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Behind the Scenes, Grassroots, International, The Life

German box lacrosse league joins the burgeoning European movement

Just a couple of days ago we told you about the brand spanking new Finnish Box Lacrosse League. Now, there’s more news out of Europe. Canadian ex-pat Jamie Plunkett is involved in the genesis of another league, this time in his adopted home country of Germany, where he’s been instrumental in the development of the  Deutschland Adler Lacrosse Club. The Adler web site has announced the creation of the Deutsche Indoor Lacrosse Liga. The new league will run during the summer months of July and August, with a couple of league game days and then a championship tournament. The Adler release mentions four teams that have already expressed interest in playing and the league welcomes more. And don’t panic if you get to the site and see German; just scroll halfway down the page for the English version of the announcement.

Behind the Scenes, Grassroots, International

Et tu, Turku? Box lacrosse is off and running in Finland

The Turku Titans, looking very cool in their circa 1907 Ottawa Senators-looking jerseys, are one of four teams in the Finnish Box Lacrosse League. (Photo: Robin Stitzing)

Box lacrosse has been making inroads and winning fans in outposts around the world, as evidenced by the growth of interest in Europe. The Czech Republic and Germany are noted hot spots, thanks largely to the Ales Hrebesky tournament and the Deutschland Adler Lacrosse Club, respectively. One of the latest signs of the games increasing popularity is the creation of the Finnish Box Lacrosse League. It’s no surprise that Jamie Plunkett and Brian Tyacke were there even before the league got going. In fact, as Samuli Harala writes in a report on the Adler web site, without the pair of passionate boxla promoters the league wouldn’t exist.

But now it does, with four teams taking part last Saturday, May 4 in Turku in the first of three one-day tournaments that will comprise the regular season. The finale will be held in June, just before the field lacrosse season kicks off. Harala reports that local hockey and floorball (I don’t know either–presumably it’s a Euro thing) players are keen to give the game a go, suggesting a bright future for box lacrosse in Finland.

Behind the Scenes, Grassroots, IL Indoor, Inside Lacrosse, National Lacrosse League, Off the Rug, Philadelphia Wings, The Life, U.S. Indoor Lacrosse

Last but not least, Johnny Mouradian stops by for the final installment of the GM Talks on this week’s Off the Crossebar Podcast

As coach and general manager, Johnny Mouradian likes the direction the Wings are headed. (Photo: Larry Palumbo)

Nine general managers in 10 weeks isn’t that big a deal but to have them all agree to actually come on this show and talk openly and candidly about their roles as team puppeteer is a remarkable feat. OK so maybe it’s not remarkable but it’s been a great journey around the National Lacrosse League as we wrap things up this week with the final episode of the GM Talks. With a combined five NLL/MILL titles on his resume, Johnny Mouradian is the winningest GM in pro indoor lacrosse and he’s anxious to build on that list with the Philadelphia Wings. The Wings had a pretty decent season if you ask the man more commonly known as “The Gypsy,” but in any sport not winning it all has to be looked at as a bit of a shortcoming. READ MORE »

Grassroots, IL Indoor

US Indoor Lacrosse developmental team to play exhibition schedule in U.S. and Canada

US Indoor Lacrosse has announced details of the 2013 US Developmental Team, which kicks off a multi-session training camp on May 18 at Coppermine Field House (Formally Duburns Arena) in Baltimore, Md. The US Developmental Team will compete in an independent exhibition schedule in the United States and Canada this spring and summer. The US Developmental Team will be comprised of talented, up-and-coming lacrosse players who have a strong worth ethic, willingness to work within a team, and desire to learn new skills and strategies. The team is open to current college players as well as those who have exhausted their college eligibility and will play a Senior schedule (generally aged 21 and older). READ MORE »

Grassroots, IL Indoor

Philadelphia to host IMG Indoor Nationals

IMG Indoor Nationals launch in January during the US Lacrosse Convention in Philadelphia.

Following the launch of the IMG Nationals, an amateur outdoor lacrosse national championship series, IMG Performance has aligned with the American Indoor Lacrosse Association (AILA) to host the inaugural IMG Indoor Nationals in Philadelphia, Pa., Jan. 10-12, 2014. The IMG Indoor Nationals will take place in conjunction with the start of the Philadelphia Wings season and the 2014 U.S. Lacrosse National Convention. Top U15, U17 and U19 teams from around the country will have the opportunity to compete for the first annual championship title. READ MORE »

Grassroots, IL Indoor

Ryan, Mueller to run training camp for US Indoor Lacrosse national junior team

US Indoor Lacrosse, the managing group for Team USA at the 2007 and 2011 World Indoor Lacrosse Championships, will be forming a National Junior Team this summer. The team will be comprised of 15- to 17-year-old boys and will hold its inaugural tryouts and training camp the weekend of June 1 and 2 in Baltimore, Md., at Du Burns Arena. The program will focus on skill development and teaching the indoor game. Box lacrosse is known to drastically accelerate the skills of field lacrosse players and yet few opportunities exist in the U.S. to play. The training camp will be led by Tom Ryan and Adam Mueller, two of the top indoor coaches in the country. READ MORE »

Behind the Scenes, Futures Report, Grassroots, National Lacrosse League, Philadelphia Wings

Brodie Merrill advocates multiple sports for young athletes

Brodie Merrill looking like a wide receiver going horizontal. (Photo: Larry Palumbo)

We are in an age of specialization. Kids are encouraged to pick a sport early and focus on it, often to the exclusion of playing other games. The practice has generated a backlash, much of it from pro athletes who remember playing lots of things when they were younger and who see that broad approach to sport as valuable. Now Brodie Merrill has joined the ranks of those advocating that kids play a variety of sports and the Philadelphia Wings’ captain has done so eloquently with his latest Wingin’ It blog entry for Philly.com.  Merrill references versatile former lacrosse players like Jim Brown, Wayne Gretzky and Joe Nieuwendyk, Hall of Famers all in other sports. He also makes an interesting comparison between the athleticism of Kevin Crowley and Tom Brady. Can’t you just see Crowley running the Patriots’ offence? No, seriously, think about it and see if it’s really that much of a stretch.

Behind the Scenes, Grassroots, IL Indoor, Kitchener-Waterloo Kodiaks, MSL, Peterborough Lakers

Major Series Lacrosse game between Kodiaks and Lakers to be held in Kingston

There’ll be something a little different when the Kitchener-Waterloo Kodiaks entertain the Peterborough Lakers in a June 8 Major Series Lacrosse game. Rather than playing the contest in their usual home arena, the Kodiaks will face off with the defending Mann Cup champions in front of thousands of fans in Kingston’s K-Rock Centre. That’s the plan, anyway, for the First Capital Cup.

The game is the brainchild of Kodiaks’ owner Al Orth and his business officer/executive assistant for his job in Queen’s University’s human resources department, Nicole Fowler. It is being held June 8 to coincide with the Kingston Krossfire minor lacrosse tournament, which is expected to have 40 teams across the minor age groups. The registration fee for the tournament includes tickets to the game, so Orth and Fowler envision an arena full of young players and their parents and coaches watching what should be an exciting early-season game. READ MORE »

Behind the Scenes, Grassroots, National Lacrosse League, Toronto Rock

Video: Rock players, owner and cheerleaders help at Daily Bread Food Bank

Friday night’s Toronto Rock game will be helping to support the Daily Bread Food Bank with proceeds from tickets–including $10 upper bowl tix–going to the charity. Owner Jamie Dawick has pledged an additional $25 grand from his own pocket if the game sells out. But before the lights go up, Dawick, some of his players and some Rock cheerleaders got to work behind the scenes, helping to prepare Daily Bread’s boxes to go out to the people who need their help. Much to the chagrin of one of the cheerleaders, what are the odds the camera would be rolling when a package of spaghetti blew up in her hands? Kudos to everyone involved and to you if you buy a ticket to the game against Colorado Friday night at 7:30.

Behind the Scenes, Brampton Inferno, CLax, Canadian Lacrosse League, Durham Turfdogs, Grassroots, IL Indoor

CLax bringing pro lacrosse to Cobourg

The Canadian Lacrosse League has already broken lots of new ground this year with relocated teams in Niagara and Toronto as well as an expansion club in Barrie. This Saturday, CLax will blaze yet another new trail when it features a game in Cobourg. The Brampton Inferno will be the official host team as they take on the Durham Turfdogs at the new Cobourg Community Centre. Commissioner Paul St. John says Cobourg is a natural fit for the two-year-old league and they’d love to see a team land in the city.

“We really like the Cobour Community Centre venue and the fact that it is a growing lacrosse community again,” St. John told IL Indoor. “The area has a great core that deserves to see lacrosse live in their neighbourhood without having to travel far.” READ MORE »