Four locals at Team Canada tryouts
Locals Latrell Harris, Alex Simmons, Steven Priolo and Holden Garlent were among those on the floor for the men’s squad at Canada Games Park this week trying out for the 2024 World Box Lacrosse Championships. Photo: BILL POTRECZ
There was a distinct local flavour to the Lacrosse Canada men’s and women’s box lacrosse tryouts at Canada Games Park this week.
Four players with significant local ties were on the floor for the men’s squad trying out for the 2024 World Box Championships, set for September 20-29 in Utica, N.Y. A total of 28 teams will be entered in the men’s division and 10 teams in the first-ever women’s box championship. There were no locals on the women’s roster.
Former St. Catharines Athletic Steven Priolo was thrilled to be back home.
“It was awesome. When I heard it was here I was excited to get into this new facility,” said Priolo, who teaches at Rosseau Lake College in Muskoka. “I’m jealous of the Junior A’s that they get to play in here. In my time it was Bill Burgoyne, and as beautiful as it was, it’s nice to see the evolution of lacrosse.”
Priolo, a 35-year-old St. Catharines native, was one 43 athletes selected to battle for the final 23-man roster. Seven alternates will also be chosen.
“It’s the best. You’re normally playing against these guys but you do recognize their talent and are normally breaking down what they do so to be on the same page with them all is a pleasure,” he said. “It’s one of the highest levels. You’re talking about being part of a 23-man roster that is being selected from all across Canada so it means you’re playing with the best of the best.”
Priolo, who is coming off a National Lacrosse League championship with the Buffalo Bandits, won gold with Canada in 2015 and 2019.
“Hopefully get a chance to do it again. It’s right up there with any other championship. You’re always trying to be the best you can in your sport so it’s another opportunity to be your best.”
Alex Simmons is a 25-year-old Smithville native and former Athletic who is playing in the NLL with the Albany Firewolves.
“It’s pretty nostalgic (coming back to St. Catharines),” Simmons said. “Obviously, we didn’t get to play here (Canada Games Park) but it was great playing here and seeing little kids running around the with A’s and seeing some familiar faces. It was awesome.
“Obviously, this is one of the best towns in Ontario to play lacrosse.”
Simmons would be thrilled to represent Canada.
“It would mean everything,” he said. “When you start playing as a little kid around Ontario and Canada this is where you want to get so it would be an absolute honour to put on the Maple Leaf. I think any Canadian would say the same.
“It would be great and to represent St. Catharines would even be more of an honour.”
Simmons was a late invite to camp.
“Obviously, I was thrilled. I wanted to do this after the NLL season and I was ready to go and thought I could hang with these guys. To play with the best in the world is awesome,” he said.
Denis Morris graduate and St. Catharines native Holden Garlent, who has played the last three seasons with the Saskatchewan Rush, enjoyed the experience.
“Obviously, it’s an honour anytime to represent your country with the best players in the world here,” he said. “It’s been a great learning experience, battling not only against guys you always battle against, but also with them.
“It’s nice to play with the guys you’re battling against all winter.”
Garlent, who turns 27 in August, has never represented Canada.
“I’ve been to field camps twice and this is first box camp and hopefully I crack the roster. Either way, it’s been an awesome experience,” he said.
Ex-Athletics captain Latrell Harris is coming off knee surgery and was pumped to get back into action.
“It was my first time back on the floor so it was adrenaline through the roof,” the 26-year-old St. Catharines native said.
Harris, who suites for the Toronto Rock, has represented for Canada in field lacrosse previously.
“It’s 40 of the best in the world, so to be on the floor with them, it was quite the pride thing,” he said. “It would mean a lot. Box is obviously the No. 1 lacrosse game in the world so to go and represent Team Canada and represent your country is like no other.”
Harris underwent ACL (anterior cruciate ligament) reconstruction last September and admitted it was a tough rehab at times.
“It’s long. It’s a mental game. Working out is second nature but to be consistent and keep a good mental (outlook) is the hardest,” he said. “I have a lot of people who want to see me out there doing well and they’re telling me to keep pushing. When you go and perform, it the back of you head you have those people there. Who am I to think I don’t want to go to rehab? I’m letting more people down than just myself.”
This is the first time a women’s box lacrosse national championship will be held. The men have won all five of the previous world box lacrosse championships, the most recent coming in 2019, when Canada defeated the Haudenosaunee 19-12 in Langley, BC.
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