Stan Cockerton - S3 - a podcast by FFM Audio Network

Stan has served as the Executive Director of the OLA since 1986, after first launching his career in
amateur sport in 1982 as the OLA Program Director, before being promoted to OLA Technical Director and eventually to the position of Executive Director – a position the held for 35 years.

Stan began his legendary playing career when he picked up his first lacrosse stick at the age of 12.

He would become an all-star box player for Oshawa. His playing style was an immediate threat to his opponent’s goaltenders. As a Junior “A” player, Stan ranked 5th in All-Time Goals with 319 goals for the Gaels, and was named Most Valuable Player in Junior “A” in 1975 and 1976, as well as being named Major Series Lacrosse’s Rookie of the Year in 1977.

Stan’s international career began in 1976 as a three-time member of Team Canada’s field lacrosse
program (1978, 1982 and 1990), leading Team Canada to a World Championship gold medal in 1978 by scoring six goals and tallying three assists, including the game-winner in the 17-16 overtime win against the United States. The 1978 World Lacrosse Championships were a watershed moment for the sport throughout Canada and a springboard to kickstart the growth of field lacrosse throughout Ontario.

At the time, he was named “Player of the World”.

Stan played collegiately for North Carolina State University in the United States, where he was a four-time All-American selection and still ranks among the all-time NCAA leaders in total Goals Scored (193), Points (280), Points Per Game (6.36), Goals Per Game (4.39) - a record that still stands 41 years later.

Cockerton’s accomplishments as a player have been recognized through his inductions into the
Oshawa Sports Hall of Fame (1990), Ontario Lacrosse Hall of Fame (1997, Inaugural Class),
Canadian Lacrosse Hall of Fame (2003), USA Lacrosse Hall of Fame (2014), and North Carolina
State Hall of Fame (2016).

As a builder Cockerton’s passion for the sport saw him serve as Vice President of the
International Lacrosse Federation (now World Lacrosse) from 2003-2010, and then as President from 2010-2017. Cockerton’s contributions to the game internationally have helped shape the aspiration to return the sport of lacrosse to the Olympic Games. Stan was proud to witness the most historic moment for lacrosse: the official recognition of the sport by the International Olympic Committee on July 20th, 2021. He was honoured with the Lester B. Pearson Award in 2011 by Lacrosse Canada for his outstanding contributions to the sport, as well as the Lifetime Achievement Award in 2018 by World Lacrosse for his international growth and development efforts.

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