History

2009

At the end of the 2008 MLL season a Toronto-based group agreed to purchase the Rochester Rattlers. The team relocated from Rochester to Toronto, where they would be known as the Toronto Nationals. the relocated franchise began operations in 2009 as the Toronto Nationals. The team played at BMO Field in Toronto. In the inaugural season, the team opened  with a 17-16 victory against the Washington Bayhawks on May 15, 2009. The team also won their first home game on May 22 with a 15-11 win over the Chicago Machine. The Nationals would qualify for the playoffs with a 7-5 regular season record. In the playoffs, the team would defeat Long Island 14-13 in the semi-final, before defeating Denver 10-9 the following day to capture the Steinfeld Cup in their first season in Toronto. Following the 2009 season Merrick Thomson was named Playoff MVP while Brodie Merrill was named MLL Defensive Player of the Year. Additionally Merrill and Thomson were both named to the 2009 All-MLL Team.

2010

Following the 2009 season, the team changed venues to Lamport Stadium in Toronto. The Nationals began the season with 5 straight losses, followed by 3 straight victories. Unfortunately, the team would finish the season with a 3-9 overall record and ultimately miss the playoffs. Following the season Brodie Merrill was one again named Defensive Player of the Year, as well as a member of the All-MLL Team. Following the season the Nationals decided a coaching change was in order, bringing in Regy Thorpe to serve as Head Coach, while Gary Gait would join the staff as an assistant coach.

2011

Heading into 2011 the Nationals once again relocated, this time moving down the QEW to Ron Joyce Stadium at McMaster University in Hamilton. The team would now be known as the Hamilton Nationals. Led by their new coaching staff, the Nationals once again had a slow start to the season, accumulating a 1-3 record in their first 4 games. However, the team would battle throughout the season to finish with a 7-5 record good enough for 3^rd place and a semi-final date with the Denver Outlaws. Despite a torrential downpour, the Nationals defeated the Outlaws 11-9. The following day, the Nationals lost a 1-goal heartbreaker to the Boston Cannons, with a final score of 10-9. Once again, Brodie Merrill was selected to the All-MLL Team as well as being named Defensive Player of the Year following the season for his 6^th straight time. Midfield Jeremy Boltus was named Rookie of the Year following a stellar campaign.

2012

Following a strong 2011 season in Hamilton, the Nationals were able to call Ron Joyce Stadium home for the 2^nd straight season. Without the services of a number of their top players to start the season, the Nationals once again got off to a 0-3 start, before winning two straight games to bring their record back to 3-2. However only 2 wins in the final 9 games of the season would leave the Nationals on the outside of the playoffs. At seasons end, Brodie Merrill was named to the All-MLL team once again.

 

Nationals MLL Award Winners

Defensive Player of the Year

2009 - Brodie Merrill

2010 - Brodie Merrill

2011 - Brodie Merrill

Rookie of the Year

2011 - Jeremy Boltus

All-MLL Team

2009 - Merrick Thomson, Attack

2009 - Brodie Merrill, Defense

2010 - Brodie Merrill, Defense

2011 - Brodie Merrill, Defense

2012 - Brodie Merrill, Defense

 

Nationals All-Time Weekly Awards

Offensive Player of the Week

2009 Week 1 - Merrick Thomson

2009 Week 11 - Merrick Thomson

2009 Week 13 - John Grant Jr.

2011 Week 6 - Jeremy Boltus

Defensive Player of the Week

2009 Week 2 - Brodie Merrill

2009 Week 5 - Brodie Merrill

2009 Week 10 - Geoff Snider

2011 Week 10 - Brodie Merrill

Rookie of the Week

2009 Week 5 - Doc Schneider

2009 Week 11 - Doc Schneider

2010 Week 6 - Scott Rodgers

2011 Week 2 - Jeremy Boltus

2011 Week 4 - Jeremy Thompson

2011 Week 7 - Kevin Crowley

2011 Week 10 - Jeremy Boltus

2011 Week 12 - David Earl

 

Logo Creation

Nationals Lacrosse President & General Manager Stuart Brown opened communication with Leroy Hill, an active leader appointed by Council of Chiefs at Six Nations of the Grand River and the two gentlemen conversed together to determine a logo for the new franchise that embraced both the Canadian and Iroquois Communities.

Keeping in mind that the Nationals Lacrosse roster will be comprised of players from both Canada and Iroquois, Brown and Hill felt that it was paramount to incorporate both communities heritage into the fabric of the team, which led to a logo that had representation of both the Canadian Maple Leaf and the Iroquois 5 Nations Band.

The Six Nations elders were unanimous in their suggestions for the initial logo design presented to them and decided the maple leaf and the 5 Nations belt design separated (not intertwined or within one another) was necessary, taking into account representing the Iroquois community as neither Canadian or American.

After a number of adjustments and modifications to the design, approval for the final logo was required from the Iroquois Community through the initial agreement from the Elders at Six Nations who then sought the final authorization of the Chiefs from the different tribes.

Hill announced the final logo approval to Stuart Brown within a few weeks and the franchise name and logo were announced to the public during a press conference on February 20th 2009 at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto.