CLL
Canada Opens 2026 IIJL World Junior Lacrosse Championship with Win Over Haudenosaunee
The Haudenosaunee opened the 2026 IIJL World Junior Lacrosse Championship against Poland on Sunday with a decisive 14-6 victory against a short-bench Polish roster.
Canada would wait until Day 2 at 8:00 PM MDT, for their opening games against the same Haudenosaunee who looked to be pumping on all cylinders the night prior.
[PHOTO: Michael Dyck on offence at the 2026 IIJL World Junior Lacrosse Championship, in Books, AB.]
Canada opened the scoring at 13:12 of the first quarter with a goal from Myles Balliston. Followed by another goal from Michael Dyck at 6:33. Haudenosaunee were quick to respond after Canada's second with their first goal from Nolan Sharp. Dyck would go on to score again for Canada at 1:08 to close out the 1st Quarter and give Canada the 3-2 lead.
Haudenosaunee came out hot in the 2nd Quarter with goals from Colter Goodwill (14:38) and Sharp (9:29), his second, to tie the game at 3. Balliston responded for Canada with his second at 9:19, and Canada would not relinquish the lead for the rest of the game.
Canada closed out the game from the 3rd Quarter on with a 4 Goal run with goals from Dash Robichaud (2), Judah Nation (2), and Archer Hunt (2).
Canada goaltending duo of Marek Corbiere (1st Half), and Dane Stiefel (2nd Half) split the game. Stiefel came into the game to start the 3rd Quarter and faced 15 shots, making all 15 saves, for a shutout in his time in cage as a notable performance to secure the win for Canada's opening game of the 2026 IIJL World Junior Lacrosse Championship.
Congratulations to Jared Capner on his first IIJL World Junior Championship win as Head Coach.
The Loading Lacrosse Players of the Game presented by Sportside Source for Sports, Canada #8 Aiden Halliday and Haudenosuanee #1 Blaine Powless; Powless made 51 Saves on 62 Shots.