IIJL Adds World U17 Lacrosse Championship
Today, International Indoor Junior Lacrosse (IIJL) is announcing that the 2021 IIJL World U17 Lacrosse Championship (WU17LC) will take place October 8-11, 2021 in Six Nations, located southwest of Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, and will be hosted by the Haudenosaunee.
Due to the ongoing COVID-19 global pandemic the official announcement of a 2020 IIJL World U17 Lacrosse Championship has been delayed significantly. In advance of any announcement to proceed with or postpone the 2020 WU17LC, IIJL Member Nations have voted to secure plans for the 2021 IIJL World U17 Lacrosse Championship.
"The IIJL is excited to announce the World U17 Lacrosse Championship." said Gewas Schindler, Haudenosaunee and 2021 WU17LC Tournament Chair. "We have been committed to developing a long-term strategy for international box lacrosse and the addition of seventeen and under age group is the result of our hard work." Schindler added. "We look forward to welcoming the world back to Six Nations and providing young Haudenosaunee athletes the opportunity to compete on an international stage."
(PHOTO: 2016 U-17 World Lacrosse Challenge, Canada Zone 7)
The IIJL last held a U17 event during the 2016 IIJL World Junior Lacrosse Championship. Rosters of players seventeen years-of-age and under were assembled for both Canada and Iroquois. The two Nations competed in the U-17 World Lacrosse Challenge with one preliminary game against each other and additional games against the Junior rosters from the Czech Republic and United States. In what many described as the best game of the entire 2016 WJLC, Iroquois defeated Canada in a come-from-behind thriller by a final score of 11-10.
"It is only fitting that the first IIJL World U17 Lacrosse Championship is hosted in Six Nations; birth-place of the World Juniors." said Graham D'Alvia, United States. The first two World Junior Lacrosse Championships, 2015 and 2016, were played in Six Nations and hosted by Haudenosaunee.
As global development leaders, the IIJL continues to revolutionize international box lacrosse by working with new nations to identify gaps in development and provide new opportunities. The introduction of the seventeen and under age category is the logical next step for evolution of box lacrosse internationally. "As part of our Long-Term Athlete Development (LTAD) Model it is important that we have a platform for players and developing nations to compete at this age category." said Chris Fox, Canada.
The IIJL and Member Nations will continue to work with Participating Nations to finalize the line-up and schedule for the 2021 WU17LC while maintaining communication throughout the COVID-19 pandemic with and developments regarding the 2020 event calendar.
ABOUT IIJL WORLD U17 LACROSSE CHAMPIONSHIP
First tested in 2016 as the U-17 World Lacrosse Challenge, the IIJL World U17 Lacrosse Championship (WU17LC) is now a fully endorsed annual championship and age category of International Indoor Junior Lacrosse (IIJL). Players who have turned or will be turning 17 years of age and young are eligible to play. For more information about the IIJL World U17 Lacrosse Championship visit WU17LC.com.
ABOUT INTERNATIONAL INDOOR JUNIOR LACROSSE
Founded in 2017 by the Canadian Lacrosse League, Iroquois Lacrosse (Haudenosaunee), and US Indoor Lacrosse, International Indoor Junior Lacrosse (IIJL) administers the IIJL World Junior Lacrosse Championship and other international indoor (box lacrosse) championships and events at the junior (21 years of age and younger) category. For more information about the IIJL, visit iijl.org.