Let’s not kid ourselves, high level sports are all about the teams and not the individuals.
By this point in the season though most lacrosse fans will be well acquainted with each of the four teams descending down into St. Catharines to compete for this year’s Minto Cup. While it always takes a strong and deep roster to make it this far and you need all 25 of your players contributing, there are typically a handful of players that need to bear a little more of the weight.
With that in mind, let’s take a deeper dive into breaking down who it is that supplies a significant source of power to the heartbeat of their respective teams. Here are ten players to watch at the 2025 Minto Cup!
Liam Matthews – Orangeville Northmen
This is the most obvious selection on the board and in many ways provides the Northmen with a bit of a trump card in this national championship. Stat lines can be vastly overrated in sports but in this case you have to mention the otherworldly 158 pts in 29 games (reg season + playoffs) he chalked up this summer.
So filthy it sounds like fiction, Matthews is the one guy who can truly score from almost everywhere on the floor, as you saw many times in their OJLL final against Whitby. However that’s not even his most dangerous attribute. His ability to draw a second defender over and dish the ball; creating space for teammates to execute within is what makes him exceptional. He reminds me of a guy by the name of Shawn Evans, who put on an all time performance winning a Minto Cup for his Peterborough Lakers in 2006.
The type of poise and patience with which the Northmen striker plays with you can’t teach and he slows the game down to a crawl. The hardest skillset to find and develop is an offensive quarterback who sees the floor. He will need to heal quickly from a nagging injury suffered in the OJLL Finals, but look for Matthews to control the pace and often the game for the Northmen as they look to get back to their second consecutive Minto Cup final.
Cody Malawsky – Coquitlam Adanacs
Malawsky is the best finisher in close quarters and in tight around the net in the country. Somehow, someway, Malawsky always finds ways to get underneath defenders and tip toe the crease showing both incredible dexterity and patience. Anyone who has played this sport, especially offensive players, will instantly tell you how high the degree of difficulty of that is.
Add that to the fact he constantly fights his way between defenders to create scoring chances, and he presents a constant headache for opposing defenders. Another element of Malawsky’s game that is almost unmatched is his intensity and sheer determination on loose balls, often extending possessions for the Adanacs. He is in many ways a carbon copy of his dad Curt both in playing style and how he approaches the game. If the Adanacs are to repeat and win a Minto out East, something the West hasn’t done since 1978, Malawsky will have to be a big part of it.
Chuck Rawson – St. Catharines Athletics
After being dealt at the deadline from Burlington in a deal that didn’t get nearly enough attention the former Minto Champion will get another shot wearing the double blue. There is so much to like about Rawson’s game and much of it goes under the radar. This is a player that possesses great feet and is always moving which not only allows for him to open up but others around him as well. There are very few guys that understand offence better than Rawson and that IQ makes him one of the best at running slip picks and darting to the net. Fully capable of feeding as well, you’ll often see Rawson going back door for quick sticks and opportunities around the net. He’s a guy I would love to see play the top of the Athletics powerplay at times because of his stick and slick passing ability.
Noah Everson – Raiders Lacrosse Club
A versatile defender with an incredible wingspan and great instincts, Everson seems to be everywhere when out on the floor. Watching his game develop over the past few seasons, you see a guy who has really grown in confidence and shown a real uptick in his ability to read the play as evidenced by his ability to double-team the ball, get in passing lanes and force turnovers.
Add that to his filled out 6’3 frame and you have an absolute monster out the back gate that can kill penalties and be a force in helping clear the ball up floor. Still no sold on his value? The Raiders may not even be here if not for his late game heroics in helping double and cause the turnover that led to his game tying goal in the waning seconds of Game Seven against the Mountaineers. Now much improved from a season ago, he gets to put his abilities on full display once again in front of a national audience.
Evan Constantopolous – Orangeville Northmen
You can’t miss this guy during the anthem, as he stands 6’6, weighs 235 lbs and fills the cage like few others. What makes him so valuable is he allows his team to pack it in pretty tight to the dotted line and focus on preventing high danger chances because of how much of the angle he takes away on outside looks.
It also allows an Orangeville defence to ball hawk aggressively jump swing passes and loose balls without having to worry too much about being vulnerable. The calming presence Constantopolous has brought has paid dividends thus far for the Northmen as his 6.30 GAA as 0.86 save percentage would indicate.
Ryan Colsey (Coquitlam Adanacs)
It’s not often Americans are able to come into the box game and look as though they’ve played the sport their entire lives. That’s what Colsey has managed to pull off in becoming one of the nation’s slickest and most dangerous threats. On full display is some great footwork along with a terrific first step which opens up shooting lanes and paths to the net for himself and others. Perhaps one of his biggest strengths is his ability to sell like he’s going to the net, then spinning back or stepping back and shooting. A natural born scorer, Colsey tallied 18 goals, 12 assists for 30 points over his nine playoff games, continuing a torrid pace from the regular season. He will also help form a deadly power play, a unit that was a difference maker in their BCJALL final against Victoria.
Trey Deere – Orangeville Northmen
He can be a bit up and down but man when he’s on Deere can take over a game in a hurry. In a short tournament like this, players that profile like that with very high upside can be the difference. There is also a high likelihood that multiple of the highlights that surface this week will be via Deere and that alone makes him worthy of this list. As Jake Elliott would say, “clip it”. Orangeville has played a lot of lower scoring close games this year and Deere has been a real catalyst for them from that left shooter position. Always playing with emotion and plenty of passion, expect Trey to be in the middle of the action constantly, especially when tensions are at their peak.
Ty Banks – Coquitlam Adanacs
One of the core pieces on this Adanac team from Coquitlam, who else would you want as your captain? Probably the most physically gifted defender in this tournament, Banks punishes opponents both on the ball and off the ball through the middle. He’s also a guy that will provide a lot of support on loose balls and makes everyone have to be aware when he’s on the floor. The ability to time slides, provide help when necessary and react to breakdowns are huge portions to why he carries so much value. A true stabilizer for this defence and entire team, Banks is a must watch this week.
Dylan Beliveau – Raiders Lacrosse Club
What a playoff run this kid has had, culminating in a clutch Game Seven performance last Sunday afternoon from Max Bell Arena. Even when the Raiders offence struggled to find it’s rhythm he continued to be a threat throughout the playoffs. A dual threat, both a shooter and a passer, what Beliveau does best is find the soft areas of the floor. An intelligent and terrific off the ball player, Beliveau will often slide in back door for looks on the crease or slip to the middle off of a pick or cut. After posting terrific numbers this post season Beliveau will need to be a true catalyst for a Raiders offence that was given a huge challenge by the Mountaineers in the RMLL final.
Tye Steenhuis – St. Catharines Athletics
With all sorts of athleticism and speed to spare Steenhuis should be one of the premier players in transition in this field. Mix in the ability to play offence and some strong handles, Tye typically stands out when you watch an Athletics game. I’m fascinated to see what style of game the Athletics try to play here especially after being off for a full month. But the faster the game is and the more it’s played between the rag lines, the more it will suit Steenhuis. In recent years we have seen players transition players thrive, like Ty English who was exceptional for Burlington in 2023 (won the MVP) as they raised the Minto and Jaxon Fridge for Coquitlam last year. That could be something we could potentially see here.
One of the very best stages in lacrosse is about to be lit up for what should be a great week of action. If you can’t make it to the Meridian Centre be sure to check out the live broadcasts on TSN and NLL+.
For all you need to know including game recaps, news/notes, and tournament All Star teams keep it dialed here as we will have plenty of coverage throughout the Minto Cup.
As always thanks for reading, talk to you again soon.