Mimico Lacrosse Club welcomes new life members
The Thomson Family: Tim, Keaton, Amanda, Finn, Tanner and Hudson
The Mountaineers honoured thirteen household names with life membership at the club’s Annual General Meeting on Monday night
The Mimico Lacrosse Club honoured thirteen household names with Life Membership at the club’s 2024 Annual General Meeting on Monday evening. This distinguished honour is reserved for individuals who have demonstrated outstanding dedication to the Club or the sport of lacrosse through their volunteer service over an extended period.
Nominations for Life Membership are reviewed annually by the Life Membership Committee and must receive a Special Resolution from the Membership at the Annual General Meeting to be awarded. This year’s group of inductees exemplifies the passion, leadership, and community spirit that defines the Mimico Lacrosse Club. These new Life Members will be formally recognized and presented with their Life Memberships at the club's 135th anniversary celebrations next year.
Congratulations to our new Life Members, whose legacies will continue to inspire the next generation of Mountaineers: Brad Hutchcraft (Hutch), Brian Shanahan (Shanny), Chris Cormier (Corms), Daniel Fleming, Jonathan Grimes, Tim and Amanda Thomson, Dave McKeon, Mark Simons (Smiley), Brian MacRory Sr., Brian MacRory Jr., Kevin MacRory, and Michael MacRory.
Brad Hutchcraft
Brad Hutchcraft, known fondly as "Hutch," grew up playing and has been a dedicated volunteer and supporter of Mimico Lacrosse for many years. Hutch has been involved in nearly every aspect of the program—as a coach, executive, supporter, and promoter of the game making him a familiar and welcoming presence around the club.
More recently, he played a pivotal role in bringing the Women's Major Series Lacrosse expansion team to Mimico and in the development of women's box lacrosse in the community. In recognition of his decades of dedication, Hutch was recently honoured with the Ontario Lacrosse Association’s Creator’s Game Award, presented to individuals who have reached 30 years of volunteer service.
Brian Shanahan
For over 30 years, Brian Shanahan has dedicated himself to playing, coaching, mentoring, and promoting lacrosse. Universally respected, many of the athletes he has coached have gone on to play professional lacrosse or hockey. Brian’s Brian Shanahan Lacrosse School, affectionately known as “Shanny Camp”, helped develop and mentor countless Mimico players during the years he ran the program.
Brian grew up playing lacrosse in Mimico and remains a passionate ambassador for the club, always promoting the Mountaineers and their Mimico roots on every stage. As a player, he had a remarkable sixteen-year senior career, winning five consecutive Mann Cups with the Six Nations Chiefs from 1992-1996—an achievement shared by only eight players in history.
A longtime Mimico resident, Brian was inducted into the Etobicoke Sports Hall of Fame in 2019 as an athlete. He continues to promote the game as a colour commentator for the National Lacrosse League. Brian is also a regular at the Peanut program, helping out on Saturday mornings.
Chris Cormier
Chris Cormier has served on the Mimico Lacrosse board for nearly two decades, beginning as VP of Rep and currently serving as President. During his tenure as VP of Rep, the program transitioned into a competitive powerhouse, consistently churning out teams at the "A" level. Chris’s commitment to Mimico Lacrosse is a continuation of his family’s deep-rooted legacy. His mother, Barb Cormier, is a Life Member and one of the Matriarchs of Mimico Lacrosse, as well as an incorporating member of the club. Because of this, Chris himself grew up in the program, playing minor lacrosse for the Mountaineers before advancing to the junior ranks with the Etobicoke Eclipse. In recognition of his decades of dedication, Chris was recently honoured with the Ontario Lacrosse Association’s Creator’s Game Award, presented to individuals who have reached 30 years of volunteer service.
Mark Simons
Affectionately known as “Smiley,” Mark Simons has been a fixture in the Mimico Lacrosse community for over 30 years. A standout player in his own right, Mark’s dedication to the game has been evident in his roles as a coach, trainer, and all-around supporter of every Mimico athlete. Whether coaching House League, leading Rep teams, or serving as a Junior B coach, Smiley has been an invaluable presence on the bench and at events, stepping in to help wherever and whenever he is needed.
Mark’s passion for the sport extends far beyond coaching. From Saturday morning programming to countless House League games, his willingness to contribute and his positive energy have made him a trusted mentor and beloved figure within the club. Known for his unwavering support of Mimico players past and present, he truly “bleeds blue” and exemplifies what it means to be a Mountaineer. Ask Smiley for a hand, and he’ll always be there with a smile, ready to show up and support his team.
Daniel Fleming
Daniel Fleming played his entire lacrosse career in Mimico before serving on the board as the Vice President of House League. He was the Captain of the Junior B team and has coached both box and field lacrosse as a non-parent coach for over 10 years. Daniel has won multiple "A" championships in both field and box, as well as a national championship. He is the winningest coach in the club's history. He has also been honoured as Ontario Lacrosse Coach of the Year.
Jonathan Grimes
Jonathan Grimes has dedicated more than half his life to coaching as a non-parent coach and recently began his journey as a lacrosse dad, coaching his son's JD and Brodie. He began coaching Rep teams at 18-years-old while still playing Junior B and hasn’t missed a season since. Jonny started with the 1990-born Mountaineers, guiding them through the ranks before taking on the 1997 group, whom he led to multiple Final Six appearances while simultaneously coaching the Junior B team. After graduating from Junior B, he immediately joined the Junior B coaching staff and was instrumental in cultivating a culture of non-parent coaches throughout the minor club. He won a silver medal in his first trip to the Ontario Lacrosse Final Six as a coach and later coached the 2000 group to a Midget “A” championship. When the Mountaineers joined the Junior A ranks in 2015, Jonny also joined the Junior A bench, helping coach the team to a Minto Cup berth in the second year of the franchise. He’s a two-time Ontario Lacrosse Coach of the Year recipient and is now back on the bench coaching his sons and volunteering at the Saturday morning program.
The MacRory Family: Michael MacRory, Brian MacRory Senior, Brian MacRory Junior, Kevin MacRory
The MacRory brothers coached together for many years, following the lead of their dad, the late Brian MacRory Senior, who also coached minor lacrosse for Mimico. The three brothers played Minor and Junior lacrosse for Mimico and were deeply involved in the club's development in Box and Field. Michael, a former Junior B Captain, served as the club's Treasurer as a university student attending the Schulich School of Business and played a key role in restoring the club’s financial health. Michael and his younger brothers Brian and Kevin coached together across various levels. They are the first individuals to be nominated by the Life Membership Committee as a family.
Tim and Amanda Thomson
Tim and Amanda Thomson have been steadfast supporters and volunteers of Mimico Lacrosse since their oldest son, Tanner, began playing in the early 2000s. Over the past 24 years, they have been integral to the club, raising four boys—Tanner, Keaton, Hudson, and Finn—who each played minor box and field lacrosse for Mimico before graduating to the Junior A team, keeping Tim and Amanda at the arena most nights of the week. Amanda served as VP of House League, ensuring that her sons, who participated in both House League and Rep, and many other players had a positive experience. During her tenure, House League thrived—often resulting in waitlists due to its popularity. Tim contributed for years as a coach, winning Ontario championships in field lacrosse and championing the growth of the sport in the community. Together, they have been tireless volunteers, donors, and advocates for the program, embodying the very spirit of dedication and loyalty that the club strives to promote.
The Thomsons have instilled values of leadership, integrity, and sportsmanship in their sons, who are now taking on important roles in developing young athletes. Tim and Amanda’s commitment to the Mimico community has left an indelible mark, and they continue to inspire the next generation of players and families.
Dave McKeon
Dave McKeon has been a dedicated volunteer with Mimico Lacrosse for over 10 years. He first made his mark as a beloved women’s field coach, inspiring countless girls and women while coaching multiple teams and helping the program thrive at the youngest ages. His passion for growing the sport led him to join the board as VP of Women’s Field, where he introduced house league programming to encourage new players to get involved.
Dave and his daughter, Charlie, became regular fixtures at the Saturday morning Peanut program and the Try Lacrosse sessions, welcoming new families and introducing kids to the sport each year. After transitioning from his role as VP, Dave took on the critical position of Treasurer during a challenging period for the club. He successfully managed the club’s finances through the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond, ensuring Mimico Lacrosse remained in a strong financial position to recover and grow.
In recognition of his contributions, Dave was awarded the John JR Robinson Memorial Award, presented annually to a member of the club who has done the most to promote, foster, and grow the game of lacrosse in our community.
