The Windsor Clippers is a Canadian junior box lacrosse team and members of the Ontario Junior B Lacrosse League of the Ontario Lacrosse Association. The team, from Windsor, Ontario, Canada, was known as the Windsor AKO Fratmen from 2003 until 2009 as they were sponsored by the AKO Fraternity.
The team made its expansion debut in the OLA Jr. "B" league in 2003. The team's first win was on April 30, 2003, against Wallaceburg, 21âÂÂ12. In four completed seasons, the team has never failed to make the playoffs. The Fratmen hosted the 2005 Junior "B" All-Star Game, and in the team's fourth season Windsor hosted the 2006 Founders Cup. The Fratmen's first ever playoff victory came against the Six Nations Red Rebels in the 2005 Conference Semi-final. On July 2, 2005, the Fratmen defeated Six Nations in the first game of the series 6âÂÂ4. Their first playoff round victory came in the 2006 Conference Semi-final against the Owen Sound Rams, 3-games-to-1.
At the 2005 All-Star Game in Windsor, Ontario, it was announced that the AKO Fratmen would host the 2006 Founders Cup Tournament.
At the 2006 Founders Cup on August 23, the Fratmen opened up the tournament with a 20âÂÂ9 dismantling of the Nova Scotia Knights. Later that night, the Fratmen also beat the Langley Thunder 11âÂÂ4. On August 24, the Fratmen topped the Edmonton Warriors by a score of 11âÂÂ7. On August 25, AKO beat the Iroquois Lacrosse Association (a team composed mostly of players from Kahnawake, Quebec) by a score of 12âÂÂ8. The victory clinched first place and a bye to the semi-final for the Fratmen, as both teams were undefeated (3âÂÂ0) going into the game. Jamie Pillon lead all round robin scoring with 22 points (9 goals, 13 assists), he was closely followed by the Andrew Ryckman (6 goals, 15 assists) and 2005 OLA Most Valuable Player David Hodgins (9 goals, 12 assists).
In the Semi-final on August 26, the Fratmen took on their most competitive opponent of the tournament to date, the Iroquois Lacrosse Association, for the second time. They came out on top again with a tight 6âÂÂ3 victory. The Fratmen faced the OLA Champion Oakville Buzz in the Founders Cup Final. The Fratmen (5âÂÂ0) and Buzz (4âÂÂ0) were the only two undefeated teams left in the tournament at the time, and had not played against each other in the season.
On August 27, the AKO Fratmen played in the National Championship Game against the Oakville Buzz. The Fratmen and Buzz were tied 1âÂÂ1 after the first period. The second saw the Buzz come alive, at the end leading by a score of 5âÂÂ2. In the third, the Buzz blew the game wide open. The final score was 10âÂÂ4, but the Fratmen held tough until the end. Cam Brown was named the Fratmen's Game MVP, while both Jamie Pillon and Matt Soulliere were named to the Founders Cup All-Star Team.
In Fall 2013, the Canadian Lacrosse Association honoured long-time general manager and co-founder of the team Mike Soulliere with an award for his dedication to the development of the sport.
Note: GP = Games played, W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties, Pts = Points, GF = Goals for, GA = Goals against
CANADIAN NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS<br />