Canadian lacrosse has long been synonymous with the indoor game. While a handful of Canucks took their skills outdoors, venturing south of the border or competing at the national level, most honed their skills within the familiar confines of the hockey arena.
The new millennium has seen the Canadian lacrosse community embrace the field game, and vice-versa. A Team Canada gold medal on home soil in 2006 stands out as the defining moment leading to this change, which was followed by the establishment of the Nationals Major League Lacrosse (MLL) franchise.
The Nationals entered the MLL in 2009 after the then reigning champion Rochester Rattlers were relocated to Toronto. Featuring a roster predominantly comprised of homegrown talent, the franchise embraced their identity as “Canada’s Team”. After capturing the Steinfeld Cup in their first season, the team switched home venues in the following season before officially relocating to Hamilton for the 2011 season.
While the 2014 MLL season will not feature the Nationals franchise, the team has indicated plans of returning to action in 2015 following the completing of Tim Hortons Field in Hamilton. Since the Nationals’ active roster is now property of the expansion Florida Launch, it is yet to be determined how much of the Canadian talent crop will be suiting up in the sunshine state this summer.
The Nationals began as the home for Canadian MLL players. As northerners have become more common in the field game, their influence has become more widespread throughout the MLL.
John Grant Jr. and Geoff Snider, both cornerstones of the original Toronto Nationals, are now playing for Chesapeake and Charlotte, respectively. Up and coming Canadian field stars such as Logan Schuss and Kiel Matisz (Ohio), Cameron Flint (Boston), and Mark Matthews (New York) are proof that northern talent is fully capable of succeeding without the allure of dressing for Canada’s lone MLL team.
The “national” aspect of the team has also been reduced since entering the league. The Nationals roster inherited by the Launch currently includes eight Canadians, two Iroquois Nationals, and 15 Americans. Compare that to 15 Canadians, two Iroquois Nationals and eight Americans that made up the inaugural 2009 championship squad.
The 2014 World Championships, taking place from July 10-19, could also play a role in which Canadians compete in the MLL this summer. American NLL players such as Casey Powell have chosen to sit out the indoor season, decisions that are largely speculated to be a result of potential conflicts with Team USA. Without a Canadian MLL team in action and commitments pertaining to the World Championships, Team Canada hopefuls may perhaps take the 2014 MLL season off.
Florida acquired the rights of 12 additional players in the early-December Supplemental Draft and will have a chance to expand their roster to 40 in the Collegiate Draft slated for January 10.
With the impact of the World Championships, a new franchise in Florida, additional expansion in Atlanta rumored, and the possibility of the Nationals returning to Hamilton in 2015; the upcoming MLL season is already slated to be highly influential in determining the future of the league.
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