Phillylacrosse.com, Posted 1/30/15
From Press Release
Team USBOXLA is proud to present one of the most demanding U18 schedules in American Lacrosse history. An eight-day tour playing the top U18 Box Lacrosse players in the world in British Columbia, Canada, based off the ultra successful 2014 summer BC tour.
USBOXLA co-founders Matt Brown and Shaydon Santos’ goal of the USBOXLA is to develop American players that can compete with Canada’s very best in the box. With 6 years of Canadian tours and nearly 5,000 members all playing #BIGBOYBOX in the USA, USBOXLA has done exactly that.
The team will feature seniors Mike Major (Holy Ghost Prep, St, Joseph’s signee, forward) and Drew Svchantz (Malvern Prep/Fusion Lacrosse, Notre Dame signee, transition).
Because of NCAA Rules University of Denver’s Matt Brown directs the Pee Wee (U12) and Bantam (U14) Team USBOXLA National Programs while Santos directs the players at the high school ages, Midget (U16) and HS Elite (U18).
Brown has deep roots in BC Lacrosse playing his minor lacrosse there and winning 3 Minto Cup Championships for the Burnaby Lakers. He has also recruited some of the top talent in BC for both the University of Denver and Team Canada. In fact, the Team Canada squad that won gold at 2014 World Cup in Denver had a large number of players who once played in the BC U18 Intermediate League, the same league Team USBOXLA will play against in 2015. World champions Kevin Crowley (Stoney Brook, Fusion Lacrosse co-founder), Jessie King (Ohio State), Wes Berg (University of Denver), Curtis Dickson (Delaware) and Jordan Hall all come from this extremely potent 10 team league in BC.8aa
Team USBOXLA is excited to add the talent of Team 91 Lacrosse in Long Island to its program, including former NY Saints Pro team Sal Lacassio as well as, Brian O’Keefe, Pat McCabe, and Brian Spallina. They are respected names in the Canadian dominated world of Box Lacrosse.
“Our NY players have been working very hard over the last 3-4 years in developing their Box skills. They are ready for this,” says O’Keefe.
Q1Team 91, and 7 year NLL pro O’Keefe will serve as the Offensive Coach of Team USBOXLA. Cali*Lax ALL-STARS director and 12 year NLL vet and former Stealth captain Shaydon Santos will serve as the Head Coach of TEAM USBOXLA while former Mammoth captain, 13 year NLL vet and Denver Elite bench boss John Gallant will serve as Team USBOXLA’S Defensive Coach.
Cali*Lax ALL-STARS coach, one of the game’s all-time greats, and Toronto Rock Captain Colin Doyle will serve as the x’s and o’s guy.
“Our USBOXLA organization stresses one thing, development. When our players can compete against Canada’s best in box the rest will take care of itself” says Santos.
“You look at a guy like Casey Powell, the greatest American ever, what did he do? Spent his summers playing Junior A for the Toronto Beaches. That route is obviously a tough one to take but now there’s legit USBOXLA Box being played in the USA with great experienced coaches behind them with opportunities like this one to play Canada’s best.”
The team first will travel to USBOXLA Mid West Classic presented by Resolute on February 14-15 for a training camp and tournament.
Team USBOXLA
PLAYER R/L POSITION COLLEGE
1 Loper, Troy R FORWARD undecided
2 Guralas, Andreas R FORWARD undecided
3 Mello, Austin L FORWARD undecided
4 Mahoney, Oscar R D/F undecided
5 O’Keefe, Mac L FORWARD Penn State
6 Madsen, Michael L FORWARD St John’s
7 Madsen, Joseph R FORWARD St John’s
8 Danenza,Logan R DEFENSE undecided
9 Cox, Riley L D/TRAN Loyola
10 Jacobs, Keller R DEFENSE High Point
11 Kimmel, Casey R TRANSITION Towson
12 Bealer, Michael L FORWARD undecided
13 Wells, Johnathon L FORWARD undecided
14 Kreuzer,Chad R TRANSITION Furman
15 Jensen, Carter R FORWARD undecided
16 Major, Michael L FORWARD St Joseph’s
17 Schantz, Drew R TRANSITION Notre Dame
18 Harnisch, Samuel L FORWARD DU
19 Morris, Sean L FORWARD UNC
20 Maloney, Sean R TRANSITION Hofstra
Whinery, Moose GOALIE
Cohen, Noah GOALIE
Shaydon Santos
Brian O’Keefe
John Gallant
