Rock Stars attending USBOXLA Western Invitational in Arizona

The Rock Stars Elite Lacrosse Program will be flying to Arizona this week to compete in USBOXLA’s Western Invitational – a top-ranked American box lacrosse tournament featuring teams from Arizona (Outlaws), California (Cali*Lax ALL-STARS & Jr. Seals), Colorado (Denver Elite), Minnesota (Stars), Utah (Sting) and other states from the region.

While the Rock Stars will be the lone Ontario entry, clubs from Alberta (Elev8) and British Columbia (Pro Caliber Lacrosse) will also be travelling across the border to compete for gold, silver and bronze from February 4-6 in Phoenix, Glendale and Peoria.

A total of 75 players across five formidable teams will take on top-rated clubs from the US & Canada. The Rock Stars coaching staff for this event include TRAC Athletics Director Colin Doyle, Brandon Miller, Phil Wetherup and Troy Bonterre. Other competing club directors and coaches who have entered teams at this year’s Western Invitational: Matt Brown, Shaydon Santos, Geoff Snider, Tyler Pace, Ben Prepchuk, Aime Caines and other current and former National Lacrosse League players.

The event marks the first tournament outside of the province for the Rock Stars, who last year competed at the In-N-Out Invitational and Border Wars. The players also participate in the Rock Elite League and Rock Elite Development League.

The Western Invitational will also serve as the first event the Rock Stars Girls U15 and U17 teams will attend. Since being selected, the girls have trained in both box & field lacrosse and have worked with guest coaches like Team USA standout, Kylie Ohlmiller.

“This is an event our teams have really been looking forward to,” said Doyle, who in previous years has coached USBOXLA’s Cali*Lax ALL-STARS. “I think the quality of play will be very competitive and we’re extremely excited to be able to offer this unique experience to our Rock Stars players.”

The girls’ teams will also be touring a local college and learning about collegiate opportunities in the US. The girls will be competing in sixes exhibition games on the Friday before their box games get going at the Western Invitational.

USBOXLA will also be holding their prestigious Team USBOXLA West tryouts as part of the weekend’s full lineup.

See the full tournament schedule here, plus see who the Rock Stars will be competing against below.

Girls Bantam: Cali*Lax ALL-STARS, Minnesota Stars, Jr. Seals and Rock Stars 08/09

Boys Bantam A: Cali*Lax ALL-STARS, Jr. Seals, Denver Elite, Minnesota Stars, Utah Sting and Rock Stars 08/09

Girls Midget: Cali*Lax ALL-STARS, Minnesota Stars, Team Alberta and Rock Stars 06/07

Boys Midget A: Utah Sting, Minnesota Stars, Pro Caliber Lacrosse (BC), Elev8 (Alberta), Cali*Lax ALL-STARS, Denver Elite, Jr. Seals and Rock Stars 06

Boys Midget B: Arizona Outlaws, Colorado Freeze, Impulse and Rock Stars 07

The inaugural Western Invitational was held in Las Vegas, Nevada in partnership with the San Diego Seals during a 2020 regular season game between the Seals and Colorado Mammoth.