Second Regional Combine Successful in Alberta

CALGARY, AB - On Saturday, Calgary was host to the second of four Regional Combines held by Canada in preparation for the 2019 World Junior Lacrosse Championship. Forty (40) players from North and South Alberta were provided the opportunity to perform in front of and build relationships with Canada staff in hopes of being considered for the 2019 IIJL World Junior Lacrosse Championship roster.  

"It was special to work with players from the 2018 Team Alberta that won the Midget National Championship" said General Manager Chris Fox said of the young Alberta talent. "Coming into Alberta our hope as a staff was that we would be able to establish relationships with these young players and look at them more closely in the next few years. Now we're walking away having to take a serious look at potentially including some of the 2018 Midget National Champions on the 2019 World Junior roster." Fox added.

The 2018 World Junior Lacrosse Championship Canada roster, which won Gold, only featured two athletes from Alberta, Hunter Aggus and Kyle Dziwenka. This was mainly due to Alberta playing host to the 2018 Minto Cup, that saw the Rocky Mountain Junior A Lacrosse League Champion and runner-up advance to the National Championship. With an additional Junior A roster being available, combined with the young talent on display at the Alberta Combine, Canada staff sees the number of Alberta born players on the final World Junior roster growing. 

"As the profile of the World Junior Lacrosse Championship continues to grow, we want to make sure we are providing new and exciting ways for junior-aged players in Canada to showcase their skills. We support every player and their junior team in their efforts to win a Minto or Founders Cup, but if their team does not make their league playoffs or are eliminated early, players will have the opportunity to play meaningful lacrosse into August." 

The next Canada Regional Combine will take place on January 19th in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan as Canada will return to SaskTel Centre, the arena that hosted the 2018 IIJL World Junior Lacrosse Championship and where Canada won Gold.