Santa Cruz, CA - The Denver University Elite Box Lacrosse team is taking their game to California this December to challenge the Cali*Lax ALL-STARS at the California Invitational on December 10/11, 2011. The age groups of the developmental series are as follows: Pee Wee (U12), Bantam (U14) and Midget (U16).
Denver University Elite is coached by Denver University Assistant coach Matt Brown. Brown, a former DU star grew up playing Box Lacrosse in Canada and also enjoyed a lengthy 6 year career in the National Lacrosse League. Brown also has 2 Minto Cup Championships from his days with the Burnaby Lakers Jr 'A' program in British Columbia. Brown is also the coach, along with 7 x MLL Defensive player of the year Brodie Merrill, of Team Canada U19.
The Cali*Lax ALL-STARS are directed by 12 year NLL pro, World Champion and former Stealth captain Shaydon Santos, a Canadian Box player who relocated to California when the Albany Attack moved west to become the San Jose Stealth.
Santos' Cali*Lax ALL-STARS, America's first youth Box program, have been traveling to Canadian Box tourneys for the last 3 years and are comprised of 7 travel teams ranging in age groups from Novice (U10) to Midget (U16). The Cali*Lax ALL-STARS now compete in the Canadian 'A' level and have faced off against Box Lacrosse powerhouses Whitby Bantam 1 (Mark Matthews/Denver University, Zack Palmer/JHU, Zack Greer/Duke/Bryant), and New Westminster Pee Wee A (Kevin Crowley/Stoney Brook).
Both Denver Elite and Cali*Lax ALL-STARS have been attending the same Box Tournament in Calgary over the past 2 years but have never faced off.
The California Invitational is a four game Developmental Series over two days taking place in San Jose, CA.
The Cali*Lax ALL-STARS Pee Wee, Bantam, Midget and HS Elite travel to Washington in both January and February to face off against the Junior Stealth. The Junior Stealth and the Stealth Academy are directed by NLL superstar, LMX Pro Lewis Ratcliff and coached by the world's top Box players - the Washington Stealth.
Denver University Elite, the Jr Stealth and the Cali*Lax ALL-STARS are bringing a combined 15 teams to Canada this summer to battle Canadians at youth Box Lacrosse tournaments.
More information can be found at:
www.calilax.com
www.usboxla.com