Phillylacrosse.com, Posted 10/23/09
Release courtesy Team Canada Lacrosse
Three members of the Philadelphia Wings have been listed among the 30 that have made the second-to-last cut for the Canadian National Team.
Thirty players have been selected from among 56 who were at a weekend camp in Toronto and now general manager Johnny Mouradian and head coach David Huntley and his staff will take their time before arriving at the 23-man roster that will represent Canada at the world field lacrosse championship in Manchester, England, next July.
Among the 30 are Wings Merrick Thomson, Geoff Snider and Kevin Huntley. Also, assistant coach Chris Sanderson, a former Wings great and current assistant coach, is competing for a spot in the nets.
Other big names still on the roster are Shawn Williams, Dan Dawson, John Grant, Gavin Prout, Mark Steenhuis, and Jordan Hall.
“We had a very competitive camp,’’ said coach David Huntley, also the head coach of the Wings. “We were impressed by the level and commitment of all the players.
“I was most impressed by how our professional and college players related to each other. The future is bright for Canadian lacrosse. We have reduced our roster to 30 and will make more decisions over the coming months. We are one step closer to assembling the team that will compete for the 2010 world championship.’’
Other attackers and midfielders who survived the first round of cuts were Garrett Billings, Matt Brown, Rhys Duch, Zack Greer, Jordan McBride, Ryan McClelland, Kevin Ross, Billy Dee Smith, Adam Jones and Stephen Keogh.
The defense includes Brodie Merrill, Patrick Merrill, Phil Sanderson, Matt Vinc, Mac Allen, Jon Sullivan and Curtis Manning.
Goaltenders still under consideration are Brad Conlon, Angus Dineley and Evan Kirke. Players such as Shawn Williams and Phil Sanderson provide veteran leadership.
Williams scored the winning goal for the Huntley-coached Toronto Nationals when they won the 2009 MLL pro field championship and he’s hoping to get to his third world tournament.
“Nothing compares to it,’’ he says of international play. “Wearing the maple leaf on the chest obviously is special, and these tournaments only come around every four years so you treat every chance as very precious.’’
The 30 candidates for the world team represent an incredibly talented group.
Team Canada 30-Man Roster
Attack: Garrett Billings, Langley, B.C.; Matt Brown, Burnaby, B.C.; John Grant, Peterborough, Ont.; Zack Greer, Whitby, Ont., Kevin Huntley, Baltimore, Md.; Stephen Keogh, Toronto; Jordan McBride, Surrey, B.C.; Merrick Thomson, Hamilton.
Midfield: Dan Dawson, Oakville, Ont.; Rhys Duch, Victoria; Jordan Hall, Surrey, B.C.; Adam Jones, Owen Sound, Ont.; Ryan McClelland, Hamilton; Gavin Prout, Whitby, Ont.; Kevin Ross, Toronto; Billy Dee Smith, St. Catharines, Ont.; Geoff Snider, Calgary; Mark Steenhuis, St. Catharines; Shawn Williams, Oshawa, Ont.
Defense: Mac Allen, Toronto; Curtis Manning, Surrey, B.C.; Brodie Merrill, Orangeville, Ont.; Patrick Merrill, Orangeville; Phil Sanderson, Orangeville; Jon Sullivan, St. Catharines; Matt Vinc, St. Catharines.
Goal: Brad Conlon, Ottawa; Angus Dineley, Toronto; Evan Kirk, Kitchener, Ont.; Chris Sanderson, Orangeville.
