Canada Rosters for the 2021 IIJL World Junior Lacrosse Championship

by CLL

[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

NAMEHOMETOWNJUNIOR
Ben Trumble
Peterborough, ONPeterborough 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, ONOwen Sound North Stars (OJBLL)
Jordan Ackie
Cambridge, ON
Kitchener-Waterloo (OJLL)
Landon Kells
Fergus, ON
Peterborough Lakers (OJLL)
Liam McGrath
Halifax, NSOrangeville 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, ONSix 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

NAMEHOMETOWNJUNIOR 
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, ABSt. 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.