Rock Stars Top 25: In-N-Out Challenge

The In-N-Out Challenge – a two-day lacrosse tournament pitting teams against one another in box, field and sixes gameplay – served as the first form of competition for the Rock Stars Elite Lacrosse Program.

Hosted at the Toronto Rock Athletic Centre (TRAC) in Oakville, Ontario over Canadian Thanksgiving weekend, 39 games were played across three divisions (U13, U15 and U17) with a single overall winner determined in each. The Rock Stars would be crowned champs in all three age groups.

Running two teams in all three divisions (i.e., 2006 DOB team & 2007 DOB team comprised U17 entries), the Rock Stars received their first taste of legitimate competition after taking part in a series of intensive selection camps during the summer and then starting weekly team & individual player training in the fall.

The teams were impressive in all three versions of the sport over the two days, some players really standing out en route to a top-of-the-table sweep. TRAC Athletics staff member, former US Box Lacrosse Association (USBOXLA) director, and the sport’s only three-time National Lacrosse League Media Person of the Year, Paul Tutka, has selected the Top 25 Rock Stars: In-N-Out Challenge edition – highlighting the players who impressed the most during this extremely unique and exciting event.

In addition to competing weekly in the Rock Elite League & Rock Elite Development League, the Rock Stars next event will be Border Wars (Dec. 17-19), where teams will compete against some of USBOXLA’s top players and clubs at the TRAC.

Rock Stars Top 25: In-N-Out Challenge

Thomas Bagnall (2006)
His leadership skills on this severely stacked roster were evident from start to finish. No matter what side of centre he was on and no matter what version of lacrosse he was playing, Bagnall was easily one of the most complete players at the TRAC that weekend. A really tough lockdown defender but equally as impactful with the ball in his stick too.

Kane Biles (2010)
A clear fan favourite all weekend, few showed as much heart, hustle and determination as Biles, who never took a single second of any shift off no matter the score. Rock Stars Coach and top NLL defender, Brad Kri, described Biles as the team’s Swiss Army Knife – a player that plays (and excels) in any position he pops him into.

Zoe Chalmers (2008)
Chalmers, who was also selected for the 08/09 Girls Rock Stars roster, looked really good during the entire Rock Stars tryout process. She looked just as good in the team’s first competitive games at the In-N-Out Challenge. Earlier this year, NLLer Austin Shanks said on social, “Zoe Chalmers will take your lunch money.” We get it. Her stick was dialed all weekend, finishing with 14 goals, one shy of the team lead.

Cooper Cosmo (2010)
Cosmo’s 11 goals (yep, same Cosmo) led the 2010’s in the goal-scoring column, and after seeing how confident, composed and crafty he was around the crease, it’s really no surprise. Consistent from Saturday morning to Sunday afternoon, Cosmo has a knack for getting into good goal-getting spots around the net.

Sebastian Danelon (2010)
The 2010 Rock Stars captain was likely the best player on the floor for the division champs, leading the team in points (16) and assists (7) while the youngsters finished the weekend 6-0. Danelon proved to be a leader on and off the field, an impact player both offensively and defensively.

Griffin Hughes (2007)
No matter if he was playing box, field or sixes, Hughes was a standout in all three styles. He was a turnover machine in field lacrosse and always pushing transition, while that same speed in sixes allowed him to constantly create offensive chances for himself and his teammates. Hughes was a menace when the other team had the ball, not at all fun to play against.

Jacob Janke (2006)
Co-coaches Zach Manns & Latrell Harris said these were Janke’s first-ever competitive games playing long pole. Coulda fooled us. Janke was more than just comfortable with the taller twig in his mitts, he was excellent. He was a loose-ball magnet that cleared the table all weekend and generated impact transition opportunities through his above average athleticism & decision making.

Everest L’Homme (2008)
At times he was simply unstoppable when he had the ball, racking up 15 goals in six games while the 08s went undefeated. He had power-forward pop up front but also a super-skilled stick, and L’Homme wasn’t afraid to get creative either, scoring some real beauties.

Hudson Llord (2011)
Like his old man (14-year NLL vet Ian Llord, most recently an assistant captain with the Philadelphia Wings in 2019/20), Llord showed true leadership with the Rock Stars all weekend. Reliable, responsible and a really outstanding overall lacrosse player, Hudson helped both offensively and defensively, popping in some critical points while the 2011s impressed against older competition.

Liam Luzza (2006)
The 06’s scoring was very spread out all weekend long, but it was Luzza who pushed ahead at the top of the stats table, largely due to his timely & impactful scoring in sixes. A smart shot selector that really teed off on the Sunday, Luzza scored a pair of goals in the team’s critical final game vs. Hardcor that allowed the Rock Stars to take the lead and never look back.

Alex May (2006)
A bold statement, but honestly, May mighta been the best pound-for-pound player all weekend. An uber athlete that soaks up as many strong slashes as he delivers, May’s speed and aggressive approach wreaked havoc against the opposition for two days straight. Defensively he is a relentless, persistent pain to play against, but he also chipped in on O too (5 goals). The kid is complete.

Liam McKendrick (2007)
He co-led the team in scoring with seven (with Greyson Turner and Brodie Nytrai) but probably could have had double that with the number of times he positioned himself in good goal-getting opportunities. Big, strong and speedy, McKendrick’s determination, heart and work ethic allow him to shift gears when his team needs him most.

Jesse Morrison (2007)
The 07s were in tough being the youngest team at the oldest age group, but Morrison kept the Rock Stars competitive with some of the best backstopping of the tournament – inside or out. His reflex stops on point-blank shots were impressive, as was his leadership, voice and support from the back of the field/floor.

Colton Munro (2011)
Munro’s 11 goals over the two days easily led the youngest (and arguably most fun to watch) team in the tourney (next nearest teammate had 6 goals) in that stat column. He uses his size and skill effectively to create space for others and to set up his own looks.

Nathan Nyarko (2009)
What a bulldog! Nyarko’s gas tank looks like it never comes close to hitting empty. Every loose ball or challenge he runs into has the same bite, effort and edge whether it’s the opening minute or the final few seconds are ticking off the clock. His game is high intensity and high pressure, which makes him so difficult to play against.

Owen O’Halloran (2008)
He scored in quantity (13G) and quality, O’Halloran coming up with some momentum changers that helped propel the 08s to a squeaky clean 6-0 finish. A gifted offensive goal getter, O’Halloran is smooth, shifty and puts himself in good spots to create for himself and his teammates.

Garnet Shultz (2009)
Few middies at the tournament put in the quality minutes that Shultz did outdoors or up and down the floor inside. His game is definitely more D heavy but he regularly jump started the team’s offensive press, pushing the ball well in transition. Clearly work ethic will never be an issue for Shultz.

Cooper Svicki (2008)
Such a solid presence between the pipes for the 08s. Svicki set the tone for the team with strong starts and stellar stops while the group grabbed the division title with an undefeated record.

Garrett Thomson (2006)
Already considered one of the top goalies at this age group (even in the US, where the Whitby-based backstop has excelled for the likes of the Cali*Lax ALL-STARS & Jr. Seals), Thomson’s play at the In-N-Out only solidified that statement. Consistent, composed and clinical whether indoors at the TRAC or out, Thomson has a promising future between the pipes.

Greyson Turner (2007)
His speed, size and smarts proved to be a matchup issue for the opposition and led to Turner snagging 7 goals over the two days, tying him for the team lead. Outdoors, his darting dashes defensively took away chances and added pop on the press. When the tourney shifted to sixes on Sunday, Turner really turned up his skill level and decision making offensively.

Vincent Ward (2009)
Ward’s slick finishing skills allowed him to lead the team in goal scoring (12) while his feeding in field saw him setup a bunch of big goals too. An overall offensive threat that constantly created chances for himself and teammates in all three styles of lacrosse showcased at the In-N-Out.

Tucker Williams (2011)
In the 2011’s first box game at the In-N-Out Challenge, several Toronto Rock coaches and players watched Tucker Williams tend goal from the team offices upstairs. They were amazed. Williams’ play between the pipes was well beyond what you’d expect at this age group, and that goes for outdoors as well. He’s got good size, sure, but his footwork, reflexes and overall awareness in net were often outstanding. He kept the youngest team in the tournament competitive throughout the entire weekend.

Bryce Wismer (2006)
Wismer was a box-only backstop (an extremely good one) prior to the In-N-Out Challenge. Playing his first-ever minutes outdoors, the promising Cambridge product proved he’s one helluva goalie on grass too. Wismer played his angles well, anticipated maybe even better, and adapted to the outdoor game better than coaches could have hoped.

Max Wojtowicz (2007)
The younger 07s were in tough against mostly 08s at the In-N-Out, but Wojtowicz still stood our all weekend as one of the division’s top players. In box, he was aggressive, hardworking and had zero quit no matter how physical the play got. In field, Wojtowicz played the role of shutdown defender while he wielded his long pole with precision and purpose. No poles in sixes, but the St. Kitts kid played just as hard and really seemed to elevate the team throughout those games.

Shane Zabransky (2009)
A middie outdoors and a constant transitional threat inside, Zabransky is developing into a strong leader who owns an obvious next-level work ethic, determination and discipline. He still managed to snipe nine times (second most goals for the 09s) while seemingly doing work all over the floor or field. His speed, agility and overall athleticism allowed Zabransky to physically power past the opposition when he pressed up the field.