The Canadian Junior A lacrosse championships begin in earnest at the Powerade Centre on Saturday at 5 p.m. when the Ontario champion Orangeville Northmen square off with the British Columbia champion Coquitlam Adanacs.

It will mark the end of a year-long planning process for co-chairs Mark Evans and Ros Christie and their volunteers.

“The upcoming Minto Cup Series is shaping up to be a wonderful week of lacrosse,” the said co-chairs. “The very best Junior A lacrosse players and teams in Canada will be here competing for the coveted Minto Cup.”

The Northmen, the defending Canadian champs, rallied from a 3-0 deficit to reclaim the Ontario title earlier this week, downed the Brampton Excelsiors 9-6 in the seventh and deciding game.

But the Excelsiors will get another shot at the Northmen as they will compete as the event hosts. The Excelsiors will square off against the Alberta champion Edmonton Eclipse on Saturday at 8 p.m.

The western visitors will square off against each other on Sunday at 5 p.m. while the two Ontario representatives will renew acquaintances on Sunday at 8 p.m.

After an off-day on Monday, the four squads with Minto Cup aspirations will get back at it on Tuesday with Orangeville and Edmonton  meeting at 5 p.m. while Brampton tangles with Coquitlam at 8 p.m.

The first place team from the round robin will earn an automatic berth in the Minto Cup final while the second and third place squads will hook up on Wednesday at 8 p.m. with the winner advancing to the Canadian final.

The final will begin on Friday at 8 p.m.— but that will only be the start.

The Minto Cup won’t be decided in one game, but in a best-of-three series.

The two teams will be back on the floor on Saturday at 8 p.m. with the possibility of a game three on Sunday at 7 p.m.

Tickets for the Minto Cup games are currently available through Ticketmaster at www.ticketmaster.com, at the Powerade Centre box office or at the door.

Tickets are $15 per day, which includes both games in the round robin or singles games in the semifinal and finals. Children’s tickets (16 and younger) are available for $5 per day.

Special Gallery Seating is $25 per game and is the only reserved seating at the Powerade Centre. These seats are available on a per game basis only.

Tournament passes include all games in the event with prices set at $70 for adults and $30 for children 16-and-under.

A special alumni pass is also available for $60 but can only be purchsed through the host organizing committee. There is also a special Midget Parents Pass for $50 and only available through the Canadian Lacrosse Association.

The Excelsiors are hosting the Canadian Midget Championships at Century Gardens this week as well.

“We’ve been overwhelmed by the support from Mayor Fennell, the councillors, local businesses, the OLA, CLA, and the huge number of volunteers who will be giving of their time,” added the co-chairs. “Everyone is most welcome to join us at this exciting event.”