Preseason CUFLA Power Rankings
Prepared by Stephen Stamp - Senior media coordinator
The 2024 season is just around the corner. CUFLA media coordinator and senior writer Stephen Stamp explains his picks to make a run at the Baggataway Cup this year.
1 Western Mustangs
The champs stay at the top until someone dislodges them. Western had one of the best midfields in CUFLA history last season and no discernible weaknesses anywhere on the field. They don't lose all that much from their lineup, they're well coached and they know how to win.
2 Trent Excalibur
Trent doesn't rebuild these days; they reload. The Excalibur will have a ton of talent back and they'll be adding some quality players. They'll also be determined to prove that winning at home in 2022 was more indicative of who they are than losing there last year was. Trent loses multi-time CUFLA defensive player of the year Curtis Conley to graduation, but last year's runner up for the award is fellow Excalibur Ben MacDonnell and the runner up for Rookie of the Year last season was another Trent defender, Chris Schell, so it should still be difficult to score on them.
3 Brock Badgers
They're hosting the Baggataway Cup, which is huge motivation to have a great year. The Badgers are always competitive, they have last year's CUFLA Rookie of the Year in Avery Steinbach-Parker, and Connor O'Toole is firmly established as one of the best goalies in the league.
4 McGill Redbirds
The Redbirds came within 3 goals of Western in the Baggataway Cup final last year despite being one of the youngest teams in the league and despite being without their top scorer for the semis and final. Rowan Birrell is a burgeoning star, McGill gained valuable experience last year, and they will be deeper across the field in 2024. With Joseph Boehm graduating, the Redbirds will need someone else to step in and provide quality goaltending to have another shot at the title game.
5 Carleton Ravens
The Ravens made huge strides last year. Losing Jacob Gasperetti will be a tough blow, but they still have leading scorer and 2023 MVP runner up Sam Trumble to drive the offence. Thomas Kiazyk is a rock between the pipes and the Ravens showed they intend to remain a force to be reckoned with.
6 Guelph Gryphons
The Gryphons have made an art form of improving through the course of the season and being at their best for the Baggataway Cup. Last year, they fell to McGill by a single goal in the quarterfinals. With on-field leaders like Robbie Baxter, Liam Aston and Nick Volkov, Guelph will be a tough out again.
7 Laurier Golden Hawks
They were among the most improved teams in the league last season, producing the school's first record above .500 in years. One of the Golden Hawks' top performances in 2023 was losing by a single goal to eventual Baggataway Cup champion Western by a single goal.
8 McMaster Marauders
With Eddie Comeau coaching and Neel Cargill the 2023 CUFLA Goalie of the Year, McMaster plays stifling defence. If they can find a way to generate more scoring, the Marauders can compete with anyone.
9 Nipissing Lakers
After a rebuilding season a year ago, the Lakers are looking to come back stronger from front to back and get back to competing for a spot in the Baggataway Cup.
10 Queen's Gaels
A win over powerhouse Trent ended last year's up and down season on a high note, setting an upward trajectory the Gaels hope will carry over to 2024.
11 Bishop's Gaiters
The uncertainty engendered by Quebec's announcement that the province would be jacking up tuition for out of province students made preparing for this season a challenge in Sherbrooke, but the Gaiters have talent and a drive to succeed that makes them a candidate to to a cinderella story.
12 Ottawa Gee Gees
Ottawa allowed the most goals in the East and second-most in the league a year ago. Keeping the ball out of their net will be the priority for the Gee Gees to get back in the playoff hunt.
13 Toronto Varsity Blues
Scoring just 4.2 goals per game, as the Blues did last season, will not lead to many wins. Only two Toronto players managed as many as 10 points in 2023. They simply have to score more to have a chance to win games.
14 Laurentian Voyageurs
Just keeping the team alive while the university has gone through a financial crisis the last few years that has resulted in program cuts has been an impressive feat of resilience off the field. Scoring only 15 goals last season while allowing 149 gives the Voyageurs plenty of room for improvement on the field this season.
Follow along this season to track the updated power rankings. Follow CUFLA on social media: @CUFLALacrosse
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