Canada is heading to the women's under-20 world field lacrosse championships in Hong Kong next year.
But before venturing to the Far East, the team will be making a stop in Port Coquitlam this summer to determine who will wear the maple leaf at the first tournament of its kind since 2019.
The Tri-Cities community has been picked as one of four host cities for the Canadian national team's tryout process.
PoCo is slated to be the second stop on the circuit as coaches and scouts look to recruit players for the 2024 world championship.
While it doesn't say where exactly the tryouts will be held, Gates Park is the likely destination for the national under-20 team as it serves as the home field for the Port Coquitlam Saints.
There could be a strong local contingent of potential international stars as high schools across the region have been looking to make girls' field lacrosse a recognized secondary sport.
"They love playing with their peers....There’s more opportunity for them to showcase their talent," said Todd Clerkson, principal of Port Moody's Heritage Woods Secondary in an interview about the league to the Tri-City News.
"It's gaining momentum. I feel like there's potential there."
Young women has recently dominated on the provincials stage as the Port Coquitlam Saints claimed the 2022 B.C. minor box junior female championship.
As well, five Tri-Cities athletes made history with Team B.C. in winning the first-ever silver medal in female box lacrosse's debut at the 2022 Canada Summer Games.
The Canadians will come to Port Coquitlam with gold medals on the mind as they fell short in the 2019 final of the quadrennial competition and settled for silver to the United States.
Since the inaugural event in 1995, Canada has won five medals at the women's under-20 world field lacrosse championships — only one of which was gold at the 2015 tournament in Scotland.
Hong Kong was awarded the 2024 worlds in November last year.
Wanna play?
Team Canada will train on Port Coquitlam soil over the July 1 long weekend.
Female players born between Aug. 31, 2003, and Aug. 14, 2009, can participate in the regional tryout.
Interested athletes will need to pay $300 plus provincial tax to sign up.
Those who participate in the PoCo try-out can not try out at any of the other three training sessions, according to a release from Lacrosse Canada.
For more information, you can visit the national governing body's website.
- with a file from Mario Bartel, Tri-City News
