Currier, Withers carry on tradition of local players on Team Canada
A dispute with the Canadian Lacrosse Association now behind them, Zach Currier says he and his teammates look forward to representing Canada.
For Currier and his Peterborough Century 21 Lakers’ teammates Jake Withers and Matt Gilray, it will be their first time representing Canada’s senior men’s team at the 2018 FIL Men’s World Field Lacrosse Championship July 12 to 21 in Netanya, Israel.
Canada unveiled its 23-man roster on Wednesday after the National Lacrosse Team Players Association and CLA reached an agreement last week that ended a dispute which led to the formation of the players union. U
p to that point, it wasn’t clear Canada’s best players would be going to Israel. The CLA attempt- ed at one point to recruit replacement players.
“It was a stressful time with all that stuff going on with the CLA not knowing if we were going to make it or not,” Currier said.
“Now that I’ve had a day or two to think about actually getting on a plane and going to Israel, and putting on the jersey, it’s starting to sink in.
“I’m really happy. I have worked really hard in my lacrosse career and had a ton of people help me along the way. To be able to share that achievement with my friends and family is awesome.”
Currier said the dispute with the CLA didn’t interrupt preparation.
The schedule has always been for players to assemble for practice on July 6 two days before departing for Israel.
“We haven’t missed anything in terms of practice so I don’t think it should affect us. If anything, it’s just made us more eager to get out there,” Currier said.
“It was so up in the air about whether we were going to do it or not. I feel like most of the players were getting pretty sick of the negotiations through no fault of the NLTPA who worked diligently to help us out.
“We’re very thankful to have them on our side. We’re definitely glad it’s over and know we’re going to have a team in Israel.”
Currier played for Canada’s U19 team which won a silver medal in Finland in 2013. He starred at Princeton University and also plays pro lacrosse for the Calgary Roughnecks (NLL) and Denver Outlaws (MLL).
Withers starred at Ohio State University and plays for the Rochester Knighthawks (NLL) and Atlanta Blaze (MLL).
Gilray just graduated from Bucknell University and is projected as a high pick for the next NLL draft.
Currier says it’s special to have two Peterborough natives and three Lakers on Team Canada.
“It’s another example of how good Peterborough lacrosse really is. It’s tradition we’ve been able to carry on with having players on Team Canada,” Currier said.
“It’s another example of how great the talent is and how great a lacrosse community it is,”
Former Lakers Curtis Dickson and Geoff Snider are among 10 players returning to help Canada defend the 2014 world title won in Denver.