Fourth and Final Regional Combine Wraps in Ontario

by CLL

SIX NATIONS, ON - The fourth and final Regional Combine took place in Ontario this past weekend in Six Nations. Forty (40) athletes competed in front of Canada staff in preparation for the 2019 IIJL World Junior Lacrosse Championship in Hamilton, ON.

Canada staff, Jeff Dowling and Chris Fox, returned to Six Nations having assembled the Canada roster that won gold at the 2018 IIJL World Junior Championship. However, it was only four (4) and three (3) short years ago that Dowling and Fox were on opposite benches coaching Canada C-Lax and Canada West, respectively. "It was great working with JD (Jeff Dowling) last year, putting together the team, and on the bench" said General Manager Chris Fox of Head Coach Jeff Dowling. "Competing as a unified Canada roster last year was a major step in the progress of the Championship and for lacrosse domestically." Fox added. 

Fox and Dowling, along with Joe Vetere in Alberta and Jon Paul in Saskatchewan, will provide evaluations to all one hundred and sixty (160) players that attended the four (4) Regional Combines across Canada. Along with evaluations, invitations will go out to select players to join Canada in April to attend the 2019 European Box Lacrosse Invitational (E-Box) in Prague, Czech Republic. Once the Canadian summer junior season starts Canada staff enters the Summer Evaluation Period were they remain in contact with select players, moving players on and off of a fluid 40 Man Player Pool. "The [40 Man] Player Pool allows us to project a roster throughout the summer of players who may potentially be available." Fox explained. "A Player's number one priority is with their Junior team. We support players one-hundred percent in their goal to win a Founders or Minto Cup." Fox explained further. "If a Player's team does not make their playoff, or is eliminated in the early rounds, that player is then available and has the opportunity to play for Canada at the World Juniors, if selected."

Currently, August provides the only window for the largest majority of players to participate in the World Junior Lacrosse Championship. That majority of players takes into account Canadian, Iroquois, American, and International players.  

As was the case in 2018, the Canada roster will be selected from players who attending the four Regional Combines and from players who will be identified by Canada staff over the course of the Summer Evaluation Period. After the Summer Evaluation Period, Canada will announce the 23 Man Final Roster that will compete at the 2019 IIJL World Junior Lacrosse Championship in July.