CLL
CLL
menuCanada Rosters for the 2021 IIJL World Junior Lacrosse Championship
[Updated Saturday August 7, 2021]
WINNIPEG, MB – The Canadian Lacrosse League (CLL) is honoured to announce the Canada East and Canada West rosters for the 2021 IIJL World Junior Lacrosse Championship (WJLC) taking place August 12-14, 2021 in Winnipeg, MB at Canada Life Centre (formerly Bell MTS Place).
Collectively, the regional teams feature forty (40) players from seven (7) different provinces, two (2) Junior B leagues, all three (3) Junior A leagues, five (5) National Lacrosse League players, and sixteen (16) collegiate players from across the NCAA (DI, DII, and DIII) and CUFLA.
The World Juniors last saw multiple Canadian teams compete amid the pool of international competition in the first two years of the championship, 2015 and 2016. At the inaugural championship two star studded Canadian rosters of Canada CLax, comprised of players from Ontario including Jeff Teat, and Canada West, comprised of players from Saskatchewan, Alberta, and British Columbia including Christian del Bianco, handedly defeated the competition on a collision course to meet in the gold medal game. The championship game delivered as the most entertaining game of the tournament with Canada West edging Canada East in a thrilling 5-4 defensive battle.
"While there's precedent to include multiple Canadian teams, we've worked hard with the IIJL and our international partners to establish the current one-team-per-nation format keeping the championship inclusive to other nations." explained Chris Fox, CLL and IIJL Canada Chair. "When we presented our proposal to move forward with this year's championship it was important we maintained the integrity of awarding the gold medal to a deserving champion." Fox added.
The 2021 IIJL World Junior Lacrosse Championship will be decided in a three (3) game cumulative series between Canada East and Canada West. Games will be full length sixty (60) minute games under international rules.
The Canada East bench will have a familiar face leading the charge with Jeff Dowling returning for his fifth World Juniors behind a Canada bench. "The previous two World Junior Canada rosters (2018 and 2019) were built with solid goaltending, athletic defenders, and unselfish offensive players." said Dowling. "We've continued with that mold for Canada East team, and know Canada West is similarly built, so we expect to see very fast paced games." added Dowling. "Our focus will be on fast, physical play while minimizing mistakes."
CANADA EAST
| NAME | HOMETOWN | JUNIOR |
|---|---|---|
| Ben Trumble | Peterborough, ON | Peterborough Lakers (OJLL) |
| Blake Dunford | Hamilton, ON | Hamilton Bengals (OJBLL) |
| Brenden Boyle | Burlington, ON | Burlington Chiefs (OJLL) |
| Caden Noseworthy | Newmarket, ON | Mimico Mountaineers (OJLL) |
| Curtis Bukta | Woodstock, ON | Mimico Mountaineers (OJLL) |
| David Anderson | Cambridge, ON | Toronto Beaches (OJLL) |
| Edward Qu | Mississauga, ON | Oakville Buzz (OJLL) |
| Ethan Riggs | Dundas, ON | Burlington Chiefs (OJLL) |
| Hayden Coulter | Owen Sound, ON | Owen Sound North Stars (OJBLL) |
| Jordan Ackie | Cambridge, ON | Kitchener-Waterloo (OJLL) |
| Landon Kells | Fergus, ON | Peterborough Lakers (OJLL) |
| Liam McGrath | Halifax, NS | Orangeville Northmen (OJLL) |
| Matthew Wright | Oakville, ON | Mimico Mountaineers (OJLL) |
| Michael Grace | Hamilton, ON | Burlington Chiefs (OJLL) |
| Mitchell Dunham | Hamilton, ON | Burlington Chiefs (OJLL) |
| Nathan Thomas Pouliot | Rosemère, QC | Toronto Beaches (OJLL) |
| Sam Dramnitzke | Baden, ON | Elora Mohawks (OJBLL) |
| Tanner Buck | Orangeville, ON | Orangeville Northmen (OJLL) |
| Tyler Davis | Wallaceburg, ON | Six Nations Arrows (OJLL) |
| Will Cecile | Windsor, ON | Burlington Chiefs (OJLL) |
Canada West will be in capable hands as well with two-time National Lacrosse League (NLL) General Manager of the Year Marty O'Neill taking the reins. "This will be a welcomed event given that the past few years have taken away opportunities for these players to display their talents." said O'Neill. "Personally, I'm looking forward to helping them put the best foot forward to show what they can do on a big stage." concluded O'Neill.
CANADA WEST
| NAME | HOMETOWN | JUNIOR |
|---|---|---|
| Aiden Danby | Penticton, BC | Delta Islanders (BCJALL) |
| Arthur Miller | Parksville, BC | Nanaimo Timbermen (BCJALL) |
| Bryce Schmermund | St. Albert, AB | St. Albert Miners (RMJALL) |
| Cayden Onagi | Headingley, MB | Manitoba Blizzard (RMJBLL) |
| Easton Ong | Saskatoon, SK | Saskatchewan SWAT (RMJALL) |
| Evan Gartner | Calgary, AB | Calgary Mountaineers (RMJALL) |
| Evan Soucy | Nanaimo, BC | Nanaimo Timbermen (BCJALL) |
| Garrett Brockmeyer | Saskatoon, SK | Saskatchewan SWAT (RMJALL) |
| Hunter Aggus | Edmonton, AB | Six Nations Arrows (OJLL) |
| Jackson Klewchuk | Winnipeg, MB | Manitoba Blizzard (RMJBLL) |
| Justin Geddie | Victoria, BC | Nanaimo Timbermen (BCJALL) |
| Kean Moon | Calgary, AB | Okotoks Raiders (RMJALL) |
| Laine Hruska | Warman, SK | Saskatchewan SWAT (RMJALL) |
| Mason McQuiggin | Calgary, AB | Calgary Mountaineers (RMJALL) |
| Nolan Oakey | Calgary, AB | Rockyview Silvertips (RMJBLL) |
| Patrick Dodds | Victoria, BC | Victoria Shamrocks (BCJALL) |
| Sam Marshall | Saskatoon, SK | Saskatchewan SWAT (RMJALL) |
| Sean Kriwokon | Airdrie, SK | Okotoks Raiders (RMJALL) |
| Troy Gutowski | Winnipeg, MB | Saskatchewan SWAT (RMJALL) |
| Zach Basisty | Westlock, AB | St. Albert Miners (RMJALL) |
"Being able to include players who were projected to be on our Canada rosters in 2020 and 2021 is a tremendous opportunity for our program and for our players after facing over a year of uncertainty and adversity." explained Fox.
Canada East and Canada West will face-off for the 2021 IIJL World Junior Lacrosse Championship gold medal starting on August 12th at 8:00 PM CT with every matchup broadcasting live on TSN.
The IIJL World Junior Lacrosse Championship will return to Winnipeg in 2022 with a full lineup of international teams at Canada Life Centre on August 8-14, 2022.
ABOUT 2021 IIJL WORLD JUNIOR LACROSSE CHAMPIONSHIP
Coming out of the global pandemic the 2021 IIJL World Junior Championship will feature a three (3) game cumulative series between Canada East and Canada West at Canada Life Centre in Winnipeg, MB from August 12-14, 2021. The IIJL World Junior Lacrosse Championship will return to a full schedule with nine (9) Nations in 2022. For more information visit the IIJL World Junior Lacrosse Championship website www.2021WJLC.com and on social media at Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.