Carleton, McMaster, Ottawa, Laurentian and McGill: Five Teams to Watch in 2026

The 2026 CUFLA season is almost here, and while the usual contenders will enter the year with championship expectations, there are several teams with something to prove.

For Carleton, it is about turning a young roster into a team capable of surprising the Eastern Conference. McMaster is looking to return to the playoffs after a couple of difficult seasons. Ottawa has the opportunity to play for the Baggataway Cup on its own campus. Laurentian believes its young core is ready to take a significant step forward. And McGill enters the season with the confidence and experience that comes with reaching the Baggataway Cup semifinals last November.

All five teams have different starting points, but they share one thing: they believe they can be better in 2026. That makes them five teams worth watching as the road to the Baggataway Cup begins.

Carleton is ready to surprise

The Carleton Ravens finished 3 and 7 last season, but head coach Colin Gallagher believes the experience gained by his young roster could make a significant difference this fall.

Carleton opens the season Wednesday, September 9, on the road against Trent before returning to Ottawa to host McGill on September 13. The Ravens then face Ottawa twice in September, including a September 18 matchup at Gee Gees Field before hosting the Gee Gees on September 27.

It is an immediate opportunity for Carleton to find out how much the team has grown.

“Fans can expect fast and free lacrosse from us this season,” Gallagher said. “We have a really talented young group that is hungry, dedicated, and ready to give everything they have every minute they’re on the field.”

That youth will be supported by a group of veterans who understand what it takes to compete in CUFLA and can establish the standard for the players around them.

Gallagher is not interested in using the team's youth as a reason to lower expectations.

“I think we have a group that can surprise some people this year. We’re young, but we’re not going to use that as an excuse. We’re here to compete, and we expect to be playing our best lacrosse when it matters most.”

That last part could be the key to Carleton's season. The Ravens do not need to become a championship favourite in September. They need to show that the lessons of 2025 have turned into confidence, consistency and better execution. If that happens, Carleton could be a very different team when the Eastern Conference playoff race reaches its decisive stages.

McMaster wants back in the playoff picture

The McMaster Marauders have a clear objective in 2026: get back into the postseason.

McMaster went 2 and 8 last season, but head coach Jason Tallevi sees plenty of reasons for optimism. The program has added new members to its coaching staff, bringing fresh ideas and renewed energy, while the roster features an experienced defensive core.

“Fans can expect a team that is ready to work hard and compete every time we step on the field,” Tallevi said.

One of the biggest strengths could be in goal. Neel Cargill returns while attending medical school, while Calum Leaver Preyra joins the Marauders after playing at McGill.

That gives McMaster experience and depth at one of the most important positions on the field.

The schedule will test the Marauders immediately. McMaster opens September 11 at home against Laurier, then hosts Western on September 16 and Brock on September 19. Guelph comes to Hamilton on October 9 before McMaster closes the regular season with another important stretch against Laurentian, including a road game October 25.

Tallevi believes the formula for success is straightforward. “Our biggest keys to success will be discipline and work ethic. CUFLA is an extremely competitive league, and if we want to achieve our goals, we need to consistently outwork our opponents and stay disciplined in all areas of our game.”

For McMaster, that means turning close games into wins and making sure the team's experienced players are still playing meaningful lacrosse in November.

A return to the playoffs would be an important step. Once there, anything can happen.

Ottawa has a championship waiting at home

For the Ottawa Gee Gees, the destination is already known. The 2026 Baggataway Cup will be played at the University of Ottawa, giving the Gee Gees something every team in the league would love to have: the chance to chase a national championship on their home field.

Ottawa finished 2 and 7 last season, but there is plenty of optimism surrounding the program heading into 2026.

Head coach Brett Perras is particularly encouraged by the work his returning players have put in since last season.“We're really excited with how camp has gone so far. Returning guys have been putting in the work year round and we've got a great group of new faces added to the mix.”

The Gee Gees also have some significant experience returning. Julien Belair and Ben Kromer are back after earning All Canadian honours in 2025. Ben Kromer is entering his final season, while Belair is coming off what Perras describes as an excellent winter and summer.

Then there is John McKinney.

The 2025 CUFLA MVP is back after winning the Founders Cup with the Akwesasne Thunder, alongside Ottawa teammates Luke Lazore, Ryder Starblanket and Marshall Brown.

That gives Ottawa a combination of proven talent and motivation that could make the Gee Gees one of the more interesting teams in the East.

They will need it. Ottawa opens the season September 12 at Bishop's before returning home to face Carleton on September 18. The Gee Gees then face Trent, Carleton, Queen's and McGill throughout a schedule that should provide plenty of opportunities to establish their place in the Eastern Conference. And then comes November.

“We can't wait to host the Baggataway Cup on campus for the first time and promise to put on a great show for the home crowd,” Perras said. Getting there will be the hard part. But if Ottawa can make the jump from a 2 and 7 team to a playoff contender, the home crowd could become a very real factor once the championship weekend arrives.

Laurentian believes its breakthrough is coming

Laurentian enters the season with perhaps the biggest opportunity to change the perception of its program.

The Voyageurs finished 0 and 9 in 2025, but head coach Matthew Delabbio believes the record does not reflect the progress made by his young roster late in the season.

The Voyageurs pushed McMaster and Toronto in close games and suffered an overtime loss to Laurier to close the campaign. More importantly, the young core gained an entire season of experience together.

“Last season our recruiting class took some time to gel and understand our systems,” Delabbio said. “As the later part of the season went on our team began to show what we are capable of.” That experience now becomes the foundation for 2026. Rowan Smith and Matteo Di Ciccio are expected to lead the midfield, while Jake Sudsbury returns after a strong rookie campaign that earned him a spot in the CUFLA Rookie Game.

First year attackman Noah Stoneman has already developed chemistry with Sudsbury, while Kai Erkkila joins the team after playing at NCAA Division I Marist. Erkkila could provide another dangerous element in transition.

The schedule will give Laurentian some immediate opportunities to measure its progress.

The Voyageurs host Brock on September 26 and Western on September 27 before welcoming Guelph to Sudbury on October 3. They will also face Toronto, Laurier, McMaster and Nipissing before the regular season concludes November 1 against Nipissing.

Delabbio knows roster depth remains a concern, but he also believes the program is moving in the right direction.

“I believe with our young core if they can get our systems dialled in we will be turning some heads this season, with our goal of getting back into the W column that goal isn't looking as unrealistic as it has in the past.”

That may be the most important storyline surrounding Laurentian. The Voyageurs do not need to go from 0 and 9 to a Baggataway Cup favourite in one season. They need to start winning the games they were close to winning last year. If they do, Laurentian could become one of the league's breakout stories.

McGill wants to dictate the pace

The McGill Redbirds enter 2026 with something the other four teams do not have: recent proof that they can contend at the highest level.

McGill finished first in the Eastern Conference last season and advanced to the Baggataway Cup semifinals before falling to Nipissing. Now the Redbirds want to take the next step.

Head coach Andrew Meakes has a very clear vision for how that will happen.

“Fans coming to Molson Stadium this season can expect a team that dictates the pace. We aren’t going to sit back and let the game come to us; our entire identity is built around a relentless two way midfield transition game.” It is a style that should make McGill one of the most entertaining teams in the league to watch.

The Redbirds open at home against Trent on September 12 before travelling to Carleton the following day. They will face Bishop's, Queen's, Carleton and Ottawa throughout September and October before finishing the regular season with a crucial November 1 visit to Ottawa. That final game could have plenty riding on it. For a team with championship aspirations, every game matters, but McGill has already demonstrated that it can win in the regular season. The challenge now is translating that success into another deep Baggataway Cup run.“The key to our success is simple: push the tempo, own the middle of the field, and make our opponents play at a speed they aren’t comfortable with.”

If McGill can impose that identity consistently, the Redbirds should once again be among the teams nobody wants to face in November.

The road starts now

Five teams. Five different storylines.

Carleton believes its young roster is ready to surprise the league. McMaster wants to return to the playoff conversation. Ottawa is chasing the ultimate prize on home turf. Laurentian is looking for the breakthrough that has been building for a year. McGill wants to turn another strong regular season into a championship run.

None of them can afford to wait until November to find out what they are capable of.

The 2026 season begins September 9 when Carleton travels to Trent. Two days later, McMaster hosts Laurier, and from there the schedule quickly ramps up.

The early season will reveal which young teams are ready to make the leap, which contenders are ready to separate themselves and which programs have legitimate championship ambitions.

By November, only the strongest will remain. And for these five teams, the question is simple. Can they be playing their best lacrosse when the Baggataway Cup is on the line?