Volunteers Unite to Launch Senior C Box Lacrosse in New Brunswick

The formation of a Senior C lacrosse team in New Brunswick has sparked excitement and anticipation within the province’s lacrosse community. Jack Boyle, a seasoned player and the driving force behind the initiative, has seen overwhelming interest, with over 40 athletes signing up within days of the interest form going live.

Boyle, reflecting on the province’s proud lacrosse tradition, said, “The competitive nature of our athletes in New Brunswick stays with us for life. I remember going into tournaments and national championships growing up on teams that had less than the quota to even come out to tryouts. That never stopped us from competing, beating rival provinces like Nova Scotia and much larger provinces like Quebec, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba. At the same time, we were battling with Alberta and Iroquois teams that we had no business competing against.”

These memories are a testament to New Brunswick’s determination to compete and excel, even when outnumbered. "It was sad when we had to give that up at a young age, just because of geography", Boyle added. “It’s about time we resurrect our hidden talent in New Brunswick.”  

Joining Boyle in this effort is Jacob Kitchen, who believes this new team will fill a crucial gap for lacrosse players in the province. “After starting my lacrosse adventure with UNB, the opportunities to continue the sport I love—in the province I love—were very minimal and negatively impacted my participation in ‘Active-For-Life’ in my sport of choice after aging out,” Kitchen said.

Kitchen sees the formation of the Senior C team as a key step in growing lacrosse for all ages in New Brunswick. “To me, this is Lacrosse New Brunswick implementing pathways to continue nurturing the medicine of lacrosse amongst all age groups,” Kitchen said. “This is much more than just hosting a national championship or getting a group of players together—this represents the positive growth of the sport in our province and provides our adult population with another avenue to reap the benefits of physical activity.”

Boyle and Kitchen, along with fellow organizers Alex Buck, Jarrett Riel, Matt McConnell, and others, are also exploring the possibility of hosting a resurrected Senior C national championship, further fueling the momentum for lacrosse’s growth in the province. Athletes, both experienced and new, now have a platform to continue competing, stay active, and elevate the game in New Brunswick.