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 G: Germany, Ireland, Poland, China
Pool G features two strong European performers in men’s box lacrosse in Germany and Ireland alongside two teams making their first appearance at the championship in Poland and China, who will both try to force their way into the playoff picture.
Germany finished in 10th place at the 2019 men’s box championship in Langley while Ireland was one spot behind in 11th place. Both teams have appeared three or more times in the event.
Poland has a box lacrosse program that frequently competes internationally in Europe, but will appear in this championship for the first time. China is looking to make the jump into box lacrosse in its first appearance in the event.
Tickets for all games of the box championships are available here.
China is one of the younger teams overall in the men’s box championship, and is returning a core of ten players that represented the men’s U21 team at the junior field championship in 2022 in Limerick.
Le Yang, Taihang Yan and Tengyu Xu are the top returning goalscorers from that squad that will suit up in Utica.
Leo Stouros is an experienced defenseman that represented China at the junior field championship in 2012, when he earned All-Defenseman honors.
A handful of players have collegiate club lacrosse experience in the United States, including Yipeng Cao at Virginia, Le Yang at the University of Michigan, Siwei Fan at the Ohio State University and Zhou Sun at the University of Southern California.
Chris and Kevin Dong both have experience in the Ontario Junior Lacrosse League for the Oakville Buzz and goalkeeper Ben Thibault has experience for the Coquitlam Jr Adanacs, who are in the British Columbia Junior A Lacrosse League.
Forward Ben Stewart will be a difference maker for China and is currently on the San Diego Seals in the NLL after being drafted in the second round of the 2023 draft. Stewart had a strong field lacrosse season at Wagner College in 2023 and experience in the Western Lacrosse Association for the Burnaby Lakers.
Poland is bringing a blend of younger and veteran players to Utica, with six players who are under the age of 21 and 11 players with appearances at World Lacrosse men’s field championships.
Poland also has a strong box lacrosse program, competing at the 2022 European Men’s Box Championship in Hannover, Germany, and in the E-Box invitational in 2024.
Ten players are returning from the Hannover campaign where Poland picked up wins against Belgium and Serbia, and 13 players from the E-Box squad that picked up wins over Scotland and Italy will play in Utica.
A handful of players in the squad are based out of the club Wroclaw Panthers, and also competed for the Polish Eagles in box lacrosse at the 2023 Frank Menscher Cup.
Mikolaj Smiegel and Nick Goldberg were the most productive forwards in Hannover and Tyler Kolodka led the offensive output in Prague.
Goalkeepers David Zajac and Michal Gladki both have extensive experience at European box lacrosse clubs.
Christopher Crapanzano should also be a standout forward and was one of the most prolific attackers in field lacrosse in San Diego at the men’s championship in 2023.
Ireland is making its fifth appearance at the men’s box championship and will look to return to the top ten after an 11th place finish in 2019. Head Coach Jeff Dowling also coached Ireland in the men’s box championships in 2011, 2015 and 2019.
Ireland boasts a deep and familiar roster with 21 players from the squad at the 2024 E-Box Invitational included in the team for Utica, as well as 12 players from the 2022 European Box Championship in Hannover.
Ireland had an impressive campaign in Prague in 2024 with wins over Germany, Finland and the Netherlands. Brian Gillis, Brendan O’Sullivan were prolific forwards and goalkeeper Jon McMillan made 54 saves in net.
Overall, nine players have previous experience at men’s box championships, including Sean Gibson, who has played in four dating back to 2007, as well as four field championships dating back to 2010. Gibson currently has made 99 appearances in World Lacrosse championships across all disciplines and is currently on the World Lacrosse Board of Directors as the Vice Chair of the Athletes’ Commission.
Brian Gillis tallied 49 points for Ireland in Langley and Luke Coppinger added 46 points. Goalkeeper Devlin Shanahan also made 110 saves.
Of the players making their first appearances for Ireland, Ciaron Costello could be a key player in defense, having previously logged box experience in the OJLL for the Mimico Mountaineers in 2017 and 2018.
Germany will have its eyes set on making a playoff run after a top-ten finish in the championship in 2019. Germany is another European team with significant box lacrosse experience, including 20 players from E-Box in 2024 and seven players from the 2022 European Box Championship.
Germany finished second in Hannover, falling to England in the championship game while collecting wins over Czechia, Slovakia, Poland, Scotland and Finland.
In Prague in 2024, Germany saw significant attacking contributions from Per Olters, Gustav Weber, Luis Stetzka and Leon Bohm. Weber also keyed Germany’s production in Langley in 2019.
Goalkeeper Julian Laux also handled all of the work in net, but will be joined on the roster in Utica by Keegan Lutsch-Melenychuk, who has previous box experience for the Burnaby Lakers for the WLA.
Olters was a star attacker for Germany in the 2023 men’s championship in San Diego, and has collegiate field experience in the United States for Vermont University and Dominican University California. Lasse Volquardsen also impressed in San Diego.
David Beckmann, Wynton Bastian and Lenny Noring also represented Germany in field lacrosse at the The World Games 2022.
Games to Watch
Friday, September 20: Germany vs. Ireland 10 a.m., Adirondack Bank Center
Germany and Ireland finished within one spot of each other at the last men’s box championship and will face off in the very first game of action in Utica, which always carries extra energy. Both teams will believe in their chances for a playoff spot, making for a finely poised opener.
Sunday September 22: China vs. Poland, 7 p.m., Adirondack Bank Center
Two teams making their debut at the box championships face off against each other on day three of the event, and will have a game under their belt by then. Both teams are rostering players with plenty of field lacrosse experience at World Lacrosse events and will be hungry to prove themselves in box.
Monday, September 23: Poland vs. Ireland, 7:45 p.m. Utica University Nexus Center 2
The last game of Pool G action will have clear playoff implications, and both Poland and China will need to pull upsets against experienced German and Irish teams to create drama in the pool. China faces Germany on the final day at 4:45 p.m. and Poland faces Ireland in one of the last games of the day with a potential chance to steal a playoff bid.
