Growing up on Long Island with dreams of playing for Syracuse, Joey Spallina is now getting the opportunity to play alongside some of his childhood idols. Spallina, a junior at Syracuse University, is the youngest of 23 athletes who were named to the United States’s Men’s Box National Team last week.
Spallina is no stranger to the USA Lacrosse program, as his dad was an assistant coach on the 2022 women’s national team that won the 2022 World Lacrosse Women’s Championship. However, playing with this box team has been Spallina’s first experience wearing a USA jersey.
“It’s every kid’s dream to wear this shirt and play in the red, white, and blue, said Spallina. “Being able to play in it with guys like Tom [Schreiber] and Joel [White] it’s unreal. It’s guys that I’ve watched since I’ve been a kid and now that I get the chance to play with them, it’s a dream come true.”
Spallina was the number one recruit from his graduating class in 2022 and has gone on to become one of Syracuse’s top players. He has scored 73 goals while distributing 83 assists in his first two seasons, earning All-American honors both years.
Looking to improve his game after his freshman year, Spallina took interest in Canada’s box lacrosse scene and joined the Orangeville Northmen in the Ontario Junior Lacrosse League (OJLL).
“It was an opportunity that was presented, and I wanted to just go and do it,” said Spallina. “I just wanted to get an idea of what they [Canadian players] are thinking because they have played box their whole life. I wanted to get a better feeling idea of how they see the game and, and I think that can give us the edge on other teams.”
In his first year with the Orangeville Northmen, he scored 148 points, the most ever by an American in the OJLL. He followed up that performance by leading the league in goals (80), assists (122), and points (202) this summer.
Most recently, the team competed in the Minto Cup over the weekend where the team lost in the championship series. The Minto Cup dates back to 1901 and since 1937, the event has been designated as the top Canadian Junior A box lacrosse championship. Spallina tallied the most points of any players in the event with seven goals and 21 assists in just five games.
Spallina had grown up primarily playing field lacrosse in the United States, but also has played box lacrosse in the USA as well. He has noticed differences while playing box between his home country and Canada
“I think box in the United States is just not as structured,” noted Spallina. “I think box in Canada is very detailed and every little thing matters. I think you can definitely take stuff from box to the field but it’s very hard to take stuff from field to box.”
In strengthening his box skills, Spallina has looked to veterans in the United States lacrosse scene for guidance.
“I’m learning things in here from guys like Tom and Joel, guys that have been through it,” Spallina said. “I’m taking what they’ve learned and putting it on to the field, and I think that will be big for me.”
Spallina is excited to make his international debut for the United States this September at the World Lacrosse Box Championships in Utica, New York.
“I’ve grown up watching these USA teams over the years and watching them come close to a gold, said Spallina. “I think that is this team’s goal, to win the gold, and I would love to be a part of that.”
