by HAUDENOSAUNEE — The Iroquois Nationals have announced the dates of the open and invitational team selection camp for the Federation of International Lacrosse World Indoor Lacrosse Championships (WILC) to be played at Onondaga Nation and in Syracuse, N.Y., from Sept. 18 to 27, 2015.
Potential candidates for the Iroquois Nationals roster – which will ultimately be trimmed to 23 spots – are invited to attend a two-day camp on Thursday June 25 and Friday June 26 at the new state-of-the-art Community Center at Cattaraugus.
On June 25, the Iroquois Nationals coaching staff will be holding a true “open” tryout session from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m., offering any Haudenosaunee lacrosse player the opportunity to be evaluated and move forward in the tryout process. At the conclusion of the session, a catered meal will be provided to participants. Players whom the coaches and evaluation staff deem worthy will be asked to participate in the remainder of the tryout.
Friday morning will begin the main camp with the first session running from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. The second session is from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.
Friday afternoon, between the two main sessions, the Iroquois Nationals will be hosting a free youth lacrosse clinic to support the Newtown Minor Lacrosse Association. A one-hour session will be held from approximately 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. Friday. Boys in minor lacrosse are invited to attend. The clinic will be followed by an autograph session with the prospective Iroquois Nationals players and past members of the team trying out for the 2015 squad.
Involving young Haudenosaunee players and community members is a priority for Iroquois Nationals General Manager Landon Miller and his staff as they work to build the team and improve upon the Nationals silver-medal finish four years ago in Prague.
“I want to make sure that we are giving back to our youth through this journey,” said Miller, who is on the Iroquois bench for the first time around. “That’s very important for the Iroquois Nationals as an organization and so we will use opportunities to do so as much possible throughout this process.”
For the first time, the WILC event is being held on Haudenosaunee lands. The WILC will be the first men’s international sporting event held on native lands. Thirteen different nations will be competing for the WILC championship at Tsha’hon’nonyen’dakhwa’ — Onondaga Nation Arena — and Syracuse University’s Carrier Dome.
Player tryout registration for the Iroquois Nationals 2015 team must contact Landon Miller by email atiroquoisnats@gmail.com.
For more information on the Iroquois Nationals, visit IroquoisNationals.org. To see the full details of the WILC 2015 event visit wilc2015.com.
Iroquois Nationals Open and Invitations Tryouts Schedule for WILC 2015
Location: Cattaraugus Community Center, Irving, N.Y. – Cattaraugus, Seneca Nation
Thursday, June 25
* Open Tryout – 7 p.m. to 10 p.m.
Friday, June 26
* Invitational Tryout Session Part 1: 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.
* Youth Lacrosse Clinic: 1 p.m. to 2 p.m.
* Iroquois Nationals Autograph Session: 2 p.m. to 3 p.m.
* Invitational Tryout Session Part 2: 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.
I know you will do your best guys!