The 2024 World Lacrosse Box Championships are set for September 20-29 in Utica, New York with 28 teams competing in the men’s box championship, split into seven pools. Eight teams advance directly to the playoffs after pool play and teams seeded 9-16 will compete in a play-in round.
The full schedule for the championship can be foundhere.
Pool A: Canada, Haudenosaunee, United States, England
Jump to: Games to Watch
The top four seeded teams in the men’s box championship land in Pool A after claiming the top four spots at the 2019 edition of the event in Langley, Canada.
All four teams will advance directly to the playoffs after pool play, but their matchups in the opening stage of the championship will be compelling lacrosse between many of the top men’s box athletes in the sport.
Tickets for all games of the box championships are available here.
Canada is the reigning gold medalist in men’s box lacrosse, and will look to continue its perfect record with its sixth gold medal in the sixth edition of the championship.
The Haudenosaunee have claimed silver in every edition while the United States has taken home bronze five times as well.
England has a pair of fourth-place finishes in 2019 and 2007 and will look to make another run to the semifinals.
Canada’s roster is talented and deep as expected for a defending champion, with a team full of star level talent playing in the National Lacrosse League.
Canada boasts a handful of key returners from the 2019 squad including Dhane Smith, Dillon Ward, Challen Rogers, Graeme Hossack and Shayne Jackson. Hossack was named as a defender to the World Team in 2019. Additionally, Canada stars Jeff Teat, Josh Byrne, Ian Mackay, and Latrell Harris are making their debut on the box roster this time around.
Byrne was named the Most Valuable Player of the 2023-24 season in the NLL, while Jake Withers was named the transition player of the year and Nick Rose was named the goalkeeper of the year. Other All-NLL First Team selections Teat and Mitch de Snoos are in the Canada squad as well. Mackay was an All-NLL Second-Team selection in transition.
The Haudenosaunee have carefully selected a roster to push for the title in 2024 with stars from the NLL and Major Series Lacrosse, and rising stars with strong outings in Ontario Junior Lacrosse League.
Leading the way are Randy Staats and Cody Jamieson, World Team selections in 2019, and Tehoka Nantico*ke and Brendan Bomberry, returning stars and experienced NLL veterans. Eli McLaughlin and Travis Longboat are making their Haudenosaunee box debuts and have recorded productive NLL campaigns recently, while Koleton Marquis and Trey Deere are two highly-anticipated young additions.
“We are proud to bring together a team of 23 well-rounded lacrosse players who embodied leadership with a hungry young presence that is ready to make its mark on the world,” said general manager Landon Miller. “These athletes represent our nations with honour and dignity, and every one of them has shown a willingness to do whatever it takes for the team and each other. We can’t wait to get started. This journey is just the beginning.”
The United States is bringing back five players from the bronze-medal winning team in 2019 and has assembled a deep squad full of NLL experience.
“We couldn’t be more excited about the prospects for this group,” said head coach Regy Thorpe. “The U.S. player pool has grown every year and that made for some really difficult decisions, especially for those last few roster spots. We’ve had great teams in the past, but haven’t had the depth position wise. This year, especially in the defensive and transition areas of the field, it was really deep and competitive. We love this group of guys.”
Joe Resetarits will likely be called on to lead the forward group in his third U.S. box appearance and recently posted 95 points in the latest NLL season to reach the most career points scored by a U.S. player in the NLL (currently 750). Joel White is also set for his third box championship as seasoned defenseman with a nine-year NLL career.
The United States will bring four gold medalist winners from its 2023 field championship in San Diego to Utica, headlined by Danny Logan, a defenseman who was named to the All-NLL rookie team in 2023.
Joey Spallina is the youngest player on the team, and is hoping his summers of experience in the OJLL will help him boost the American goalscoring output.
England will face tough matchups in pool play, but have its eyes on making its third semifinal appearance in the event in Utica with a squad that continues to showcase the development of English box lacrosse.
England took home the gold medal at the 2022 European Box Lacrosse Championship in Hannover, Germany with thrilling wins against the Czech Republic and Germany in its final two matches.
In 2024, England played three matches at the E-Box invitational in Prague, with a win over Finland and a loss to the Czech Republic.
The top forward contributors will suit up again for England in Lyndon Bunio, Leonard Elliott and Matt Marsh – Bunio had 16 goals and 16 assists in Hannover in 2022 and is one of five returners from the 2019 squad.
England will also be bolstered by the inclusion of Corey Small, an NLL standout who has 820 career points, including an 83-point season in 2023 for Toronto. Jack Royer could impress as well after a strong season for the Queens University of Charlotte in field lacrosse, with previous OJLL experience under his belt.
Goalkeeper Cameron McLeod performed well in 2022. Additionally, Tom Bracegirdle, Ben Page-Layco*ck and Bunio suited up in sixes lacrosse for Great Britain at The World Games in 2022 where the team advanced to the semifinals.
Games to Watch
Friday, September 20: Haudenosaunee vs. United States, 8 p.m. Adirondack Bank Center
The two rivals will square off in primetime in the marquee matchup of the first day of the championship. The host USA will look to make a statement against the Haudenosaunee, the defending silver medalists, in a buzzing atmosphere to kick off the event.
Sunday, September 22: Canada vs. Haudenosaunee, 4 p.m. Adirondack Bank Center
The two teams will face off in a reprise of the last men’s box gold medal match. While both teams might not want to show their full hands early on in Utica, the talent on hand will be second to none in any matchup in pool play and will make for must-see lacrosse.
Tuesday, September 24: United States vs. Canada, 8 p.m. Mary C. Winder Community Center
The trio of rivalry Pool A clashes concludes with a special match on the final day of pool play at the Mary C. Winder Community Center as part of the box championships’ partnership with Turning Stone Resort Casino. Fans of both teams and lacrosse as a whole will be treated to an unforgettable atmosphere in a new arena built by the Oneida Indian Nation on indigenous homeland.
Tickets for all games of the box championships are available here.
