships in the late 1970's.
Kamloops had a very strong minor organization and was able to join the league.
This is how Lacrosse grew in the Thompson/Okanagan and Provincially resulting in the formation of the TOJLL and the rest of the 5 year program Junior “B' teams throughout B.C.
Regards, Dan Wray
Year By Year:
1999: Thompson-Okanagan Junior Lacrosse League founded by Dan Wray to provide a quality lacrosse environment for players aged 16 to 20. Wray first launched the concept of organized lacrosse for players in Grades 11 and 12, with an intermediate league in the Interior for three years, in the late 1990s. With a large and talented crop of 1983-born talent coming out of the midget ranks, Wray felt the time was right to launch a junior B circuit for players in the valley. The new league would begin regular season play in 2000.
2000: Phil Reunoff becomes the first Commissioner. Rutland Raiders become the leagues inaugural champions, defeating the North Okanagan Tigers. The two Kelowna teams the Braves and Dragons were semi finalists. The Kamloops Rattlers along with the South Okanagan Flames failed to qualify.
2001: The TOJLL season was a fifteen-game regular season. The South Okanagan Flames were forced to forfeit three games due to ineligible player rules. The league had six teams: Kamloops Rattlers, Kelowna Braves, Kelowna Dragons, North Okanagan Tigers, Rutland Raiders and South Okanagan Flames.
The playoffs were a best-of-three semifinals and a best-of-five finals. Rutland Raiders defeated the Kelowna Braves in the semi-finals, two games to zero. The Raiders met the North Okanagan Tigers in the final and defeated them three games to two. The Tigers beat the Kamloops Rattlers two games to zero in the other semi-final.
2002: Cam Morrison became the leagues(second) Commissioner. The TOJLL allowed the Prince George Posse into the league, as an exhibition team, for the eighteen-game regular season. Note: The Posse went on to a perfect (18–0–0) season.
North Okanagan Tigers defeated the Kamloops Rattlers in the semi-finals, in two games. The Tigers then met up with the Kelowna Dragons in the final. The Dragons defeated the Rutland Raiders in a very close two-game sweep, in the semi-final. The North Okanagan Tigers defeated the Kelowna Dragons in three games to claim the League Championship.
2003: The TOJLL expanded with the inclusion of the Armstrong Shamrocks. The Kelowna Braves had to forfeit seven games due to ineligible player rules.
The North Okanagan Tigers, now renamed the Vernon Tigers became champions for the second time by defeating the Kelowna Dragons in the championship final by a three-game sweep. The Tigers defeated the Kamloops Rattlers 2–0 in the semi-final. In the other semi-final, the Kelowna Dragons defeated the Rutland Raiders 2–1, in a best-of-three.
The Vernon Tigers, represented the TOJLL in the Provincials, losing to the Prince George Posse, 9–7, in the Gold Medal game.
2004: Kamloops Rattlers defeated the Rutland Raiders three games to two, to claim the championship. They eliminated the Vernon Tigers in a semi-final match-up, two games to one. To get to the final, the Rutland Raiders defeated the Kelowna Dragons in a two-game sweep.
The TOJLL hosted the Provincials which meant that two teams from the TOJLL would play in the tournament. Those teams were the Vernon Tigers (0–4 in the Provincial round robin), as host, and the Kamloops Rattlers (1–3 in the Provincial round robin) as 2004 TOJLL Champions. The Rattlers went on to play the Peninsula Falcons (2–1–1) for the Bronze Medal, winning 6–5.
2005: Kamloops Rattlers would become the second team to win back-to-back championships. The Rattlers earned a championship final playoff berth by defeating the South Okanagan Flames in a two-game sweep. The other finals berth was earned by the Rutland Raiders, who defeated the Vernon Tigers in their semifinals series, 2–0. The Rattlers completely demolished the Raiders in that final series, winning in a three-game sweep, with a combined score of 47–18.
The TOJLL was represented by the league champions, Kamloops Rattlers, at the Provincials. They Rattlers came away with a silver medal, losing the final, 16–15, to the Westshore Bears.
2006: Prior to the start of the TOJLL season the Kelowna Braves and Kelowna Dragons amalgamated to form the Kelowna Warriors. The league initiated a pre-season schedule by including the Annual Archie Jack Memorial Ice Breaker Tournament, which is played in Armstrong, British Columbia. With the loss of one team, the league reverted to a fifteen-game regular season.
The playoff format was changed to that of a (best-of-three) quarterfinals, semifinals and a (best-of-five) finals, the top two teams, of the regular season, got a first round playoff bye. The playoffs would prove to be unique for the league as the Kamloops Rattlers would win a third consecutive League Championship. In the playoff quarter-finals best-of-three, the Vernon Tigers defeated the Armstrong Shamrocks and the Kelowna Warriors defeated the South Okanagan Flames in two-game sweeps. For the semi-finals, the Kamloops Rattlers defeated the Kelowna Warriors in two games. In the other semi-final, the Rutland Raiders won the first game against the Vernon Tigers 11–6. The Tigers would win the second game, 11–8, but had to forfeit due to an ineligible player ruling. The TOJLL Championship final series between the Kamloops Rattlers and Rutland Raiders would go the distance, best-of-five, and the Rattlers prevailed.
At the Provincials, the Kamloops Rattlers garnered a bronze medal for the TOJLL, with a 10–8 win over the Westshore Bears.
2007: Ed Kwasniewski became the leagues(third) Commissioner. The TOJLL saw no major changes, maintaining the same regular season and playoff formats as in 2006. The league did however create its first online presence with a website through Teamopolis Inc.
For an unprecedented fourth time, the Kamloops Rattlers emerged as league champions. The Rattlers defeated the Kelowna Warriors in semi-final action, 2–0 and the Rutland Raiders in the finals, 3–0. In the other playoff series, the Vernon Tigers defeated the South Okanagan Flames, 2–0 and then lost to the Raiders, 0–2. The Armstrong Shamrocks lost to the Kelowna Warriors, 2–1. The Shamrocks and Warriors only played fourteen regular season games, as a game that had to be cancelled earlier in the season was never played.
The Kamloops Rattlers hosted the Founders Cup, going 3–1 in pool A. For the playdowns the Rattlers lost to Calgary Mountaineers, won against the Sherwood Park Titans but, still failed to make the medal round.
2008: The Kamloops Venom became a member of the TOJLL. The TOJLL also welcomed the newly formed West Kootenay Wolf Pack to the league, as an exhibition team, for the now fourteen game regular season.
The Rattlers finished first overall, in league play, and along with the Rutland Raiders received a first-round playoff bye. In the second round, the Rattlers met up with the Vernon Tigers, and defeated them two games to one. Previously the Tigers defeated the Kamloops Venom two games to one in a quarterfinal match-up. The Raiders, meanwhile, faced the Kelowna Warriors with the Warriors pulling off an upset come-from-behind series win, two games to one. The Warriors advanced from the first round and defeated the South Okanagan Flames in two games. For their fifth consecutive TOJLL Championship, the Kamloops Rattlers defeated the Kelowna Warriors in a three-game sweep.
The Kamloops Rattlers, earned a silver medal at the Provincials. In round robin play the Venom went 3–1, which secured second place. In the Provincial Gold medal game, against the Coquitlam Adanacs, the Venom lost by a score of 8–4.
2009: The Vernon Tigers placed third in league play and in the league final, against the Kamloops Venom, and won three games to two. The Tigers were down in the series two games to none. Vernon reached the final by having previously defeated the Rutland Raiders in the quarter-finals and the South Okanagan Flames in the semi-finals both in two game sweeps. Kamloops earned their trip to the league final by sweeping their crosstown rival Kamloops Rattlers in quarter final action,2–0 and the Kelowna Warriors in the semi-finals, 2–1. The Kelowna Warriors and the South Okanagan Flames received a first-round playoff bye for being ranked first and second, respectively, in regular season play
Vernon Tigers, garnered a silver medal at the Provincials. In round robin play, their record was three wins with one loss, which secured second place. In the gold medal game against the Port Moody Thunder the score ended up 9-5.
2010: The Kamloops Venom won the TOJLL Championship, a Provincial Gold Medal (a first for the league) and a Bronze Medal at the Founders Cup. The South Okanagan Flames have the dubious honor of being the first team to go winless in a season.
The Venom entered the Provincials by defeating the first place Vernon Tigers three games to one, for the TOJLL Championship. The Venom had previously defeated the Kelowna Warriors in a semi final series, two game to zero. In the other semi final it was the Tigers over the Kamloops Ratters, two games to none. The Warriors defeat the Rutland Raiders in two games in the quarter-finals, and the Rattlers beat the Armstrong Shamrocks in two games.
After game four, which the Venom won 5–4 in overtime, the Vernon Tigers submitted a formal protest to the BCLA, citing an ineligible player on the Venoms roster. The BCLA ruled in favor of the Tigers, giving them the win for game four and scheduling a game five. The TOJLL Commissioner then protested the BCLAs ruling, stating that he gave the Venom permission to use this player (the Rattlers' starting goalie) only in an emergency situation. His protest was denied. The Venom submitted an official protest on the BCLA ruling, and a decision was handed down just hours prior to the start of game five, in favor of the Kamloops Venom.
2011: Prior to the start of the TOJLL season, the Kelowna Warriors and Rutland Raiders merged to become the Kelowna Raiders. The league also decided to have a fifteen game regular season.
Kelowna Raiders garnered a silver medal at the Provincials. The Raiders record in the round-robin was 2–1, losing only to the Port Moody Thunder, but earning a spot in the Finals. The Raiders would once again meet Port Moody in the final, losing by a score of 15–8.
In the TOJLL playoffs the Kamloops Venom and the Kamloops Rattlers squared off in a quarter final best-of-three match, with the Venom defeating the Rattlers 2–0. In the other quarter final it was the Vernon Tigers squeaking by the South Okanagan Flames 2–0. Semi-final action saw the Tigers take on the Raiders losing the best-of-five, 3–0 and the Venom defeat the Armstrong Shamrocks by the same 3–0. The Finals went the distance as the Raiders got past the Venom 3–2.
2012: Dan Wray became the leagues(fourth) Commissioner. The Kamloops Rattlers ceased operations prior to the start of the season. The remaining teams played an abbreviated schedule due to a league controversy concerning the players of the Rattlers. That issue was resolved by the BCLA... "I am writing to inform you that at an emergency meeting of the Senior Directorate, the 11-member panel voted to uphold point 5.06 in the BCLA Senior Operating Policy," wrote Christine Pollock, BCLA's senior directorate chair, in a ruling. "This allows for any junior age player residing in Kamloops to play for the Kamloops Venom, currently the only junior B team in Kamloops registered with the BCLA." The league changed the playoff format to that of semifinals and finals, both a best-of-five series.
The TOJLL playoffs were capped with a provincial championship as the Kamloops Venom garnered the league's second title. The Venom went 3–0 in the preliminary rounds, thus earning a bye to the final, defeated the Delta Islanders 6–3 in the Gold Medal Game.
The Kamloops Venom soundly defeated the South Okanagan Flames in the first two games of the best-of-five TOJLL semi-finals by scores of 14–7 and 16–5. South Ok. being short players during the playoffs forfeited game three, giving the Venom the series. In the other series it was the Vernon Tigers defeating the Armstrong Shamrocks in four games. The TOJLL final would also only go to four games as the Kamloops Venom defeated the Vernon Tigers.
The Kamloops Venom went winless at the Founders Cup, with a record of 0–4.
2013: The TOJLL was represented by, league champions, the Vernon Tigers in the Provincial Tournament. The Tigers went 0–3 in round-robin play, then lost the Bronze Medal Game, 13–9, to the Delta Islanders. The TOJLL regular season was increased to sixteen games.
The Vernon Tigers defeated the Armstrong Shamrocks in the best-of-five semi-finals, 3–0. In the other series, it was the Kamloops Venom upsetting the Kelowna Raiders in four games. The TOJLL final would also go to four games as the Vernon Tigers defeated the Kamloops Venom.[19]
In the BC Junior B Provincials the Vernon Tigers failed to win a single game. The Tigers lost to the Saanich Tigers of Pacific North West Junior Lacrosse League(PNWJLL) 21–15, Delta Islanders of the West Coast Junior Lacrosse League(WCJLL) 13–2 and the WCJLL hosts, Burnaby Lakers, 11–9, during round-robin play. The Bronze Medal Game featured the third place Delta Islanders versus the fourth place Vernon Tigers, which the Islanders won 13–9.
2014: The first place Kamloops Venom defeated the South Okanagan Flames, three games to zero. The third game was not played as South Ok defaulted. In the other semi-final it was second place Vernon Tigers over powering the Armstrong Shamrocks in three straight. The Tigers would defeat the Venom, four games to one, in the league final.
The Tigers hosting the Provincials meet the Delta Islanders (WCJLL) in the final for the gold medal, losing 14–7. The Bronze Medal was won by the Kamloops Venom who defeated the Saanich Tigers (PNWJLL), 15–14
2015: For the first time in the league, a team, the Vernon Tigers, had a perfect regular season (16–0–0).
In the playoffs semifinals the first place Vernon Tigers swept fourth place Armstrong Shamrocks in a best-of-five series. South Okanagan Flames were defeated in five games to third-place finisher Kamloops Venom. The TOJLL championship final series (best-of-five), between the Tigers and Venom, was won by Kamloops (3–2).
The Venom went 1–2, in the round-robin portion of the Junior B Provincials tournament. In the bronze medal game, hosts, the Westshore Bears defeated the Venom, 25–13.
2016: The league switched website providers, from Teamopolis to TeamPages, this resulted in the loss all statistics for years 2007 to 2015. For the third year in-a-row the Kelowna Raiders failed to make the playoff rounds.
The playoffs semifinals featured the Vernon Tigers versus Armstrong Shamrocks and the Kamloops Venom playing the South Okanagan Flames. The Tigers and Venom each swept their best-of-five series, 3–0.[53] The Venom went on to sweep the Tigers, 3–0, to claim the TOJLL Championship.
At the Provincials, held by the WCJLLs Coquitlam Adanacs, the Venom lost to the host, 18–4, in their first game. In the Venoms second game, they lost to the WCJLLs New Westminster Salmonbellies, 10–7. The Venoms' third game was a win, 13–12, over the PNWJLLs Saanich Tigers. The Venom failed to garner a Bronze Medal as they lost to the Tigers, 13–11.
2017: The TOJLL and Vernon Tigers hosted the Junior B Lacrosse Provincials. The Kelowna Raiders became the first team in league history to go pointless for the regular season. They finished the season with a record of 0–16, which includes 3 defaulted games, noted as a, 1–0 loss.
Playoffs Semifinal (A), Kamloops Venom versus South Okanagan Flames was won by the Venom, 3–0. Semifinal (B), Vernon Tigers versus Armstrong Shamrocks was won by the Tigers, 3–1.[57] The Kamloops Venom secured their 3rd consecutive league championship downing the Tigers, 3–2.
In the Provincials the, Vernon Tigers went 1–2 in round-robin, then lost the Bronze Medal Game 12–11 to the Westshore Bears of the PNWJLL. The Kamloops Venom were 2–1 in the round-robin and lost the Gold Medal Game 9–4 to the WCJLLs Coquitlam Adanacs.
2018: Guy Charron became the leagues(fifth) Commissioner, league declares themselves "Tier 1" and the Kelowna Raiders cease operations. The league once again switched website providers from TeamPages to LacrosseShift (http://tojll.lacrosseshift.com/home), along with the league statistics from 2016 and 2017. For the first time in league history there will be non-sudden death, ten minute, overtime games.
All teams made the playoffs, round one had the Vernon Tigers (1st) playing the South Okanagan Flames (4th) and the Kamloops Venom (2nd) took on the Armstrong Shamrocks (3rd). Both the Tigers (12–6, 14–7, 12–4) and Venom (22–8, 9–5, 17–4) swept their respective, best-of-five, series. Vernon went on to sweep the Venom (13–12, 20–7, 12–9) for the best-of-five league championship.
Citing various reasons the Tigers opted out of the Provincials versus the champions of the B.C. Jr. B Tier 1 Lacrosse League
2019: The Commissioner Guy Charron steps down after just one year and Jeff Hanley becomes the leagues(sixth) Commissioner. The Armstrong Shamrocks take a leave-of-absence for the season. The playoffs will consist of a best-of-three semifinal between second third place, the first place team receives a bye to the best-of-five finals.
For the playoffs, the Kamloops Venom (1st) received a bye to the finals. South Okanagan Flames (2nd) defeated Vernon Tigers (3rd), 2–1 in the best-of-three, semifinals (6–10, 16–4, 10–8). The Flames went on to win their first TOJLL Championship, defeating the Venom, 3-1(16-15 2OT, 12–9, 7–9, 5–4).
In the Provincials the Flames were defeated by the Victoria Shamrocks of the BCJBT1LL by a two-game total-goal series, 27-10(11–6, 16–4)
2020: The league expands to five teams with the re-entry of the Armstrong Shamrocks, mainly with players and coach from Salmon Arm. Another new team ,from Kelowna, called the Kelowna Kodiaks, is operated by the Kelowna Minor Lacrosse Association.
The regular season, playoffs and Provincials were not played due, to the COVID-19 Pandemic
2021: Due to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic there was no regular season play. Heather Davis becomes the leagues (seventh) Commissioner after Jeff Hanley vacated the office mid-term.
With an ease of covid-19 restrictions the TOJLL held a two week-end tournament-style playoffs on July 10 and July 24.The Kelowna Kodiaks go undefeated in the tournament to claim the Covid Cup championship. The Kodiaks defeated the Kamloops Venom, 7-5 and Armstrong Shamrocks, 9–8 on July 10. They defeated the South Okanagan Flames, 11-9 and the Vernon Tigers, 9–5 on July 24
2022: The pre-season 17th Annual Archie Jack Memorial Icebreaker Tournament was held on April 23. Teams played a 16 game regular season, playing the other teams 4 times, 2 home and 2 away. The season saw numerous games rescheduled, forfeited, and cancelled out right. The most controversial of these games was the forfeiting of the Vernon Tigers home opener. Citing a lack of healthy players, the South Okanagan Flames could not make the game to play Vernon. Also, a game between the South Okanagan Flames and Kamloops Venom required the attention of the British Columbia Lacrosse Association. Kamloops originally won the game 12-4 but, the Flames protested, citing an ineligible player. The game was eventually awarded to the South Okanagan Flames as a 1-0 win.
The playoffs consisted of two semifinal series, best-of-three, and a final, best-of-five. In Semifinal A the Kamloops Venom defeated the Vernon Tigers, 2–0. In Semifinal B the South Okanagan Flames upset the Kelowna Kodiaks, 2–1. The series between the Flames and Kodiaks ended in controversy as the Kodiaks had to default due "to circumstances out of their control", which was their home arena was not available. The Championship Finals saw the Kamloops Venom defeat the South Okanagan Flames, 3–0.
The Kamloops Venom hosted the Provincials versus Coquitlam Adanacs in a two-game total aggregate series. The Venom were defeated, 11-5 and 17–6, by the Adanacs.
Due to an oversight by the league its Domain Name, tojll.com lapsed some time between July 6 and Sept 21.
2023: League contracts to four teams as the Armstrong Shamrocks merged with the Vernon Tigers and play as Vernon Tigers. The Kamloops Venom become the second team of the league to accomplish a perfect regular season (14-0-0).
For the playoffs, Semifinal A between Kamloops Venom and Kelowna Kodiaks was won by the Venom in two games(24-5 & 23-8) of a best-of-three. Semifinal B was tied at one game each(12-11 Tigers & 15-4 Flames) between the Vernon Tigers and South Okanagan Flames when the Flames defaulted for game three of the series citing a lack of available players resulting in a Tigers win. The league championship was won by the Kamloops Venom in three games(14-8, 6-4, 15-3) of a best-of-five over the Vernon Tigers.
The Kamloops Venom played the, host, Victoria Shamrocks of the British Columbia Junior Tier 1 Lacrosse League (BCJT1LL) at the Provincials. The Venom were defeated, 11-8 and 18–9, by the Shamrocks.
2024: Armstrong and Vernon maintained a merge, once again, to play as the "Vernon Tigers" in a 14 game regular season. The league adds the Cranbrook Blackwolves which, will be a probationary team for the regular season, to see if the TOJLL fits their needs.
In the playoffs, Semifinal A between Kamloops Venom and South Okanagan Flames was won by the Venom in two games of a best-of-three(17-5 & 14-4). Semifinal B was won by the Vernon Tigers over the Kelowna Kodiaks in two games(15-9 & 15-10). The league championship was won by the Kamloops Venom in three games of a best-of-five over the Vernon Tigers(15-7, 15-7 & 13-7).
The Provincials were hosted by the Kamloops Venom. The Venom were defeated by the Victoria Shamrocks in two games, 17-7 and 19-12. Shortly after the Provincials the Commissioner, Heather Davis, resigned.
At a special Governors meeting, on September 18, the Cranbrook Blackwolves were accepted as a permanent team of the TOJLL.
2025: Wuilbert Jaramillo became the leagues (eight) Commissioner in January. The league announced that the Armstrong Shamrocks and the Vernon Tigers will take a leave-of-absence after a two year merger. A new team the North Okanagan Reapers, serving the North Okanagan and Shuswap areas, will begin play in the TOJLL. An exhibition series between the teams of the TOJLL and the West Kootenay Timberwolves has been finalized. It is expected that the Timberwolves will travel to the arena of the each TOJLL team and play two games against that team, on a weekend. This will be a trail period for West Kootenay for them to see if, it would be viable to enter the TOJLL in 2026.
The information on this page, was last edited on April 04, 2025.
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