2024 USBOXLA Winter Nationals delivers the Hottest Event of the Winter

The sold out 2024 USBOXLA Winter Nationals took place in Irvine, California on Feb 16-19th and delivered an event like no other.

The biggest story of the Winter Nationals was the girls box lacrosse division that featured the largest field in American lacrosse history with 22 girls teams attending from Canada, the United States, and the Iroquois Nation.

The girls event started on Friday night under the lights with the International Sixes game in a tournament format. The event was hosted by Sun Devil Lacrosse and led by Arizona State University Head Coach Taryn VanThof, her ASU staff, and select ASU players.

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On the boys side, a record 22 goalies attended the day long USBOXLA Goalie Academy with Dallas Eliuk, 4 x NLL Champion, and 150 players tried out for a coveted spot on Team USBOXLA West as they prepare for their 8th trip to the Coquitlam Adanacs' Trevor Wingrove Memorial Tournament, the most competitive event in western lacrosse.

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The 2024 edition of the USBOXLA Winter Nationals started at 8am on Saturday to sunny weather, top competition, and an electric atmosphere in the Anaheim Ducks owned facilities. "We host a ton of events and this event was probably my favorite, so much energy, super exciting and organized, it's the first time we've had a liquor license at this facility for any event, absolutely top notch. Our facility has never looked better" says Ron Alexander, Facility Manager for the Anaheim Ducks organization. "We can't wait for USBOXLA's next event here."

The NLL's Toronto Rock's Rock Stars' nine teams were the biggest group in attendance and because of that were treated to VIP early access to limited edition USBOXLA merchandise that their players gobbled up. "We had 135 Ontario families who are surrounded by the best facilities, the best competition and the best box tournaments in the world and I have 135 families that loved every second of the Winter Nationals. The competition was great, our players had to earn it, the weather was great, everyone loved the Kill'r Shootout and the atmosphere was so special. People are willing to pay money for these special experiences with the game and their families" says Colin Doyle, 6x NLL Champion, NLL MVP, Director of TRAC Athletics and host of the Jr NLL tournament. "We can't wait to get back".

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Minnesota Stars and South Carolina's Hurricanes director Aime Caines says "it was insane, talking with our Minnesota parents after the event, everyone was raving about this experience. I think it was the best event our players have ever been to."

In the end only the long time western heavyweight programs could contain the Toronto Rock's dominance at the event with University of Denver's Head Coach Matt Brown's Denver Elite beating the Toronto Rock at the boys HS Elite Division in an 8-7 thriller and the Cali*Lax ALL-STARS beating the Toronto Rock in the Girls HS Elite division 5-1. The Rock won gold at the PeeWee A, Bantam A, Midget A, Girls Bantam A and Girls Midget A at the USBOXLA Winter Nationals.

"This was the 40th USBOXLA Sanctioned event of the fall and winter and we wanted to make this event special, a celebration. We moved this event from Phoenix to LA and changed the date as well. We rewrote the USBOXLA rule book a week before the event to add some more excitement to the game and to try new things out. A huge thanks to all the families spending their money and time to support our events" says Shaydon Santos president of USBOXLA.

The USBOXLA Nationals Aug 2-4, 2024 taking place in San Jose, CA is now open. The event will sell out fast. Register here today.