Dates and Location Announced for 2024 IIJL Commonwealth Cup

THE 2024 IIJL COMMONWEALTH CUP WILL RETURN TO THE BEAUTIFUL OUTDOOR ALAN LEWER BOX COURT AND ALTONA LACROSSE CLUB ON FEBRUARY 17—20, 2024.

ALTONA, VICTORIA, AUSTRALIA — Altona Lacrosse Club, located minutes from downtown Melbourne, will play host to the second annual IIJL Commonwealth Cup. 

The Canadian Lacrosse League's (CLL) Canada Development Team (CANDT) will return to Melbourne, Australia for a second consecutive year to take on All-Star teams from three Australia States, represented by the Adelaide Thunder, Melbourne Storm, and Perth Fury. 

The tournament will feature round-robin play amongst the four teams; Canada, Adelaide, Melbourne, and Perth. The 2024 IIJL Commonwealth Cup will be decided by a single game Final between Canada and an All-Start line-up of Australian players selected from the three state teams by Australian Box Lacrosse, the tournament co-hosts. 

"Our players gained a tremendous amount of valuable box lacrosse experience in only a few short days this past March." said Ric Benedierks, President of Australian Box Lacrosse. "Being able to see our players, play real box, against Canadians helps prepare us for the World Juniors - Australians can't get this kind of experience anywhere else in the country." Benedierks added. 

From the Australian players that competed at the 2023 IIJL Commonwealth Cup, seven have been named to the Australia roster competing at the 2023 IIJL World Junior Lacrosse Championship, August 7-12, 2023 in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada - with all games taking place at SaskTel Centre, home of the National Lacrosse League (NLL) Saskatchewan Rush. 

"Everyone was so warm, helpful, and welcoming, we're excited to get back." said Chris Fox, President of the CLL. "We took a young roster to Australia and found a lot of success as a group. Entering the new year, our Development Team rosters will be very import for our organization as we enter into a new and exciting phase of growth." Fox added. 

Currently, from the Canadian players that competed at the 2023 IIJL Commonwealth Cup, six have been named to the Canada roster competing at the 2023 IIJL World U18 Lacrosse Championship, August 21—24, 2023 at the Utica University Nexus Center in Utica, New York. While several others will be named to the 2023 IIJL World Junior Lacrosse Championship roster. 

ABOUT THE IIJL COMMONWEALTH CUP
Established in 2019, the inaugural IIJL Commonwealth Cup will take place in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia February 17-20, 2024. Tickets for the 2024 IIJL Commonwealth Cup are available through the Altona Lacrosse Club website. Stay up to date using social media on Facebook and Instagram. 

ABOUT AUSTRALIAN BOX LACROSSE
Founded by Ric Benedierks, Australian Box Lacrosse was established to provide junior age Australian lacrosse players the opportunity to gain experience playing with and against international players from Canada, Iroquois, United States, and around the world. More information about Australian Box Lacrosse can be found on their website and on social media, Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. 

ABOUT ALTONA LACROSSE CLUB
The Altona Lacrosse Club was founded in 1964. Altona clubrooms are located on PJ Lynch Reserve at Paisley Park, Altona North. We are the only lacrosse club in Victoria that has full use of its facilities 12 months of the year. The Club has four lacrosse specific playing fields, one of which can be used for night games, and a box lacrosse court that also has floodlights. More information about Altona Lacrosse Club can be found on their website and on social media; Facebook and Instagram.