IL Indoor

One game for all the marbles. Canada and USA face off in the World U19 Gold Medal. Canada with a chance to make history

For the first time since the tournament’s inception back in 1988, the United States lost a game at the U19s. Then remarkably they lost again. Some people questioned the heart of the American team stating they ‘must feel embarrassed to be first group to lose a game’. Which is a truly untrue and unfair comment made by uneducated people. The American have more pride than most teams due to that record and you can tell they are hungry to hold onto their title. With a 12-7 win over the Iroquois team, the US will now face their long time rivals from Canada for the right to World U19 supremacy. Matthew Kavanagh will draw the most attention from the Canadian defenders while Kyle Turri looks to improve on his 6.67 GAA

Canada, who became the first time ever to beat the US at the tournament, defeated the English 15-4 as they continue on the road to history. While the American’s have had to battle their way back to the championship game, Team Canada after two very impressive and solid wins over the US and Iroquois, have defeated Australia and the English twice comfortably and are playing with a ton of confidence.  Reilly O’Connor leads the way offensively for the Red and White while their defence continues to play shut down lacrosse anchored by Brennan Donville in goal.

It will be an epic game that could change the landscape of international lacrosse more so than when Team Canada defeated Team US for the first time as they won the 2006 World Men’s Field Lacrosse Championships in London, Ontario.

The game can be seen live via the tournament’s website – www.2012worldlacrosse.com  - 9am EST, 6am PST READ MORE »

Team Canada improves to 4-0, Iroquois Nationals make history, Team USA going the long route

During the final day of round robin play at the 2012 U19 World Field Lacrosse Championships today, even more history was made as the the Iroquois Nationals defeated Team USA for the first time ever in any level of field competition. On Saturday, Team Canada became the first team to beat the Americans during U19 play and today, the Iroquois handed them their second ever defeat 15-13. It was the first time a team other than Canada had beaten the Americans in International Field Lacrosse. READ MORE »

Team Canada makes history as they hand Team USA their first ever loss at the U19 World Field Lacrosse Championships

If you were to head over the U19 World Field Lacrosse Championship home page and check out the Team USA team preview, the headline reads “Unbeatable? Team USA is a big favorite”. Well that may have been the case coming into the tournament, but a 24 year unbeaten streak might have been weighing on the young shoulders of the defending champs who had never lost a game in the U19 tournament since the first one back in 1988 in Adelaide, Australia.

Well the round robin game between Team USA and Team Canada, was an instant classic and has really set the tone for the rest of the tournament. Team Canada only trailed once and that was a 9-8 score early in the first overtime period as the teams battled for every inch of turf in Turku, Finland today.

Team Canada seemed to have the game in complete control but the gritty Americans out scored the boys in Red and White 4-1 in the fourth quarter to send the game to extra lacrosse. In the International game, they play two four minute periods to decide and winner and if its still tied, they would then move to sudden-victory. Bu that wouldn’t be the case. READ MORE »

Jay Lindsay ready to face(off against) the world for Canada’s U19 field team

He’s got a playoff series to deal with first, but Jay Lindsay is looking forward to the opportunity to square off in the faceoff circle against the best Under-19 teams in the world when Canada heads to the world championships on Finland a week from now. Lindsay has spent the summer with the Kitchener-Waterloo Braves, who will play Peterborough in Ontario Junior A lacrosse playoffs starting Monday night. Then he’ll join four of his Lakers opponents as the league shuts down for two weeks so a number of its players can head over to Turku. Lindsay is a faceoff specialist for the field squad, so he’ll be the first Canadian to touch the ball when they line up against the heavily favoured United States in the tournament’s opening game for both teams. He told InsideHalton that he’s looking forward to the challenge, and glad that he’s had the chance to learn from the likes of Geoff Snider.

Future Stars – Michael Burke, Brampton, and Reegan Comeault, Langley

This summer at IL Indoor we’ll profile some of the best young lacrosse talent destined to become National Lacrosse League (NLL) pros – be it in 2012 or down the line.

The first article in this series features Michael Burke and Reegan Comeault, respectively, MVPs of the OLA and BC Junior A loops last season. Burke will join the NLL Entry Draft Class this year, after two seasons at NCAA D1 Hofstra, while Comeault is set to return to NCAA D1 Ohio State University.

Burke was named the OLA’s Junior A MVP last season after leading the league with 129 points on 45 goals in only 20 games, ahead of NLL Rochester Knighthawks Alex Kedoh Hill and Johnny Powless who finished second and fourth in league scoring. Burke says he attributes a lot of his success to his dad, Bob Burke, a Canadian Lacrosse Hall of Famer. READ MORE »

Canada’s present selects Canada’s futures- U19 roster announced

When your coaches are some of the top players in the game today, you want to make sure you put on a solid showing. Well, Canada’s best players under 19 years old have been doing just that in hopes of catching the eyes of National Lacrosse League stars Brodie Merrill, Geoff Snider, Taylor Wray and former NLLer Matt Brown and the rest of coaching staff. Over the November 24-25 weekend, they all gathered in Oshawa, Ontario doing what they could to make the final 24 that will represent the red and white at  the 2012 FIL Under-19 Men’s Field World Championships being held in Turku, Finland.

Probably the most positive sign for Canadian field lacrosse is the fact that all but three players on the final 24-man roster are attending NCAA colleges or universitites. After the jump, check out the official press release from Team Canada and the list of young men that look to dethrone the Americans and give Canada its first ever U19 gold medal. READ MORE »

Canada Names Brodie Merrill U-19 Coach; Brown, Wray, Snider Also on Staff

OTTAWA – Earlier this year the Canadian Lacrosse Association announced a new strategy to enhance its national team program for long term international success and stronger domestic presence. The 2012 Under 19 Men’s Field national team program will be the first national team operating under the new CLA national team strategy.

As noted by Joey Harris, CLA President, “each national team, from the staff to the players, have the privilege of representing the hopes, dreams and aspirations of an entire country and the boys, girls, men and women who love and invest in our great game. The CLA congratulates each of the above in their appointments. This group represents the next wave of coaches in Canada that bring with them much experience, success and youthful excitement to the program. We look forward to the continued development and preparation of Canada’s best under 19 team.” READ MORE »

CLA announces new initiatives, U-19 application deadline: March 25

TORONTO – Dean French has been named National Team Chair in a revamped approach by the Canadian Lacrosse Association to better organize its international presence. Stewart Begg, CLA Vice-President for International Competition, says the new initiative represents an exciting opportunity to enhance the development of national teams.

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ILF U-19 World Games: 10 things we learned

Another United States victory is in the books at the ILF U-19 World Games, as the American team improved to 36-0 all time at the event and won its sixth straight championship over Canada. But that isn’t all we learned:

1. USA has heart

Everyone knows how athletic and skilled the Americans are in field lacrosse, but what showed during the ILF U-19 Worlds was their heart, pride and passion. There was no way the US should have been able to climb back from a seven goal fourth-quarter deficit against the Canadians, but led by Craig Dowd they did – to help maintain their undefeated U-19 win streak that now stands at 36-0. Impressive.

2. Canada is closing the gap

Canada showed at times that they can compete with the Americans, up 14-7 in the fourth quarter of that round-robin game and tied 7-7 in the second quarter of the final. After the final, both sides admitted that Canada is starting to come into their own at the U-19 level. Of course, Canada did also capture the last men’s worlds in ‘06 and will continue to put a premium on Canadian boxla players with US field experience. See point six.
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Canada’s Adam Jones earns MVP honours

Five goals in the final game versus the United States may not have been quite enough to earn Adam Jones a gold medal, but it did snag the Owen Sound native Tournament MVP and Top Midfielder honours. Though Jones missed his chance at one championship, he steps right back into the running for another. His first-place Orangeville Northmen take on the Brampton Excelsiors tonight at the Tony Rose 8:00 PM EST in game one of their best-of-seven.

Other U-19 award winners are Top Defenseman Peter Fallon (USA) Top Attacker Craig Dowd (USA) and Top Goaltender Adam Ghitelman from…wait for it…Team USA.