After an exciting week filled with a showcase of international skills, and a growing love for the sport of lacrosse, we end with Canada as our world champion, and a few other dedicated and capable teams following. Immense talent and drive was diaplayed by the top five teams, and their players deserve some recognition.
The top five coming out of the FIL tournament were Canada¸ USA, Iroquois Nationals, Australia, and England. Honorable mentions go to Scotland, Israel, and Japan, all of whom played exceptionally well and have a roster comprised of very gifted players.
Here are some players from the top five teams that have shown great skills and overall play in their careers, and especially in FIL play.
Canada: Dillon Ward took home the well-deserved title of MVP of the tournament. His plays in goal for Canada were unmatched and he was certainly an asset to Canada’s championship victory. Kevin Crowley scored five goals in the gold match for Canada and that was definitely one of the many ways that Team Canada kept the United States
USA: Kevin Leveille who scored three goals in the gold match against Canada, and Rob Pannell, who was named Outstanding Attack man, had a goal and three assists in the championship match. David Lawson and Paul Rabil’s competitive skills were also integral parts of making Team USA successful in the FIL tournament.
Iroquois Nationals: The Thompsons and Cody Jameson made huge moves in the FIL Tournament, and they continue to be some of the top players in the game, both for their National and MLL teams. The Iroquois Nationals have an all-around outstanding roster, and their chemistry is unmatched. Overall, Team Iroquois is one of the most talented groups of guys out there.
Australia: Matt Diver leads Australia’s offense with a fierce, competitive edge, and Marty Hyde is great on the offensive front, as well. In goal, Australia’s Tom Vickery seizes every opportunity to stop his opponent from scoring.
England: Samuel Russell, Adrian Bennett, and Colin Clive dominate for England’s offensive line, and their defense holds strong. Nichoas Watson also scored at least two goals during every game in FIL play, and has proven to be an incredible asset to England.
