Challenge Accepted:
Canada’s top amateur field lacrosse championship
in Winnipeg over 2016 Labour Day Weekend
By Duncan Morrison
After work, Joey Lussier is one of
Manitoba’s top field lacrosse referees. By
day, the 27-year-old Winnipeg resident
works on his PhD in chemistry at the
University of Manitoba, spending his
time poring over research on alternative
energy materials.
As such, thinking through challenges
and complex scenarios are a normal
part of Lussier’s days. So, when
the chance for Winnipeg to host
Canada’s top amateur field lacrosse
championships came forward, Lussier
scooped the ball and ran with it.
“We are thrilled to have the great
opportunity to host such a prestigious
national event,”says Lussier, the
Manitoba Lacrosse Association’s
tournament committee chair and
generator of the host bid. “We want
to provide an incredible and positive
experience for participants, team
officials and all persons associated in
any way with the tournament.”
The 2016 U15 Alumni Cup and
the U18 First Nations Trophy will be
awarded in the two age divisions at
Buhler Park in Winnipeg over the 2016
Labour Day Long Weekend. Manitoba
will field teams in both divisions.
“Our field lacrosse game is growing
here in Manitoba, and we really
want to maximize the opportunity of
16 / sportslife
hosting this national event to showcase
Manitoba Lacrosse as a true gem and
valuable member of Canada’s lacrosse
community,” says Paul Magnan,
Manitoba Lacrosse Association (MLA)
President and tournament committee
member. “These will be the top players
from across Canada in both age groups.
Ontario, British Columbia and the First
Nations Lacrosse Association all bring
very strong teams year after year. The
rest of us sort of fit in after those three,
but upsets can happen as we all know.”
The 2016 championships will be
the first time since 2009 that the event
has been held in Winnipeg. Magnan
says the game of lacrosse has strong
indigenous roots. The spirit of those
historical games, he says, remain to
this day.
“It really is a fast, and entertaining
sport,” says Magnan. “At these levels,
the degree of skill will be incredible and
the competition will be fierce. However,
the sportsmanship, mutual respect
and camaraderie that the game was
played with way back by the indigenous
founders of the sport remain
paramount to all participants.”
A 2014 report pegged field lacrosse
as the fastest growing high school sport
in the United States. Colleges have
followed that trend by racing to include
men’s and women’s
field lacrosse in
the sports they
offer to student athletes. The result is an
increased opportunity for Canadians
to participate in USA collegiate sports.
Officials say there has been an uptick in
field lacrosse interest here in Manitoba.
Magnan has three sons who have
competed at the Canadian field
lacrosse championships over time,
including middle son Luc who parlayed
an excellent Division 1 field lacrosse
college career at Robert Morris
University with some great seasons in
the Ontario Junior A box lacrosse league
into a roster spot with the Toronto Rock
this year. All three of the Magnan boys
– JP, Luc and Ian – played field lacrosse
during their post-secondary education,
an opportunity that many Manitoba
players are increasingly beginning
to realize. And, Magnan says, it often
starts with the national championship
experience.
“The national championships
resonate with college coaches and
recruiters,” Magnan explains. “The
level of play is really high and college
coaches are well-aware of the higherprofile talent on teams like Ontario and
BC. However, for Manitoba players, the
opportunity to play against these teams
is an excellent benchmark and the best
competition we can find in Canada.
Increasingly our Manitoba players are
showing up on college rosters across the
United States and Canada.”
As with any major tournament, the
players behind the scenes are the ones
that really make it happen.
“Our tournament committee is
working hard to make sure lacrosse
in Manitoba shines like it should,”
says Lussier. “We have an awesome
committee who are very determined
to make this a legacy tournament for
Manitoba lacrosse going forward. We
want to grow the game in Manitoba
and welcome everyone to come out
on Labour Day weekend 2016 and
experience the field lacrosse game at
the highest levels in Canada.” l