Canada World U18
As an International Indoor Junior Lacrosse (IIJL) Founding Member Nation, the Canadian Lacrosse League (CLL) represents Canada at the IIJL World U18 Lacrosse Championship and all IIJL events, while administering major junior box lacrosse domestically in Canada.Â
Players are selected to compete with the CLL Canada international program at the IIJL World U18 Lacrosse Championship by attending Regional Combines. The Regional Combines provide players with the opportunity to compete in a controlled environment, work with CLL staff, and be evaluated prior to the start of the Summer Evaluation Period. The CLL understands that not all players who have interest in competing internationally may have been able to attend a Regional Combine; either due to a scheduling conflict, injury, or attending post-secondary education.
IMPORTANT NOTICE Players are only extended invitations to compete with the CLL Canada international program at the IIJL World U18 Lacrosse Championship once their minor lacrosse commitments and Junior A/B/C team has been mathematically eliminated from playoff contention in their respective league or eliminated from playoffs prior to the roster deadline for World U18s. To reiterate, a player's priority is with their minor association to win a Provincial Championship or with their Junior A/B/C team to win a National Championship. The IIJL World U18 Lacrosse Championship is an additional opportunity for players to play meaningful box lacrosse in late August into September at the international level.
IIJL WORLD U18 LACROSSE CHAMPIONSHIP
The first two iterations of the IIJL World U18 Lacrosse Championship were classified as U17. After deliberation, the IIJL Member Nations voted to amend the title of the championship to better reflect the age classification and eliminate confusion. The World U18 Lacrosse Championship is for players who are and will remain under eighteen years old (U18) for the calendar year in which the championship is played. The 2024 IIJL World U18 Lacrosse Championship is open to players born in 2007 and 2008, players who will be turning 17 or 16 years of age in 2024.
The history of the IIJL World U18 Lacrosse Championship dates back to 2016. First played at the 2016 IIJL World Junior Lacrosse Championship as a challenge series between Canada and Haudenosaunee, with Haudenosaunee winning the Gold Medal, it was called the U-17 World Lacrosse Challenge. The tournament made its formal return with the 2021 IIJL World U17 Lacrosse Championship which took place November 11-14, 2021 at the St. Lawrence Centre Sports Complex in Massena, NY. The Haudenosaunee won the gold medal again over Canada (sliver), with the United States finishing with bronze.Â
The 2024 IIJL World U18 Lacrosse Championship will take place in Utica, NY on August 29 - September 2, 2024 at the University of Utica Nexus Center.
