2015 World Indoor Lacrosse Championship

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2015 World Indoor Lacrosse Championship
Tournament details
Host country Iroquois
Venue(s)4 (in 2 host cities)
DatesSeptember 18–27, 2015
Teams13
Final positions
Champions  Canada (4th title)
Runner-up  Haudenosaunee
Third place  United States
Fourth place Israel
Tournament statistics
Games played46
Goals scored1,075 (23.37 per game)
Attendance10,421 (227 per game)
Scoring leader(s)Turkey Anthony Terranova (67 pts)
MVPCanada Shawn Evans
Official website
worldlacrosse.sport/wilc-2015/
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The 2015 World Indoor Lacrosse Championship (WILC) was the fourth international box lacrosse championship organized by the Federation of International Lacrosse every four years. The 2015 WILC was hosted by the Onondaga Nation in the United States, south of Syracuse, New York, and took place between September 18 and 27.[1] Canada defeated the host Iroquois Nationals 12–8 in the gold medal game, the same finals match-up featured in the first three indoor championships.[2] Since the WILC started in 2003, Team Canada is undefeated with an overall record of 23–0.[3]

In the bronze medal game, the United States beat first-time participant Israel 15–4.[4] Canadian Shawn Evans was the tournament MVP, scoring 10 goals and 25 assists in 5 games.[5]

Thirteen countries participated, 5 more than in 2011, including first-time competitors Finland, Germany, Israel, Serbia, Switzerland, and Turkey.[6] Most games were held on the Onondaga Nation at the Onondaga Nation Arena and the newly built $6.5 million Onondaga Nation Fieldhouse, although the Iroquois' games versus Canada and the United States were held at War Memorial Arena in Syracuse.[7][8] Over 10,000 fans attended the gold and bronze medal games in the Carrier Dome.[9]

The opening ceremonies in the sold-out War Memorial Arena featured a light show about the Haudenosaunee creation story and traditional dancing.[10] After the Iroquois Nationals were not allowed to use their Haudenosaunee passports to travel to England in 2010 due to new security requirements, many international players were interested in getting their passports stamped by the Onondaga Nation.[11] The documentary Spirit Game: Pride of a Nation explains the meaning of lacrosse to the Iroquois people and covers the Iroquois Nationals in the 2015 WILC, featuring brothers Lyle and Miles Thompson.[12]

  1. ^ "Lacrosse is Coming Home to Onondaga Nation". Federation of International Lacrosse (Press release). 2 April 2015.
  2. ^ Rogers, Daniels (September 27, 2015). "World Indoor Lacrosse Championship 2015 Results: Medal Winners and Final Scores". Bleacher Report. Retrieved 18 November 2017.
  3. ^ "WILC Highlights: Canada's Indoor Reign Continues". Inside Lacrosse. September 27, 2015. Retrieved 18 November 2017.
  4. ^ Conwell, Ryan (September 28, 2015). "Team USA Settles With Bronze, Defeats Israel 15-4". Lacrosse All Stars. Retrieved 19 November 2017.
  5. ^ Arnold, Ed (September 29, 2015). "Winning gold a family affair for world indoor lacrosse championship MVP Shawn Evans". Peterborough Examiner. Retrieved 18 November 2017.
  6. ^ Moses, Sarah (September 17, 2015). "5 things to know about 2015 World Indoor Lacrosse Championship". Syracuse.com. Retrieved 18 November 2017.
  7. ^ Moses, Sarah (September 11, 2015). "Onondaga Nation builds $6.5M arena in record time for lacrosse championship". Syracuse.com. Retrieved 13 November 2017.
  8. ^ "Tsha' Thoñ'nhes - About Us". Onondaga Nation. Retrieved 18 November 2017.
  9. ^ Ditota, Donna (September 27, 2015). "Canada dashes Iroquois' dream, continues domination in World Indoor Lacrosse Championship". Syracuse.com. Retrieved 13 November 2017.
  10. ^ Moses, Sarah (September 22, 2015). "World Indoor Lacrosse Championship opening ceremony, games on YouTube". Syracuse.com. Retrieved 25 November 2017.
  11. ^ Schilling, Vincent (September 17, 2015). "International Teams Line Up for Onondaga Passport Stamps at World Indoor Lacrosse Championships". Indian Country Today. Retrieved 18 November 2017.
  12. ^ Morris, Amy (May 26, 2017). "Iroquois Nationals Lacrosse Documentary Premieres: Spirit Game: Pride of a Nation". Indian Country Today. Archived from the original on 1 December 2017. Retrieved 18 November 2017.