The 2024 World Lacrosse Box Championships are set for September 20-29 in Utica, New York with 28 teams competing in the men’s box championship, split into seven pools. Eight teams advance directly to the playoffs after pool play and teams seeded 9-16 will compete in a play-in round.
The full schedule for the championship can be found here.
Pool B: Belgium; Hong Kong, China; Israel; Mexico
Pool B features two teams making their second appearance in the men’s box championship in Hong Kong and Mexico, a debutant in Belgium, and a strong Israel team playing in its third edition of the event.
The top two teams from pool will be able to compete for a playoff spot with the best four pool winners from the six winners of Pools B – G claiming a berth outright.
Tickets for all games of the box championships are available here.
Hong Kong finished in 18th place in its first box championship in 2019 in Canada while Mexico was one spot behind in 19th place.
Israel boasts a strong men’s box program with a fourth place finish in 2015 and a fifth place finish in 2019, and will aim to make a deep playoff run to the semifinals again.
Eight players return from the 2019 squad that secured wins over the Netherlands and Finland in Langley. Israel competed in 2023 at the E-Box Invitational in Prague and picked up wins against Ireland and Czechia and also had many of its players suit up for Goldstar Tel-Aviv at the North American Invitational.
Israel also has included eight players from its field lacrosse team that competed in San Diego at the men’s championship in 2023 and finished seventh.
Jackson Hainer will be a key player in goal for Israel, as will long-time contributors Ian Kadish and Yaakov Silberlicht. Matt Popeck will also be an attacking option.
Hong Kong is returning six players from its first box campaign in 2019, and ten players from its field squad in 2023.
Wesley Wong, Joey Ay Yeung and Chak Sum Ho form a very experienced core for Hong Kong and the team could be boosted by strong performers in field lacrosse in Pak Long Chan (goalkeeper), Liam Ferris and Carter Li.
Hong Kong traveled to Prague for the 2024 E-Box Invitational and picked up wins against the Netherlands and Poland while also facing Switzerland and Austria.
Hayden Cheung leg the attacking efforts there with strong performances from Wing Cheung, Kei Chan and Wesley Wong, who all will play in Utica.
Mexico brings back a familiar cast of faces from its field campaign in San Diego of eight players, highlighted by Josh Sanchez, Alejandro Fonseca and William Cabrera. The team also has four returners from 2019 including Juan Contreras and Charlie Frattini III.
Ernesto Valenzuela is another returner from 2019 who also played for Los Aztecas at LAXNAI in October.
Belgium will be making its World Lacrosse box debut, but has experience at E-Box invitationals in past years and the 2022 European Box Championship in Hannover.
Belgium picked up wins over Italy and Switzerland in Prague in 2024 and played a close match against Sweden.
Branko Van de Wildenbergh and Romain Kluge will split time in net, while Tibor Van den Wildenbergh, Romain Deharre and Thibault Stepman can be counted on to lead the offensive production.
Seven players suited up for Belgium in its last field men’s championship appearance in 2018 in Netanya, Israel.
Games to Watch
Saturday, September 21: Hong Kong vs. Belgium, 6:15 p.m., Utica University Nexus Center 3
Belgium will make its debut in the event against Hong Kong in an exciting battle of experienced teams from two different continental federations.
Saturday, September 21: Mexico vs. Irsael, 7:45 p.m., Utica University Nexus Center 2
While Israel’s track record makes it the favorite to claim top spot in the pool, both teams will bring the energy to their first game of the championship with Mexico looking to make an early statement.
Sunday, September 22: Hong Kong vs. Mexico, 7:45 p.m., Utica University Nexus Center 2
The two teams finished within a spot of each other 2019 and both will believe they can improve on their first showings in this championship. While Belgium will have a say in its own right, this game has clear playoff implications for a fun Pool B showdown.
Tickets for all games of the box championships are available here.
