CLL
2026 IIJL Commonwealth Cup - Day 4 Recap
Photo Luke Hanna
The fourth and final day of the 2026 IIJL Commonwealth Cup featured a single championship game, coined "The Monsoon in Melbourne", and was the most competitive and contested final game in the event's history.
Australia vs Canada
Heading into the championship game the Canadian roster remained the same line-up as it was throughout the round-robin. The Australian roster was assembled by Australian Box Lacrosse consisting of all-star players from Eastern Rage/Kings, New Zealand Storm, and Western Thunder; in preparation for the 2026 IIJL World Junior Lacrosse Championship with focus on Australian and New Zealand players based on age and availability to compete in Lethbridge, AB from June 28 - July 3, 2026.
[PHOTO: Canada #8 Aiden Halliday picks up loose ball in the corner on defence and starts transition up floor.]
Canada picked-up right where they left off from their previous game, with Alex Hachez opening the scoring at 10:35 in the first quarter. Hachez finished the championship leading Canada with 17 Goals. Australia was quick to answer back with a goal from Fabian Hall. In addition to competing in the 2026 IIJL Commonwealth Cup, Hall will be playing on the Senior Men's Victoria Lacrosse state team, as a fifteen-year old, at the 2026 Lacrosse Australia Box Championship immediately after the 2026 COMCUP - also taking place at the Altona Lacrosse Club. Additionally, while born and raised in Hamlyn Height, VIC, Australia, Hall played for the CLL Canada international program as a dispensation player at the 2024 IIJl World U16 Lacrosse Championship in East Aurora, NY - winning gold.
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After Australia's equalizer from Hall Canada went on a 4 Goal run, with goals from Malik Jakubo, Logan Hildebrandt, Tobin Dougan, and Ben Harris. Australia managed to keep pace scoring 2 Goals of their own to stay wining two goals and ending the first quarter with a score of 5-3, in favour of Canada.
[VIDEO: Canada #88 Aiden Watson opens scoring in the second quarter on a loose ball and breakaway.]
Canada was quick to open the second quarter scoring at the 14:29 mark with a beautiful loose ball and breakaway goal by defender Aiden Watson. Dougan contributed with 2 Goals of his own matching Australia's output in the second, giving Canada an additional one-goal advantage in the frame. Canada led Australia at halftime by a score of 8-5.
[PHOTO: Majorki and Dougan setting offensive picks against Australia.]
The same cast of characters powered Canada in the third, and fourth, quarter. Dougan open scoring in the third at 14:11 and added another at 12:38. Hachez and Harris with singles in the third as well. Ben Majorki closed out the third quarter with his first of that game with :36 seconds remaining in the frame. Australia scored twice, giving Canada a 13-7 leaded heading into the fourth quarter.
[PHOTO: Players of the Game, Canada Ben Harris (centre left) and Australia Jacob Spilkin (centre right), also pictured Canada Coach Jared Capner (left) and Australia Coach Wade Hammond (right).]
Entering the fourth quarter Australia capitalized on the weather and a tiring Canada roster. Australia exploded in the final quarter, utilizing special teams with two short handed goals in a row - from Hall and Orlando Kernaghan, and a power play marker from Ashton Czynski. Canada's Harris would get the canucks back on track with back-to-back goals at even-strength. Australia and Canada traded goals under the two-minute mark from Kernaghan (PP) and Jakubo, respectively.
Canada's goaltending duties were split by Marek Corbiere (first and second quarters) and Cooper Seniuk (third and fourth quarters), each making 15 Saves to secure the win. Final score of the championship final game of the 2026 IIJL Commonwealth Cup was Canada 16 - Australia 11.
Relive all the action of the 2026 IIJL Commonwealth Cup on the CLL website using CLL+ and COMCUP YouTube channel.