Tickets for Army Lacrosse Now on Sale

Army Lacrosse

If you’re a fan of Army lacrosse, you’ll be excited to know that you can now purchase single game and season tickets from the Army Ticket Office.

Season ticket packages will feature six home games for the Black Knights. Your package will kick off with the home opener on February 13th against Manhattan and also include games against VMI, Lehigh, Lafayette and Bucknell. Season ticket prices start at a modest $19 for youth, seniors, and of course, students. Adult season tickets will start at $25.

If you’re looking to check out Army lacrosse for a single game instead, tickets will start at $4 for youth, student and seniors, while adults can purchase tickets for $6.
Beyond ticket sales, Army is continuing their Game Day Experience packages and will be offering those for all home games. Groups and youth teams are encouraged to check out the Game Day Experience packages for loads of fun.The Black Knights home schedule also features a night game against Johns Hopkins, which is sure to be a favorite among ticket buyers. Because of this, the Friday night game under the lights will be $10 for adults and $6 for students, seniors and children.

If you want to stay out of the elements, luxury suites are also available for each home game.

For more information on Army lacrosse tickets, or to purchase some for yourself, head over to GoArmySports.com.

Benedictine to Honor Fallen Lacrosse Player

Ricky McAllister MemorialRicky McAllister was a popular member of the Benedictine lacrosse team, and well known around his Savannah, GA school. On Jan 1st, 2010, the 15 year old was unfortunately involved in a single car crash not far from his home. McAllister was killed in the accident, but thanks to his family, friends and of course his teammates, his memory will not soon be forgotten.

For a while after the accident, McAllister’s parents were not sure what to do with their son’s jersey. But last season, Ricky’s dad, who is also coach of the Benedictine lacrosse team, saw his son’s jersey draped across the bench every game. The gesture proved to be more than meaningful as the team went on to win their first state championship in the school’s history.

This season, however, things will change with the number 10 jersey that Ricky wore. It has now been decided that a select senior who is most deserving will wear the number 10 each season. For the upcoming season, Ricky’s old jersey will be worn by Hunter Hebert.

Benedictine will look to use this unfortunate tragedy as continued motivation in the upcoming season. They will set their sights high and aim for another state championship as Ricky continues to watch over his old squad.

Dick’s Sporting Goods Tournament of Champions Underway

Tenacious Turtles Under-13 Lacrosse National ChampionsSometimes referred to as the only true national championship in the sport of lacrosse at the youth level, the Dick’s Sporting Goods Tournament of Champions has finally begun.

This years Tournament of Champions is being held at Wesley Chapel District Park and Wesley Chapel High School in Wesley Chapel, FL. Pasco County, a co-sponsor of the event, has hosted this tournament six years in its seven year history.

In order to compete at the tournament, teams must earn a bid by competing at one of several qualifying tournaments held around the country. In 2012, there were 30 qualifying tournaments encompassing five different age divisions. The top teams from each age division have come together at the Tournament of Champions to determine who is the national champion.

The age groups playing in Wesley Chapel include boys Under-11, Under-13, Under-15, High School Rising Stars, and High School Elite.

Play began on December 29th, and is scheduled to last through the end of the day today. For more information on the tournament, including updated schedules and playoff brackets, check out the official site here.

Canadian Lacrosse Association Against Fighting

Lacrosse FightOn Monday, the Canadian Lacrosse Association announced new regulations against fighting in the sport. The new rules will effectively ban fighting from all levels of lacrosse in Canada beginning with the 2013 season.

In previous years, box lacrosse would allow fighting in a manner similar to hockey. However, with the new rules in place, fighting will no longer be an acceptable part of the game.

The new CLA modifications on rule 45 for fighting appear below:

a) A major penalty and game misconduct penalty shall be assessed to any player/goalkeeper who fights. A goalkeeper penalty shall be served by a player who was on the floor at the time of the infraction. The major penalty must be served in its duration.

b) If there is an instigator or clear aggressor in a fight, a major penalty and a game misconduct plus any other penalties shall be assessed to the offending player(s). Where an instigator or clear aggressor penalty is assessed the non-offending player shall not receive a game misconduct under 45 (a).

Fighting was removed by the CLA in an effort to increase safety for players, according to a press release from the organization.

“Fighting in the sport is an unnecessary risk — it is a dangerous activity for any athlete to be a part of. Incidents of concussions can increase with every fight that happens; it is becoming more apparent that a blow to the head area has the potential to cause severe and long-term injury.

“The health and safety of all participants in Canada’s national summer sport is amongst the leading concerns of the Canadian Lacrosse Association — changes to Rule 45 demonstrates our collective assertion that fighting in the game will not be tolerated and lends additional protection to our participants.”

Despite their drive to increase player safety, some groups are not too pleased with the rule change. In fact, the new rule has already been challenged by governors of the Western Lacrosse Association. The vote by the WLA governors came up unanimous in favor of challenging the ban on fighting.

One WLA governor, who wished to remain anonymous, said that one of their local leagues would be prepared to sidestep the new rule. However, the teams must abide by CLA regulations when competing at the national championships.

“I’m not happy for the fans, the players, and it’s not good for the game,” added the governor. “I’m very, very upset the CLA has gone down this road.”

Despite the WLA protest, it looks as though CLA players and fans will have to accept these changes and hope it provides exactly what the CLA is after – a safer sport.

New Commitments for Loyola, Johns Hopkins, and Mount St. Mary’s

Three juniors from the Baltimore area have verbally committed to lacrosse teams at three different local Universities – Loyola, Johns Hopkins, and Mount St. Mary’s. The students will arrive on campus in 2014 and can begin play with their school in the 2015 season.

Defenseman Sammy Bamigboye verbally committed to Johns Hopkins. He currently attends Montgomery Bell Academy in Nasvhille, and is rather new to the sport. In fact, Bamigboye has only been playing for four years which makes his achievement even more special.

Foster Huggins Lacrosse
Foster Huggins

Loyola University picks up Foster Huggins, a defenseman out of Texas. Huggins is a solid defender, and has earned All-Star honors at both the Philly Showcase and UNC Team Camp. He chose Loyola over several other schools being considered, including Dartmouth, Marquette, Air Force and Rutgers.

Jarrett Toy, an attacker from Sammamish Washington will be joining Mount St. Mary’s for the 2015 season. Toy, who attends Eastside Catholic High School, has earned All-Star honors of his own. Jarrett Toy has good size, and will only get stronger as he continues to grow. He chose Mount St. Mary’s over a few other schools, including Richmond, Boston University, and Robert Morris.

For more information about these new recruits, check out InsideLacrosse.com.

Lacrosse Holiday Equipment Guide

The holiday shopping season is really beginning to heat up, and people are beginning to run out of time to do their online shopping. With two weeks until Christmas eve, however, you’ve got just enough time to check out some of these great deals.

Below, we have outlined the top five pieces of equipment being purchased from our friends at Com Lax. These items are hot sellers for a reason, and if you’re doing some holiday shopping, you might want to look over this list.

Top 5 Best Sellers

5. Number five on the list is one of the top helmets in the game today, the Cascade Pro7 lacrosse helmet. Not only does this guy look great, but its extremely protective and has a one size fits all approach. It can be adjusted to fit anywhere from extra small to extra large size ranges, which is great for getting that snug fit on your head. The Cascade Pro7 helmet is currently available for $234.99.

Warrior Mac Daddy IV Lacrosse Gloves
Warrior Mac Daddy IV Lacrosse Gloves

4. Coming in at number four is the Brine boys lacrosse starter package which we highlighted in November. For only $159.99, you’re basically getting everything a young lad needs to start playing the game. The set includes a helmet, gloves, shoulder pads, elbow pads and a stick.

3. The Warrior Mac Daddy IV gloves come in at number three on the list. These sick gloves come in a number of different colors, and are focused on giving you maximum protection and mobility. It’s not hard to see why these are selling so well. If you want to pick up a pair for yourself, you can grab the Mac Daddy IV for $154.99 at Com Lax.2. Number two on the list is another starter package we talked about before. The Maverick boys starter package,  true to its name, comes with Maverick equipment and a Cascade helmet. It will run only $159.99 and is a great way to get a young one into the game of lacrosse.

1. The top selling lacrosse item right now is the K18 lacrosse gloves from STX.  These gloves originally cost well over $100, but you can pick up a pair now for only $52. Sizes are limited now, but that’s because these gloves have been such a hot seller. This highly breathable and mobile glove will be perfect for anyone looking to score a great pair of gloves at a hot price.

As always, if you’re looking to scoop up one of these items, be sure to use the coupon code ABLACROSSE and save yourself 10% on select items from your order.

Inside Lacrosse 2013 NCAA Preseason Rankings

Inside Lacrosse recently released their 2013 NCAA preseason rankings. While some spots in the top 20 have gone up for grabs since last season, the top four rankings remain the same.

Last year ended with Loyola holding the number one ranking, receiving all 19 first place votes. Maryland came in at number two, with Notre Dame hanging in at three and Duke holding on to the fourth spot.

In the 2013 preseason rankings, Loyola, Maryland, Notre Dame and Duke hold spots 1-4 respectively. Hopping into the fifth position is North Carolina. Johns Hopkins moves to the number six ranking, with Cornell, Lehigh, Virginia and Denver rounding out the top ten.

Check out the full top 20 ranking list below from Inside Lacrosse:

Loyola Greyhounds Lacrosse 2012 National Championship
The Loyola Greyhounds won the 2012 NCAA Division I Lacrosse National Championships and finished with a top ranking in the polls. In early pre-season rankings for 2013, they’re still ranked number one.

1. Loyola
2. Maryland
3. Notre Dame
4. Duke
5. North Carolina
6. Johns Hopkins
7. Cornell
8. Lehigh
9. Virginia
10. Denver
11. Colgate
12. Massachusetts
13. Princeton
14. Syracuse
15. Penn State
16. Fairfield
17. Hofstra
18. Bucknell
19. Drexel
20. Yale

In the coaches top 20 poll, it is much of the same. While a few schools hopped around here and there, there are of course a number of similarities. Check out the full top 20 preseason rankings from the Inside Lacrosse Coaches Poll below:

1. Loyola
2. Maryland
3. Duke
4. Notre Dame
5. North Carolina
6. Virginia
7. Johns Hopkins
8. Denver
9. Massachusetts
10. Princeton
11. Syracuse
12. Colgate
13. Lehigh
14. Yale
15. Cornell
16. Penn State
17. Villanova
18. Fairfield
19. Ohio State
20. Bucknell

Rhode Island Kingfish to Play at Boss Ice Arena

Rhode Island Kingfish

The North American Lacrosse League has added two new teams to their league for the upcoming 2013 season. One of the new teams, the Rhode Island Kingfish, will join the league and play in the Boss Ice Arena at the University of Rhode Island.

The Kingfish didn’t previously have a rink they called home, forcing the team to play many games on the road in the past. Upon joining the NALL, the Rhode Island squad met with Tracy Picente, manager of the Boss Arena. “[The Kingfish] actually approached me [about playing at Boss Arena],” she said. “They didn’t have a home rink and played a lot on the road last year. We met several times and I thought it would be a great opportunity.”

Despite being new to the league, the Rhode Island Kingfish are ready to compete. Since they were an expansion team, the Kingfish were allowed to protect five players from free agency. Evan Roberts and Zach Smith were kept from the original roster, both to help solidify draw control and the transition game. Two attackmen were kept as well, Dan Hettler and Mike Nadler. The Kingfish decided to only grab one defensive player, however, and chose Zach Taylor. All five players have solid experience, some international as well, and will emerge as a strong core for the team.

Through the NALL supplemental draft, the Kingfish were able to complete their 2013 roster. In addition to their eighteen original draft picks, the Kingfish were awarded seven additional picks. With their first selection, and number one overall, the Kingfish selected Michael Maggio to add additional offensive depth.

As the Kingfish continue to prepare for their inaugural season, fans in the Rhode Island area, including URI students, can begin to buy tickets for the games at Boss Arena. Tickets are currently available on the Kingfish website, http://www.rhodeislandkingfish.com, and start at $11 for student tickets. General admission seating will run $15.50 per ticket, while premium seating is $21.50.

The Kingfish will kick off their season on January 6th, at their new home, Boss Ice Arena.

Warrior Rabil X Unstrung Lacrosse Head

Warrior Rabil X Unstrung Lacrosse Head
Warrior Rabil X Unstrung Lacrosse Head

If you’re looking for a new lacrosse head this holiday season, you might want to check out the new Warrior Rabil X unstrung lacrosse head. Made by Warrior, as part of the Rabil collection, the Rabil X head will set you apart from the competition.

The Warrior Rabil X head features maximum TruOffset technology for an increased pocket depth and a head that can provide incredibly fast and powerful shots. The narrow face shape of the Warrior Rabil X head allows for increased accuracy in both shooting and passing.

The 2 shot sidewall design on the Rabil X head allows Warrior to create more color schemes, so you can pick out the one that best suits you and your game. Warrior has also included their NOZ technology in the Rabil X head, where the head is hollowed out and filled with NOZ gas. This will not only make the head lighter, but it will improve the strength of it as well.

Warrior’s Rabil X unstrung lacrosse head is currently available from dealers everywhere, including our friends at ComLax. You can pick up one of seven available colors at ComLax today for only $99. Don’t forget to include the coupon code ABLACROSSE when ordering. You can use that coupon code to save an additional 10% on select items from your order.

If you have a Rabil X head or have used one, drop us a line and let us know what you think of it in the comments.

Division 2 NCAA Lacrosse Tournament Doubles Size in 2013

Dowling - Vito DeMolaProving to be another sign that the sport of lacrosse is continuing to grow in the U.S., the NCAA has announced that their Division II tournament will double in size in 2013.

Adding on an additional four teams for 2013, the DII tournament doubles from the original four team style we saw prior to the change. Teams qualifying for the tournament will now be split into two bracket regions, north and south. The two teams winning their respective regions will then take part in the national championship game.

Team selections will also be influenced by a rating percentage index, which is new for the 2013 season. This will give the selection process a style more like that used in Division I lacrosse.

The increase in teams reaching the tournament is easily justified. In the 2007-08 season, NCAA Division II lacrosse only had 34 participating teams. For the 2013 season, however, 50 teams will take the field. You can imagine we’ll be seeing another increase in the not so distant future, as more and more universities begin fielding teams for Division II lacrosse.