Omran Wahidy
The Minto Cup is coming to Calgary, and the Roughnecks are proud to help support the biggest stage in Canadian junior lacrosse.
The 2026 national championship gets underway Sunday, Aug. 16 at Max Bell Centre, bringing together this year’s top Junior A box lacrosse teams from across the country to compete for a Canadian title.
This year’s four-team field features the host Calgary Junior A Raiders, the Calgary Mountaineers, Victoria Junior Shamrocks and St. Catherines Athletics. The Raiders enter the tournament as Alberta champions after capturing the Rocky Mountain Lacrosse League Junior A title, adding some home town excitement to this year’s national championship.
The tournament runs Aug. 16-23 at Max Bell, giving local lacrosse fans the opportunity to watch some of the country’s best young players compete for one of the most prestigious championships in the game.
For the Roughnecks, supporting the tournament is an opportunity to help showcase the next generation of Canadian lacrosse talent while continuing to grow the game here in Calgary and across Alberta.
“The Minto Cup is a national championship with a rich history,” said Roughnecks General Manager Mike Board. “Having the top junior lacrosse showcase in Calgary is not only special for the two Calgary teams but also for those involved in lacrosse … players and parents, coaches, volunteers and officials throughout the province.
“Alberta continues to grow the game of lacrosse and the Roughnecks are proud to be able to play a part in that growth.”
Current Roughnecks forward Noah Manning knows firsthand just how much competing for a Minto Cup means to junior lacrosse players across the country.
He played in two Minto Cups during his junior career, ultimately capturing the national championship with the Coquitlam Adanacs in 2024 before being selected ninth overall by the Riggers in the 2025 NLL Draft.
“It’s huge. It’s a really big deal,” said Manning. “Guys spend their whole lives working towards trying to win a Minto and winning the junior lacrosse championship. A lot of organizations and clubs spend their whole years trying to build towards getting a chance at it.
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“It should be great for the game and great for Calgary and the city, just to help grow it and get as much exposure to lacrosse. That’ll be great for the city of Calgary and Alberta as a whole.”
Like hockey’s Memorial Cup, players have a limited window to capture the prize, making it all the more coveted.
“There’s nothing like that winning feeling,” said Manning. “I was just talking to my mom about it last week, and we were talking about how winning the Minto Cup was probably a top-threemoment in my life.”
For the players taking the floor this week, Board knows reaching this stage is an accomplishment in itself.
“The players on all four teams have committed and sacrificed plenty to reach this championship,” said Board. “We wish them all the best and look forward to a great tournament.”
For more information, including the full tournament schedule and tickets, visit the official Minto Cup website.
