The US Box Lacrosse Association (USBOXLA) and the National Lacrosse League's (NLL) Toronto Rock have partnered to present USBOXLA Border Wars - an elite youth box lacrosse tournament where Team USBOXLA East will battle an invitation-only collection of highly talented Ontario-based box lacrosse teams.
USBOXLA Border Wars will take place at the state-of-the-art Toronto Rock Athletic Centre (TRAC) in Oakville, Ontario, Canada from Saturday, May 23 to Sunday, May 24. Pee wee, bantam, and midget divisions will compete over two highly competitive days, providing a stage for some of the top box lacrosse players from the eastern United States and Canada to showcase their skills while also challenging for the honor to be crowned champions.
The TRAC is an 80,000 square foot, upscale sports venue, offering year-round access for a variety of programs. It includes two full-sized rinks as well as an outdoor turf field, serves as the training facility for the six-time champion Rock, and hosts the hugely popular Junior NLL Tournament every August. The arena rivals most NHL teams’ practice grounds and is considered the planet's premier box-specific facility.
Teams USBOXLA East will compete against top Canadian talent at the first-ever Border Wars held at the Toronto Rock Athletic Centre. (Photo: Sherri Thomson)
Due to overwhelming demand and an increase in overall talent, this will be the first year that the Team USBOXLA program will split into East and West rosters. Earlier this year it was announced that Team USBOXLA West will participate in the Trevor Wingrove Memorial in Coquitlam, British Columbia, a tournament the program captured two silver medals at in 2019.
“We want to provide these elite Americans a highly competitive and skilled environment to test themselves against the best players in the world at these ages,” said USBOXLA President and Co-Founder, Shaydon Santos. “We feel that USBOXLA Border Wars gives Team USBOXLA East a unique and challenging event at a box-specific facility that we are honored to be able to host a tournament of this magnitude at. Border Wars will provide these players, on both sides of the border, an experience that they will never forget.”
Over coming weeks, USBOXLA will confirm the Canadian teams that will be competing at this invitation-only event, which is being managed by NLL legend, former Toronto Rock captain, Team Canada gold medalist in field and box lacrosse, and long-time USBOXLA coach, Colin Doyle.
“I've been able to see firsthand the growth of the American box player having coached the Cali*Lax ALL-STARS for several years now, as well as dozens of USBOXLA Academy clinics,” said Doyle, who also serves as the Director of the TRAC. “So to see the country's elite players competing against top Canadians at a phenomenal facility like the TRAC, really makes USBOXLA Border Wars an extremely significant and special event. This is a tournament I would have loved to have competed at when I was these players' age."
For more information on USBOXLA Border Wards, visit usboxla.com/borderwars, and for more information on Team USBOXLA East, visit usboxla.com/teameast. Team USBOXLA East is currently accepting player applications for this year’s roster.
About USBOXLA
The US Box Lacrosse Association (USBOXLA) is the country’s largest and most recognized box-specific governing body operating today. USBOXLA is a 501(c)3 charitable corporation whose mission is to develop and promote box lacrosse in the United States through a unified organization that provides high-value services, programs, and benefits to its members. Founded in 2010 by current University of Denver Associate Head Coach, Matt Brown, and former National Lacrosse League player, Shaydon Santos, USBOXLA has grown from a small regional association to one that presently serves over 25,000 individual members all over the US, all playing box lacrosse the right way.