After a brief revival, Canada's national summer sport of lacrosse nixed for 2025 Canada Summer Games

Helmets, gloves and sticks littered the turf as the final buzzer sounded at Canada Games Park this past August in Niagara, Ont.

More than a dozen teenage boys from B.C. had hung on for a thrilling 8-7 win over Team Ontario in the gold medal final of box lacrosse. Soon, the boys would have shiny medals around their necks. Lacrosse, it seemed, was in a good spot.

After years of being excluded at the Canada Games — since 1985, to be exact — lacrosse was finally back. Nine provinces sent teams to Niagara and, for the first time ever, girls' teams competed at the games.

"The experience was great. It is actually bringing the sport to the next level," said Norman Cédilotte, who used to sit on the executive board of Lacrosse Quebec and still manages the girls' division in the province. He organized a team that represented Quebec at the Niagara games.

"To get so many great athletes together just brought an opportunity for us to change the course of how lacrosse could be. I think it was a great event to have this on a national platform being seen by everyone across Canada."

But it looks like it is one and done for lacrosse.

The Canada Games Council released the list of sports for the 2025 games to be held in St. John's. Lacrosse isn't on that list. Organizers said there's a limit to the number of athletes they can handle.

"Our reality is that there's a greater number of sports and disciplines that apply for selection for each Canada Games than we actually have participant quota to follow," said Kelly-Ann Paul, the president and CEO of the Canada Games Council.

Lacrosse has a long history in Canada. First Nations began playing the sport more than 500 years ago. Each nation had its own version but it always had a spiritual aspect