Interstate Box Lacrosse Association
 | |
| Sport | Box lacrosse |
|---|---|
| Founded | 2017 |
| No. of teams | 52 |
| Country | United States |
| Most recent champion(s) | Philadelphia Phunk (1st title) |
| Most titles | 4 teams tied with 1 |
| Official website | www.iblalacrosse.com |
The Interstate Box Lacrosse Association (IBLA) is a men's semi-professional box lacrosse league based in the United States. Since 2019, the IBLA has served as an official partner of the National Lacrosse League (NLL), operating as a developmental funnel.[1] The league was founded in 2017 to unite regional semi-professional leagues into a system similar to the Canadian Lacrosse Association structure of men's Senior A and Senior B indoor lacrosse teams.[2] As of 2021 there are 52 total teams playing in 17 regional leagues. The Philadelphia Phunk are the most recent IBLA champions, defeating the Minneapolis Wheat Kings in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania on September 27, 2020.[3]
History
2017
Colorado formed the first organized regional box lacrosse league with four teams after initial in-state competition in 2016. Seeing the success of Colorado's competition model, RBLL - Minnesota was formed using the same structure. The 2017 champions were the Parker Rangers, who took down the Hastings Walleye to capture the inaugural league title.
2018
RBLL - New England and RBLL - New Jersey began play on the east coast under the IBLA structure. The midwest was organized into RBLL - Ohio and RBLL - Missouri. The second league title was awarded to the Cambridge Nor'easters after defeating the Denver Mile High Stars.
2019
The IBLA expanded again, adding new competition on the west coast in the form of RBLL - Arizona and RBLL - California. Additional midwest talent was also brought into the fold with RBLL - Nebraska. The Maine Northmen came out on top in the playoffs, beating the Louisville Canards 17 - 14 in the final game.
2020
Due to the spread of COVID-19, most teams faced shortened season schedules and the league championship tournament location was moved from Boston to Pittsburgh. By the end of the summer, 10 regions were able to crown division champions. Teams from these 10 regions were invited to compete for the IBLA Nationals league championship. For group play the teams were divided into the Steel and Maple groups. The San Diego Whalers, Grand Rapids Grizzlies, Mooncrest Munitionz, Aksarben Stampede, and Louisville Canards made up the Steel group. The Maple group consisted of the Maine Northmen, Philadelphia Phunk, Charlotte Reapers, Albany Hyenas, and Minneapolis Wheat Kings.
A league milestone occurred on September 17 with the first IBLA player taken in the National Lacrosse League Entry Draft. Mooncrest Munitionz Forward Larson Sundown was drafted by the New York Riptide in round 2 with the 36th overall pick. Sundown is transferring to RIT for the 2021 NCAA Lacrosse season, meaning New York will retain his rights through the 2021-2022 season. The 2020 IBLA season concluded with 25 playoff games from September 25 – 27. For the fourth year in a row, the championship matchup was played by two teams having never reached the title game. In the lowest scoring championship game to date, the Phildalphia Phunk outlasted the Minneapolis Wheat Kings 9 - 5 to capture their first title.
2021
2021 will see the return of several teams that were on hiatus in 2020 due to local COVID-19 restrictions, as well as continued league expansion. The newly formed RBLL - Louisiana will represented by teams in Baton Rouge and New Orleans, RBLL - Texas will have two franchises in Austin, RBLL - Florida will create teams in Orlando and Tampa, RBLL - Maryland will bring in four teams, and the RBLL- Empire South will be formed by splitting three teams off from an RBLL - New Jersey that is adding two expansion teams. In total, 22 different states will field an IBLA team in 2021. The 2021 playoffs are set to take place September 17 through September 19 at the 8,178 seat RP Funding Center in Lakeland, Florida.[4]
Teams
Current Team Locations
Current Teams
| Team | City | Arena | Joined | Head Coach | References |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| RBLL - California | |||||
| Huntington Beach Screamin' Eagles | Huntington Beach, California | The Rinks, Huntington Beach | 2019 | ||
| Irvine Skyfire | Irvine, California | The Rinks, Irvine | 2019 | ||
| San Diego Whalers | San Diego, California | Sportsplex USA | 2020 | ||
| RBLL - Empire North | |||||
| Albany Hyenas | Albany, New York | 2020 | |||
| Saugerties Nightpandas | Saugerties, New York | 2020 | |||
| Salt City Eels | Syracuse, New York | 2021 | |||
| Utica Yeti Lacrosse Club | Utica, New York | Adirondack Bank Center | 2021 | ||
| RBLL - Empire South | |||||
| Hudson Valley Arsenal LC | Newburgh, New York | Ice Time Center | 2021 | ||
| Long Island Sharks | Bethpage, New York | Bethpage multi-sport | 2019 | ||
| NYC Spiders | New York City, New York | Staten Island Sportsplex | 2020 | ||
| RBLL - Florida | |||||
| Orlando Rockets | Orlando, Florida | TBA | 2021 | ||
| Tampa Bay Twisters | Tampa, Florida | TBA | 2021 | ||
| RBLL - Louisiana | |||||
| Baton Rouge Redfish | Baton Rouge, Louisiana | TBA | 2021 | ||
| New Orleans Mambo | New Orleans, Louisiana | TBA | 2021 | ||
| RBLL - Maryland | |||||
| Baltimore Bombers | Baltimore, Maryland | 2021 | |||
| Golden Bears | Washington, D.C. | 2021 | |||
| Maryland Arrows | Bowie, Maryland | 2021 | |||
| Westminster Wild | Westminster, Maryland | 2021 | |||
| RBLL - Michigan | |||||
| Detroit Hooligans | Detroit, Michigan | 2SP The Rink | 2020 | ||
| Grand Rapids Grizzlies | Grand Rapids, Michigan | East Kentwood Arena | 2020 | ||
| Rouge River Steelheads | Detroit, Michigan | TBA | 2021 | ||
| Illinois Doughboys | Naperville, Illinois | Players Indoor Sports Center | 2021 | ||
| RBLL - Minnesota | |||||
| Eastside Freeze | Hastings, Minnesota | Hastings Civic Arena | 2017 | Lucas Ailport | [5] |
| North Metro Nordiques | Lakeville, Minnesota | Lakeville Hasse Arena | 2018 | Jon Mitchell | [6] |
| Minneapolis Wheat Kings | Minneapolis, Minnesota | Northeast Ice Arena | 2018 | Nick Midboe | |
| RBLL - Nebraska | |||||
| Aksarben Stampede | Omaha, Nebraska | Off the Wall Omaha | 2019 | Bill Wostoupal | |
| Ralston Regals | Omaha, Nebraska | Off the Wall Omaha | 2019 | Greg McManus | |
| Iowa Dogfish | Davenport, Iowa | River's Edge Arena | 2020 | Louis Deeny | [7][8] |
| RBLL - New England | |||||
| Auburn Aviators | Auburn, Massachusetts | Horgan Arena | 2019 | Jack Piatelli | [9] |
| Cambridge Nor'easters | Cambridge, Massachusetts | Simoni Rink | 2019 | Mike Vergano | [10] |
| Maine Northmen | Biddeford, Maine | Biddeford Ice Arena | 2019 | Kyle Baker | [11] |
| RBLL - New Jersey | |||||
| Delco Devils | Broomall, Pennsylvania | Marple Sports Arena | 2021 | ||
| Morristown Rally | Morristown, New Jersey | Mennen Arena | 2019 | ||
| Olympos Lacrosse Club | Aberdeen, New Jersey | Highline Arena | 2021 | ||
| Philadelphia Phunk | Voorhees Township, New Jersey | Flyers Skate Zone | 2019 | ||
| RBLL - Ohio | |||||
| Cincinnati Flying Pigs | Cincinnati, Ohio | Cincy Sports Nation | 2018 | ||
| Cleveland Demons | Cleveland, Ohio | 2021 | |||
| Columbus Coyotes | Columbus, Ohio | 2020 | |||
| Louisville Canards | Louisville, Kentucky | King Louie Sports Complex | 2019 | ||
| RBLL - Pacific Northwest | |||||
| Everett Express | Everett, Washington | 2018 | |||
| Portland Voodoo | Beaverton, Oregon | Indoor Goals Sports Center | 2018 | ||
| Seattle Kings | Seattle, Washington | 2020 | |||
| RBLL - Pennsylvania | |||||
| Mooncrest Munitionz | Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania | Robert Morris University Island Sports | 2020 | ||
| Murrysville Haymakerz | Murrysville, Pennsylvania | Murrysville SportZone | 2020 | ||
| Seneca Marksmen | Salamanca, New York | Allegany Community Center | 2021 | ||
| RBLL - Rocky Mountain | |||||
| Denver Otters | Denver, Colorado | 2021 | |||
| Salt Lake Storm | Salt Lake City, Utah | 2021 | |||
| RBLL - Southeast | |||||
| Charlotte Reapers | Charlotte, North Carolina | 2020 | |||
| East Cobb Hedgehogs | Atlanta, Georgia | 2020 | |||
| Nashville Ignite | Nashville, Tennessee | TSC Indoor Soccer Arena | 2020 | ||
| RBLL - Texas | |||||
| Austin Jazz | Austin, Texas | The Crossover | 2021 | ||
| Austin Scorpions | Austin, Texas | Rock Sports Arena | 2021 | ||
Association Champions
| Year | Champion | Runner-up | Score | Location | Venue | Reference |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | Parker Rangers | Hastings Walleye | 22 — 2 | Lakewood, Colorado | Foothills Fieldhouse | |
| 2018 | Cambridge Nor'easters | Denver Mile HighStars | 14 — 6 | Lakeville, Minnesota | Lakeville Hasse Arena | |
| 2019 | Maine Northmen | Louisville Canards | 17 — 14 | Huntington Beach, California | The Rinks - Huntington Beach | [12] |
| 2020 | Philadelphia Phunk | Minneapolis Wheat Kings | 9 — 5 | Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania | RMU Island Sports Center | [13] |
| 2021 | TBD | TBD | TBD | Lakeland, Florida | RP Funding Center |
Rules
IBLA rules are nearly identical to NLL rules with minor adjustments to account for slight arena dimension variations.[14]
Notable League Rules:
- Diving is Allowed
- Face-off clamps are allowed
- Shot clock runs on man-down kill
Awards
Notable Players
- Casey Dowd (Maine Northmen) - MLL (Denver Outlaws)
- George Downey (Philadelphia Phunk) - NLL (New England Black Wolves, Philadelphia Wings)
- Brad Gillies (Maine Northmen) - NLL (Rochester Knighthawks, Halifax Thunderbirds)
- Jules Heningburg (Minneapolis Wheat Kings) - PLL (Redwoods Lacrosse Club), NLL (San Diego Seals, New England Black Wolves)
- Will Jennings (Maine Northmen) - MLL (Boston Cannons)
- Jake Morris (Portland Voodoo, Minneapolis Wheat Kings) - WLA (Coquitlam Adanacs)
- Bill O'Brien (Philadelphia Phunk) - NLL (New England Black Wolves)
- Bobby Schmitt (Louisville Canards) - MLL (Ohio Machine)
- Tim Semisch (Nashville Ignite) - NFL (Tennessee Titans, San Diego Chargers)
- Chris Shevins (Detroit Hooligans, Minneapolis Wheat Kings) - MLL (Ohio Machine)
- Larson Sundown (Mooncrest Munitionz) - NLL (2020 Draft selection by the New York Riptide with round 2 pick 36)
- Corbyn Tao (Minniapolis Wheat Kings) - NLL (Colorado Mammoth, Minnesota Swarm)
- Ty Thompson (Albany Hyenas) - Iroquois Nationals, PLL (Chrome Lacrosse Club)
- Chad Toliver (Louisville Canards) - MLL (Philadelphia Barrage)
- Rachel Vallarelli (New York City Spiders, Cambridge Nor'Easters) - ALL (Whitby Steelhawks)
References
- ^ "National Lacrosse League Partners With IBLA to Further Grow the Sport of Lacrosse". NLL.com. Retrieved 13 July 2020.
- ^ "History". IBLA. Retrieved 13 July 2020.
- ^ "VISTA Today's Weekend Warrior Wins National Championship with His Semi-Pro Lacrosse Team". vista.today. Retrieved 13 February 2021.
- ^ "2021 IBLA Nationals". iblalacrosse.com. Retrieved 12 February 2021.
- ^ "Freeze, Wheat Kings set for rematch in finals". Ludwig Media. Retrieved 27 September 2020.
- ^ "RBLL- Minnesota Preview". IBLA. Retrieved 27 September 2020.
- ^ "IBLA Announces Expansion". IBLA. Retrieved 14 July 2020.
- ^ "Lacrosse Finds Its Footing in Iowa". Medium. Retrieved 27 September 2020.
- ^ "Lacrosse: These Aviators don't mind being boxed at Horgan Arena". telegram.com. Retrieved 13 July 2020.
- ^ "Nor'Easters bring box lacrosse to Cambridge". Wicked Local. Retrieved 13 July 2020.
- ^ "Maine's first box lacrosse team brings the fastest-growing game indoors". News Center Maine. Retrieved 6 September 2020.
- ^ "Box lacrosse team from Biddeford wins national title". Sun Journal. Retrieved 13 July 2020.
- ^ "Updated IBLA Nationals Date/Venue Announcement". IBLA. Retrieved 6 September 2020.
- ^ "Rules". IBLA. Retrieved 13 July 2020.
- ^ "IBLA and NLL Announce Formation of Top 25 Prospect List". IBLA. Retrieved 7 September 2020.
- ^ "IBLA Top 25 Prospect List". IBLA. Retrieved 2 October 2020.
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