OTTAWA, ON – A group of familiar faces will join head coach Randy Mearns on the sidelines during the 2018 FIL Men’s Lacrosse World Championship in Netanya, Israel next summer, where Canada will look to defend their title.
Returning to the senior national team after leading them to gold in 2014 are offensive coordinator Matt Brown, defensive coordinator Taylor Wray, and assistant coach (box) Jason Levesque.
Merrick Thompson, assistant coach (offence), makes the jump to the senior coaching ranks for the first time, while Mark Miyashita, assistant coach (defense), will make his debut on the international stage.
“I feel incredibly honoured to work with a group of passionate, dedicated and knowledgeable professionals” said head coach Randy Mearns. “To be successful, this journey will, without a doubt, be a collective effort and I am confident that with this staff all the pieces of the puzzle are in place.”
Mearns, who has been coaching with the senior squad in some capacity since 2006, will be surrounded with coaches that have plenty of experience on the international stage.
Wray led a staff comprised of Brown, Levesque and Thompson to a silver medal at the 2016 FIL U19 Men’s World Championship in Coquitlam, B.C., where his squad lost in heartbreaking fashion to the U.S. in the finals. He also coached with Brown at the 2012 U19 event, and was an assistant coach alongside Mearns at the 2010 world championship.
In addition to the coaching staff, a number of recognizable names will join the team in a support staff role, including Dan Carey as team coordinator and Terry Rayner as equipment manager. Our athletes will be assisted in their preparations over the coming months by therapists Stephen Lobsinger and Kaylin Fraser, physician Dr. Steve MacGregor, and nutritionist Kathryn O’Brien.
“I am thrilled that our team will be supported by such an accomplished group of professionals,” added men’s field program director Dave Huntley. “Their resumes speak volumes about each individual, but what is special to me is their passion for Canadian lacrosse and their commitment to our players.”
Coaching Staff:
- Matt Brown (Burnaby, B.C.) – Offensive Coordinator
- Taylor Wray (Edmonton, Alta.) – Defensive Coordinator
- Merrick Thomson (Stoney Creek, Ont.) – Assistant Coach, Offense
- Mark Miyashita (Richmond, B.C.) – Assistant Coach, Defence
- Jason Levesque (St. Catharines, Ont.) – Assistant Coach, Box
Support Staff:
- Dan Carey (Peterborough, Ont.) – Team Coordinator
- Terry Rayner (Oshawa, Ont.) – Equipment Manager
- Stephen Lobsinger (Guelph, Ont.) – Therapist
- Kaylin Fraser (Oshawa, Ont.) – Therapist
- Kathryn O’Brien (Guelph, Ont.) – Nutritionist
- Dr. Steve MacGregor (Kitchener, Ont.) – Physician
The coaching and support staff, along with roughly 40 players, will gather in Buffalo, New York for a selection camp this weekend. They will play split squad exhibition games against NCAA teams Canisius College (Buffalo, NY), Notre Dame (South Bend, IN), Robert Morris (Pittsburgh, PA) and Cleveland State (Cleveland, OH).
