Brantford Youth Lacrosse
Jess Bates Memorial Lacrosse Tournament in Brantford Draws 24 Youth Teams Over Weekend
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Brantford hosted the inaugural Jess Bates Memorial minor lacrosse tournament over the weekend, drawing 24 teams across three age divisions to honor a beloved local volunteer who passed away in November 2024. Brantford Expositor reported that the event, organized by the Brantford Minor Lacrosse Association, filled to capacity months in advance.
The tournament wrapped up Sunday with the Brantford Warriors defeating the Cambridge Highlanders 11-1 in the U9 championship game. The Bates-Willmott family presented trophies at the closing ceremony, capping a weekend that blended competitive lacrosse with community remembrance.
Who Was Jess Bates and Why This Tournament Exists
Jessica "Jess" Bates was a fixture in Brantford's minor lacrosse community. She was known not just as a "lacrosse mom" but as a hands-on volunteer and mentor who shaped teams across the region. She died on November 11, 2024. Following her death, the community directed memorial donations to the Brantford Minor Lacrosse Association, according to Stratford Beacon Herald.
Those funds helped launch this annual memorial tournament. Aaron Willmott, Jess's husband and a veteran Warriors coach, remains a central figure in the effort. The BMLA designed the event to keep her spirit alive through the sport she loved — and to give young players a meaningful stage to compete on.
24 Teams, Three Divisions, One Sold-Out Weekend
The tournament ran Friday through Sunday across Brantford venues including the Wayne Gretzky Sports Centre and Lions Park Arena. All 24 spots — 8 teams each in U9, U11, and U13 — sold out within 72 hours of registration opening in March, according to Paris Star. Each team paid a $1,000 registration fee.
Competing clubs came from across southern Ontario. Teams included the Kitchener Kodiaks, London Blue Devils, Peterborough Lakers, Simcoe Timberwolves, Six Nations Warriors, and Wallaceburg Griffins. The quick sellout reflects strong demand for C/D level competitive play — a tier that often gets overshadowed by higher-level Ontario Lacrosse Association qualifiers.
Warriors Dominate U9 Final in Lopsided Championship
Sunday's U9 championship game was not close. The host Brantford Warriors beat the Cambridge Highlanders 11-1 in a game that started at 3:30 PM. The margin points to a strong youth development program within the host association, Woodstock Sentinel Review noted.
Semi-finals wrapped up between 11:00 AM and 2:00 PM before the championship game. The closing ceremony followed, with the Bates-Willmott family handing out trophies. Community members described the tournament as a "celebration of selfless service" — a phrase that captures how Brantford remembers Jess Bates.
Brantford Eyes Expansion as Tournament Finds Its Footing
With roughly 400 to 450 young athletes competing — plus their families — the event brought an estimated 1,200-plus visitors to Brantford for the weekend. The city has called itself the "Tournament Capital of Ontario" since 1998. Sport tourism drives millions in annual spending there, and weekends like this one are a key part of that strategy, according to Paris Star.
Given the quick sellout and strong community response, there is already pressure to add U15 and U17 divisions in 2027. The inaugural event has set a template — one that other associations may follow to honor local figures while giving youth players a place to grow. For now, Brantford's lacrosse community can point to this weekend as a success on every level.
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