Mike Poulin

Mike Poulin, born and raised in Kitchener, was first introduced to the game of lacrosse in grade 3 at his elementary school, His life’s work has been to play the game at full throttle, while amassing wins and awards up to and including the international level.

As a youth, Mike played box (indoor) lacrosse with the Kitchener-Waterloo Braves, an organization within the OLA Junior A Lacrosse League. He attributes his successful goaltending career to this local organization and the mentors who inspired him, so much so that he has the Braves’ logo tattooed on his back.

Mike launched his professional career with the National Lacrosse League (NLL), a North American men’s professional league. He started in 2007 with the Toronto Rock, moved in 2009 to the Boston Blazers, next to the Calgary Roughnecks, and then spent five seasons with the Georgia Swarm.

The awards soon followed. He was NLL Goaltender of the Year, All Pro First Team (2012); All Pro Second Team (2017). In 2018 he was singled out for stopping 682 shots on goals, the seventh most in NLL history.

In 2019, Mike was named Kitchener Sports Association Athlete of the Year, and the same year, with the Peterborough Lakers, was Mann Cup Champion at the Canadian Senior Men’s National Championship. He was also the recipient of the Mike Kelley Memorial Trophy for MVP.

Continuing his 2019 streak, Mike tended goal for Team Canada at the World Indoor Lacrosse Championship, in Langley, BC. The competition is held every four years, with 20 countries participating that year. The team won gold, and Mike was selected as goaltender for the All World Team.

In the summer of 2022, after fifteen years of goaltending, Mike retired from the NLL. With the Georgia Swarm at the time, and their franchise leader in wins, he moved from the playing field to their office as Assistant General Manager, Player Acquisition and Development.

Mike took with him one NLL Championship (Georgia; 2017), three NLL Teammate of the Year awards (2016, 2017, 2020), one NLL Goaltender of the Year honour (Calgary; 2012), and two NLL All-Pro Team accolades (2012 First Team, 2017 Second Team).

Waterloo Region has always been home base for Mike, and in 2019 he was named Goalie Coach to the KW Braves Junior A Lacrosse team. He also coaches all three of his sons, (U-11, U-9, U-7) in the Ontario Lacrosse Association, as well as mentoring a fall league for youth in K-W.

Mike is the founder of Empowered Athletics (Lacrosse), where he and fellow coaches inspire young athletes to be their best selves on and off the playing field. They offer summer camps, classroom engagement, clinics and leagues.

After a very brief retirement as a player and a one-year stint as an Assistant Coach for the Georgia Swarm, Mike has returned to the field as an experienced back-up goalie and mentor for a young goalie on the 2023-2024 San Diego Seals Lacrosse Team.

Mike Poulin has dedicated his life, on and off the lacrosse field, to advocating for a healthy and active lifestyle especially for our youth.