Following Germany’s announcement on Monday, the Canadian Lacrosse Association has made their 23-man roster for the 2015 World Indoor Lacrosse Championship final and for all to see.
Whittling down the list from 37 men down to 23 was likely no easy task for head coach Eddie Comeau, along with assistant coaches Derek Keenan, Paul Day, Glen Clark and director Johnny Mouradian.
In the history of the World Indoor Lacrosse Championship, Canada has never finished with anything short of the Gold Medal, which is no surprise as box lacrosse is considered the national summer sport of Canada and is where the game is predominately played.
From the 37-man training roster, the two most surprising names that didn’t make the final cut are NLL all-stars Rhys Duch and Rob Hellyer. Duch finished the 2015 NLL regular season at the #5 spot for total point scored while Hellyer was #13, one spot behind John Grant Jr., also not playing in the 2015 WILC.
Let’s take a look at the 23 men that will be sporting the Red & White in September!
Canadian Lacrosse Roster
Player | 2015 Summer Team | NLL Team | Position |
Aaron Bold | Victoria Sr. A Shamrocks (WLA) | Edmonton Rush | Goalie |
Adam Jones | Peterborough Lakers (MSL) | Colorado Mammoth | Offense |
Billy Dee Smith | Six Nations Chiefs (MSL) | Buffalo Bandits | Defense |
Brandon Miller | Six Nations Chiefs (MSL) | Toronto Rock | Goalie |
Brett Mydske | Langley Thunder (WLA) | Edmonton Rush | Defense |
Brodie Merrill | Boston Cannons (MLL) (Field) | Toronto Rock | Defense |
Chris Corbeil | Brampton Excelsiors (MSL) | Edmonton Rush | Defense |
Curtis Dickson | Peterborough Lakers (MSL) | Calgary Roughnecks | Offense |
Dan Coates | Six Nations Chiefs (MSL) | Colorado Mammoth | Defense |
Dan Dawson | Victoria Sr. A Shamrocks (WLA) | Rochester Knighthawks | Offense |
Dhane Smith | Six Nations Chiefs (MSL) | Buffalo Bandits | Offense |
Jordan MacIntosh | Oakville Rock (MSL) | Minnesota Swarm | Offense |
Kyle Rubisch | Brampton Excelsiors (MSL) | Edmonton Rush | Defense |
Mark Matthews | Rochester Rattlers (MLL) (Field) | Edmonton Rush | Offense |
Matt Vinc | Peterborough Lakers (MSL) | Rochester Knighthawks | Goalie |
Paul Dawson | Brampton Excelsiors (MSL) | Rochester Knighthawks | Defense |
Ryan Benesch | Kitchener-Waterloo Kodiaks (MSL) | Buffalo Bandits | Offense |
Ryan Dilks | Victoria Sr. A Shamrocks (WLA) | Edmonton Rush | Defense |
Scott Campbell | Brooklin Redmen (MSL) | Rochester Knighthawks | Defense |
Shawn Evans | Peterborough Lakers (MSL) | Calgary Roughnecks | Offense |
Stephan Leblanc | Oakville Rock (MSL) | Toronto Rock | Offense |
Steve Priolo | Brooklin Redmen (MSL) | Buffalo Bandits | Defense |
Zack Greer | Denver Outlaws (MLL) (Field) | Edmonton Rush | Offense |
The roster announcement also comes in the trail of last Monday’s news that Johnny Mouradian has been re-appointed as the National Team Director for Canadian Box Lacrosse, a term that will serve for another four years.
For a team that is undefeated in all three prior WILC competitions, they are surely going to be tested in 2015 as the Iroquois Nationals gear up to play host, representing the first indigenous nation to hold an international sporting event. With the firepower of the Thompson family and the games being plaid on their home soil, the Canadian lacrosse team and can expect a run for their money when playing the Haudenosaunee.
If Canada does take home the gold, it will be just two months after the Canadian field team won the 2014 World Lacrosse Championship by outlasting the Americans in a finals rematch!