IL Indoor

B.C. Junior A, CLA, IL Indoor, Inside Lacrosse, Off the Rug, Road to the Minto Cup

BCJALL Power Rankings- And they’re off

The Langley Thunder sit atop the first BCJALL Power Rankings.

For the first time in over a decade, there will be no automatic qualifier for the Minto Cup and that makes the 2013 season even more hotly contested. There are now two spots up for grabs for the eight teams competing out west and they’re already a month in. After just a few short weeks though, we are already seeing some separation from the top six teams but that’s bound to change as more players return from their college duties down south. The big question will be as it has been the past few seasons, will anyone be able to dethrone the Coquitlam Adanacs as BC champions. Well this year could be the year as the gap continues to close year after year and no longer at the A’s and Bellies guaranteed tickets to the big dance. Queen’s Park Arena will host the 2013 Minto Cup and four teams will compete for the National Championships- the road to Queens Park begins now and eight BC teams want to punch their ticket.

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CLA, IL Indoor, Inside Lacrosse, Road to the Mann Cup, Senior A, The Buzz, WLA

The WLA will allow fighting as long as it’s not staged or involves an instigator

As we all know, the Canadian Lacrosse Association has implemented new rules for fighting this year for all levels of lacrosse:

Rule 45 – Fighting
(a) A major penalty and game misconduct penalty shall be assessed to any player/goalkeeper who fights. A goalkeeper penalty shall be served by a player who was on the floor at the time of the infraction.  The major penalty must be served in its duration.
(b) If there is an instigator or clear aggressor in a fight, a major penalty and a game misconduct plus any other penalties shall be assessed to the offending player(s).  Where an instigator or clear aggressor penalty is assessed the non-offending player shall not receive a game misconduct under 45 (a).

Well, it appears the Western Lacrosse Association (WLA) Board of Governors has voted that its interpretation of the rules will allow fighting for the 2013 season. WLA commissioner Casey Cook told IL Indoor today in an exclusive interview that they feel as a league they are “being compliant with the CLA Rule 45.” READ MORE »

CLA, IL Indoor, Inside Lacrosse, Off the Rug, Road to the Mann Cup, Senior A, The Ballers, The Life, Victoria Shamrocks, WLA

Shamrocks add more local fire power with addition of Rhys Duch

The Victoria Shamrocks are very pleased to announce the return of Rhys Duch for the 2013 Western Lacrosse Association season. The 26 year-old Victoria native is coming off a career year in the National Lacrosse League in which he earned All-Pro First Team honours after scoring in every game to lead the NLL with 45 goals, finishing third in leagues scoring with 96 points and leading his Washington Stealth team to the championship final. In his previous four seasons with the Shamrocks between 2008 and 2011, Duch appeared in 76 regular season and playoff games in which he scored 152 goals and added 171 assists for 323 points. He is a three-time WLA all-star including two First Team honours in 2010 and 2011. Last summer he played for the Six Nations Chiefs in Ontario. READ MORE »

Alberta Junior A, B.C. Junior A, CLA, IL Indoor, Inside Lacrosse, Ontario Junior A, Road to the Minto Cup, The Buzz

Queens Park Arena to host 2013 Minto Cup

Get ready B.C. lacrosse fans, high-energy, high-skilled, intense lacrosse action is coming your way this August as the Minto Cup is returning to British Columbia for the 2013 Minto Cup championship. Hosted by the British Columbia Lacrosse Association (BCLA) and the BC Junior ‘A’ Lacrosse League (BCJALL), the Canadian Lacrosse Association’s (CLA) Canadian Junior ‘A’ National Championship will operate in its current four-team format. The championship will start with round-robin play on Saturday August 17 at Queens Park Arena in New Westminster, B.C. After four days of round-robin play, the championship round will begin Thursday August 22 with the final two teams competing for the coveted title in a best-of-five playoff series. READ MORE »

IL Indoor, Inside Lacrosse, National Lacrosse League, Rochester Knighthawks, The Ballers, The Buzz, The Life, Washington Stealth

It’s the Champion’s Cup edition of the Off the Crossebar Podcast

We’re a few hours away from crowning a 2013 Champion’s Cup winner and it couldn’t be any closer of a matchup between the Rochester Knighthawks and the Washington Stealth. It’s a rare full circle meeting as these two teams squared off in the season opener (a 13-12 win for the Stealth) and will now cap one of the best National Lacrosse League seasons in recent memory.

This week on the Off the Crossebar Podcast , we talked to the two head coaches who will be dueling in the mental chess match in hopes of doing all the right things in leading their team to the holy grail of professional lacrosse. Mike Hasen is looking for his second league title in as many years while Chris Hall is looking to add his third championship as the Stealth make their third trip in four years. Both men are incredible lacrosse minds and are very focused on the task at hand but both are quick to tip their hats to the other team on their successes. READ MORE »

CLA, IL Indoor, Inside Lacrosse, New Westminster Salmonbellies, Off the Rug, Road to the Mann Cup, Senior A, The Ballers, Victoria Shamrocks, WLA

Shamrocks acquire western rights to Rory Smith but he won’t report in 2013

The Victoria Shamrocks have acquired Rory Smith's WLA rights from New Westminster. (Photo: Larry Palumbo)

The Victoria Shamrocks are pleased to announce they have acquired the WLA playing rights to Rory Smith and a 2nd round pick in the 2014 WLA Draft from the New Westminster Salmonbellies in exchange for the WLA playing rights to Chet Koneczny and a conditional 1st round pick in the 2016 WLA Draft. If Smith, who is committed to the Six Nations Chiefs in Ontario for the 2013 season, plays in the WLA in 2014 or 2015, New Westminster will receive the 1^st round draft pick. If he does not, then the Shamrocks retain the pick and Smith’s rights revert back to the Salmonbellies in 2016.

“This deal is made with the future I mind,” said Shamrocks general manager Chris Welch. “We believe Rory is interested in returning to the WLA next year so we made sure that if he does, he’ll be in green and white.  We’re very familiar with how difficult is to play against him so we’re hoping we can get him on our side.” READ MORE »

Calgary Roughnecks, IL Indoor, Inside Lacrosse, National Lacrosse League, Rochester Knighthawks, The Buzz, Washington Stealth

Report: If Stealth win, NLL Champion’s Cup game will be played in Langley, B.C.

The Everett Herald is reporting that IF the Washington Stealth defeat the Calgary Roughnecks to win their third West Division title in four years, the 2013 National Lacrosse League Champion’s Cup game would be played at the Langley Events Centre in Langley, B.C. As soon as the Stealth put the finishing touches on the Edmonton Rush last weekend, people started looking ahead in the calendars and noticed one very perplexing thing. On May 10, the Comcast Arena in Everett, Wash., is booked solid by a Christian youth conference known as “Acquire the Fire” and on May 11 its booked for “Cirque Zuma Zuma.” READ MORE »

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 »

Behind the Scenes, CLA, IL Indoor, Inside Lacrosse, National Lacrosse League, Off the Rug, Ontario Junior A, Rochester Knighthawks, The Life

Off the Crossebar Podcast: GM Talks continue as Curt Styres talks about life at Six Nations, culture and Tony Stewart?

Knighthawks owner Curt Styres is more than an NLL champion, he's a champion for the game. (Photo: Larry Palumbo)

If you’ve ever met Curt Styres, you’d know he’s a very proud man that loves his family, his job and his lacrosse. But he’s got his hands in so many pots that it’s often hard to get a still moment with him. Even during our interview he was having to take a moment or two to answer questions from those in his office who needed his assistance with some work matters. You see, Styres isn’t just the owner and general manager of the Rochester Knighthawks, he’s got part ownership in a raceway, gas stations, arenas, convenience stores, restaurants, gyms, spas, construction companies, mining companies, music studios and the list goes on. He has so many employees world-wide that he’s still unsure of the exact number. READ MORE »

Buffalo Bandits, IL Indoor, Inside Lacrosse, Kitchener-Waterloo Kodiaks, MSL, National Lacrosse League, Off the Rug, The Life

Week 7 of the GM Talks on the Off the Crossebar Podcast; this week Bandits GM Steve Dietrich and his worst game, Hall of Fame career and an NFL Back-up QB.

Steve Dietrich (left) with Troy Cordingley at Chugger's Hall of Fame induction. (Photo: NLL.com)

One of the toughest GM jobs in the National Lacrosse League could very well be the one bestowed upon Steve Dietrich. After Darris Kilgour was relieved of his duties last off-season, the former Bandit goalie was welcomed back to Banditland and was immediately thrust into the spotlight. How do you improve an aging roster that has been struggling to find chemistry, symmetry and consistency ever since winning the 2008 NLL title game on their home floor? It’s all about a hunger for redemption for Dietrich and that comes from building through the draft and finding the right pieces to the puzzle. READ MORE »