After a lengthy selection process, Head Coach Mike Elefante and his staff have announced the final 23-player roster that will compete for Team China in this summer’s World Lacrosse Championship in Denver, Colorado.
The team features a mix of veteran North American players and club-players from twelve provinces and municipalities of China. China is one of nine nations that will be participating in the World Championship for the first time.
Although lacrosse was only recently introduced to China, the sport is growing rapidly and the quality of play has improved markedly. Last summer, China finished 4-4 in the Asian Pacific Lacrosse Games, narrowly losing to Thailand in the Bronze Medal match.
According to Coach Elefante, the future of lacrosse in China is bright.
“These are exciting times for Chinese lacrosse,” Elefante said. “A few years ago, the sport was almost unheard of in China. Now we’re seeing the potential for huge growth. It’s a tremendous honor to be coaching Team China in its first world championship competition.”
In Denver, China will play in the Green Division against teams from Italy, Netherlands, and Norway. The team will arrive in Denver on July 7 and will play an exhibition game against Argentina on July 9.
China opens World Championship play on Friday, July 11 against the Netherlands.
2014 Team China Roster
Goalies
Clyde Cao, Xi’an, Shanxi, China
Harrison Zhu, Colby College
Middies
Jon Bailey, Simon Fraser University
Matt Bailey, Simon Fraser University
Dylan Bassham, Rollins College
Sean Cai, Shanghai, China
Ji Xiang, Bijie, Guizhou
Aaron Luo, Sanming, Fujian, China
Tong Mingyong, Shenyang, Liaoning, China
Michael Tsiang, Villanova University
Curtis Wang, Shanghai, China
Daniel Zhang, Chongqing, China
Attack
Tyler Buchan, Wheeling Jesuit University
Gao Zhiqiang, Dengfeng, Henan, China
Huang Fatao, Xiamen, Fujian, China
Li Ming, Pingxiang, Jiangxi, China
Shu Yujun, Quxian, Sichuan
Ye Huabao, Shenzhen, Guangdong China
Defense
Cody Wang, Shanghai, China
Wang Zhijie, Zhoukou, Henan, China
Ed Yu, United Lacrosse Club, Toronto
Ethan Yuan, Beijing, China
Zhang Yongchang, Linyi, Shangdong, China
China Lacrosse video on YouTube
Head Coach: Mike Elefante
Assistant Coach: Barton Wheeler
Staff: Jacky Zhu, Wen Jiang Hao, Raymond Pan
Web site: https://chinalax.org/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Chinalax
Contact:
Mike Elefante
E-mail: Mike.Elefante@gmail.com
About the FIL
The Federation of International Lacrosse (FIL) is the international governing body for men’s and women’s lacrosse. The FIL currently has 50 member nations and sanctions five World Championships (women’s and men’s field, women’s and men’s U19 field and men’s indoor.) The FIL is responsible for the governance and integrity of all forms of lacrosse and provides responsive and effective leadership to support the sports’ development throughout the world.
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