International Indoor Junior Lacrosse awards 2018 IIJL World Junior Lacrosse Championship to Saskatoon Box Lacrosse Association, City of Saskatoon

SASKATOON, SK – The world’s best junior-aged lacrosse players will compete for gold on Saskatchewan turf at the 2018 IIJL World Junior Lacrosse Championship.

International Indoor Junior Lacrosse have awarded the third edition of the international tournament to the Saskatoon Box Lacrosse Association and City of Saskatoon.

“While the tournament will be hosted in Saskatoon, the bid submitted by Randy Trobak and Saskatoon Box Lacrosse Association will bring the entire provincial lacrosse community together creating a truly inclusive event,” said Chris Fox, chair of the 2018 IIJL World Junior Lacrosse Championship and IIJL Canada member. “Randy and Saskatoon Box Lacrosse have an amazing track record as event hosts,” Fox added. Tournaments hosted include the 2015, 2016, 2017, and 2018 Canadian Lacrosse Association Bantam Nationals and the 2005, 2011, and 2017 Canadian Lacrosse Association Founders Cup Junior B National Championship. “We are looking forward to working with the tournament committee to ensure we leave a lasting legacy in Saskatchewan that fosters the growth of lacrosse from grassroots to major junior across the country.”

Leading the tournament committee is co-chair Randy Trobak, president of Saskatoon Box Lacrosse Association and Saskatchewan SWAT junior programs.

“Hosting the World Junior Lacrosse Championship is an incredible honour for us and exciting for the lacrosse associations throughout the province,” said Trobak. “After attending the first two championships in Six Nations as part of Canada, we knew we had to bring this tournament to Saskatoon. The speed, energy, and excitement that junior players of this caliber bring to the game will blow lacrosse fans in Saskatchewan away.”

The first two tournaments, held in 2015 and 2016, were both hosted by Six Nations of the Grand River, just outside of Brantford, ON. The 2018 IIJL World Junior Lacrosse Championship will mark the first time the tournament has been held outside of traditional Haudenosaunee territory and the first for a Canadian organizing committee.

“We reviewed a number of strong bids from across Canada and Europe,” said Gewas Schindler, chair of the 2015 & 2016 IIJL World Junior Lacrosse Championship, IIJL Iroquois member, and alternate governor for the Rochester Knighthawks (NLL). “Sharing this event with the passionate fans and communities of Saskatchewan, who have embraced lacrosse with open arms, will make the 2018 IIJL World Junior Lacrosse Championship in Saskatoon an unforgettable experience for the players, staff, and volunteers involved this summer.”

The 2018 IIJL World Junior Lacrosse Championship will be hosted at SaskTel Centre in Saskatoon, home of the Saskatchewan Rush of the National Lacrosse League (NLL) from August 8 - August 12, 2018.

A legacy plan for the potential profits of the event will provide support for grassroots lacrosse programs across Canada and be utilized by the IIJL to grow the game of box lacrosse at the major junior level internationally and domestically.

For more information on the individual teams competing and the 2018 IIJL World Junior Lacrosse Championship, visit WorldJuniorLacrosse.com or follow along via social media on Facebook and Twitter, as well as #WJLC.