TopLaxRecruits.com, Posted 1/5/14, Re-Posted 1/6/14
From Staff Report and Press Release

In front of a home crowd, Team Canada (Ontario) swept the United States two games to none this weekend to claim the historic Brogden Cup at the Oshawa Civic Field House.

Canada defeated the USA, 13-3, in the decisive second game Saturday after winning, 12-6, in the opener with a big fourth-period surge. The event was run by Level 2 Sports.

Canada 2014 goalie Holden McDonald (St. Mary Catholic High) was brilliant in the two games, especially in the clincher when he made at least nine big saves and more than 15 overall (unofficially).

“He played unbelievable lacrosse,” said Canada coach Clem D’Orazio. “He had nine big saves in the second game. It’s unheard of to make that amount.”

“The goalie played lights-out for Canada. He was exceptional,” said Andrew Whipple (Pittsford High School, Rochester, NY), Head Coach for Team USA.

The annual, best of three-game Brogden Cup series is named for H. McCullough Brogden, who was a member of the 1932 and 1933 Johns Hopkins University teams and the 1932 Olympic team.

Aaron Forster led the midfield play for Canada. Connor Kearnan, from Clarington, Ontario paced Team Canada with five goals. Scoring for Team Ontario was diverse with goals coming from 60 percent of the team roster.

Canada only had the use of 16 players after standout midfielder Patrick DeHueck (Mercer signee) broke his ankle while scoring an acrobatic goal in the opener.

“We didn’t have a full roster,” said D’Orazio. “We were missing two poles, four middies, two attack … to be honest, when the numbers were dropping (days before the event) there was a concern. But once the games got going the boys played great. They are incredible athletes and it was nice to be a part of it.”

Canada was represented by Team Ontario, a provincial team selected from more than 100 area athletes over a two-weekend tryout. Team Ontario won the First Nations U19 Canadian Championships on Labour Day weekend in Montreal.

The US team was comprised of high school players that qualified for the Brine National Lacrosse Classic by attending Brine regional tryouts throughout the country, and those that participated in the ’13 Brine National Championship game between New Jersey and Long Island, NY last summer in Maryland. Team USA also had low numbers, using just 17 players.

Both the US and Canadian teams feature players headed to the NCAA next year. “Any time the US and Canada play lacrosse, the games are competitive,” said Terry Lloyd, a Canadian Hall of Fame inductee and one the finest athletes and builders of both box and field lacrosse in Oshawa.

“It’s the first time Canada has hosted the event (as played at the U19 level),” said D’Orazio. “I think it’s good for lacrosse. Canada used just six middies, six defensemen, three attackmen and one goalie.

“They were phenomenal,” said D’Orazio. “It was an honor to be a part of it. I am very proud of the players. Clearly, our guys stepped it up. For two days they didn’t stop working; they had no shifts off.”

The USA team only had 15 field players and two goalies on the roster. Five players were unable to attend due to weather-related travel cancellations caused by the snow storms in the northeast or injury, including Head Coach, Tony Calandra (Chatham High School, New Jersey State Champions, ’13 Brine National Champion).

“Our light roster may have been a factor in the series outcome. The US players gave us everything they had. Certainly, more legs would have been helpful, especially in the fourth quarter,” said Troy Kemp (McCallie School, Chattanooga, TN), Ambassador Coach for Team USA.

DeHueck, Foster, Kyle Killen, Matthew Lee, Eddie Renaud and Ky Cook, Oshawa contributed 12 goals to help Team Canada win game one.

Game one had the two teams locked at 5-5 after the first half of play. Canada was up by only one goal headed into the fourth quarter by the score 7-6. Troy Hanlon, Delbarton ’15, led the USA with two goals. Alex Concannon, Syosett ’15 (Johns Hopkins University), Corey LaPenna, Kinnelon ’15, Steven Landspurg, Kinnelon ’14 and Justin Zelen, Hauppauge ’14 (Albany) each shipped in goals for the USA team.

Game 2 scoring for Team Canada: Kearnan (3), Lee (2), Torok-Orban (2), Forster (1), Tyler Gaulton, Peterborough (1), Killen (1), Renaud (1,1), Mitchell Wales, Burlington (1) and Bryant (1).

Game 2 scoring for Team USA: Griffin Konen, (Binghamton, 1,1), LaPenna (1) and Concannon (1).

The ceremonial face-off between the two teams was officiated by Stan Cockerton, co-founder of the Brogden Cup and President of the Federation of International Lacrosse. “This is an historic and meaningful event for everyone associated with the game of lacrosse, especially here in Canada and in the United States,” said Cockerton in his opening remarks. “It not only brings together the finest athletes to compete in international field lacrosse competition, but promotes international fellowship between the players, parents, coaches and countries.”

Troy Hanlon (Delbarton, NJ 2015) netted two goals for the US team, which was comprised of players that participated in the Brine National Lacrosse Classic championship game last July in Maryland. Alex Concannon (Syosset, NY 2015) handled the ball extremely well and notched one goal on the evening.

Corey LaPenna (Kinnelon NJ 2014) and Steven Landspurg (Kinnelon 2014) added one goal each in the first game battle. Justin Zelen (Hauppauge, NY 2014) played a complete game at both ends of the field chipping in one goal in the effort.

Canada roster
Patrick DeHueck Burlington
Rory Flynn Orangeville
Aaron Forster Nepean
Holden Garlent St. Catharines
Tyler Gaulton Peterborough
Connor Kearnan Clarington
Kyle Killen Peterborough
Matthew Lee Mimico
Holden McDonald Oshawa
Eddie Renaud Burlington
Adrian Torok-Orban Toronto
Luke Van Schepen Brampton
Mitchell Wales Burlington
Chris Young Oakville
Foster Cuomo
Zack Bryant
Keenan Cook