Now that lacrosse is trickling into international regions, other countries and cultures are beginning to accept its presence. However, with other cultures come different perspectives and Chinese lacrosse suffered in the early 1990s due to its lack of Olympic appeal.
As of 2002, the country of China began to notice the medicine game more and have now reached a point with a nationally recognized team. They hope to make an appearance at the FIL Denver 2014 World Championships.
With expansion of a new program comes many obstacles such as financial support, facilities and a roster.
China Lacrosse has launched a ‘Project Team’ to help build the foundations and support around Team China. The members of this committee come from many different areas and bring many strengths and connections to the plain. Michael Elefante (Shanghai, China), Charles Tsiang (Summit, New Jersey, U.S.A.), Edwin Yu (Oshawa, Ontario, Canada), Michael Chee (Beijing, China), Michael Bailey (Richmond, BC, Canada and Shanghai), Mia Bassham (Nanticoke, PA, U.S.A.), Ken Buchan (Burnaby, BC, Canada).
I had the privilege of meeting Charles Tsiang at an NCAA match up in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania between the Lehigh Mountainhawks and the Villanova Wildcats while he was photographing the action. Tsiang is now the financial contact for China Lacrosse’s communications with the FIL (as an organization). He comes with a background of Financial Executive of ExxonMobil’s Treasury Department and has multiple degrees from MIT.
The team itself is composed of 35 players, both native and not to China:
China-native:
Gao Ahi Qiang —Attack
Liu Ying Jie—Defense
Li Ming (Dawn)—Attack
Shu Yu Jun—Midfield
Deng Tong Tian (Roy)—Midfield
Hu Hai Bing—Midfield
Gan Zhi Xue—Attack
Wang ZhongZhong (Curtis)—Midfield
Gao He Yu—Defense
Ji Xiang—Midfield
Ye Hua Bao—Attack
Zhang Ying (Daniel)—Midfield
Wan Xi (Alex)—Midfield
Chen Guan Ting (Tim)—Midfield
Lou Yu Long—Midfield
Wang Zhi Jie—Defense
Li Wen Biao—Defense
Dai Yi Fan—Attack
Zhu Yong Shuai (Jacky)—Midfield
Huang FaTao—Attack
Liu Chen—Midfield
Wang Jin Li (Cody)—Midfield
Zhang Yong Chang—Defense
Wen Jiang Hao—Midfield
Cai (Sean)—Defensive Midfield
Tong Ming Yong (Jacob)—Franklin & Marshall University
Cao Luo Yu (Clyde)—Goalie
International Roster Members:
Jonathon Bailey—LSM—Canada
Bailey Matt—Midfield—Canada
Tyler Buchan—Attack—Canada
Tsing Ding Min (Michael)—Face Off Specialist—USA
Dylan Bassham—Face Off Specialist—USA
Yu Siu Kau (Edwin)—LSM—Canada
Harrison Zhu—USA
**Most USA players on NCAA D-I and D-II teams.**
More on the team’s specifics can be found here:
