Good morning. Here’s the latest from around the lacrosse world:
1. US Lacrosse yesterday announced the schedules of speakers at LaxCon for coaches, officials and organizational leaders. The lineup of nearly 150 educational sessions makes the event, set for Jan. 19-21 in Baltimore, the sport's premier development and networking opportunity.
As part of the release, the early bird promotional price on registration will end at 11:59 p.m. ET Thursday. Full-access convention tickets are just $90 for US Lacrosse members and $130 for the general public until that time. Each is $70 off its respective walk-up rate.
The slate of speakers for coaches, as usual, includes many of the best in the field. On the men's side: John Danowski (Team USA, Duke), Regy Thorpe (Team USA indoor, Syracuse), John Tillman (Maryland), Ben DeLuca (Delaware), Jim Berkman (Salisbury), and Rob Bordley (Landon School, Bethesda, Md.), among others. An increase in the number of box lacrosse sessions will feature National Lacrosse Hall of Famer Tom Marecheck, NLL veterans Eddie Comeau and Paul Day, and Thorpe.
On the women's side: Cindy Timchal (Navy), Janine Tucker (Johns Hopkins), Ricky Fried (Georgetown), Devon Wills (USC), Paul McCord (Jacksonville) and Amy Orcutt (Conestoga High School, Berwyn, Pa.), among others.
Here's a video that features LaxCon speaker, Team USA/New York Lizards midfielder and youth coach Paul Rabil speaking about the importance of coaches improving themselves:
2. Take a look inside our December issue of the print magazine, which mails this week to members of US Lacrosse.
Boston College's Kenzie Kent proved unstoppable during the NCAA Division I women's lacrosse semifinals and final this year, rightfully earning Most Outstanding Player honors from the assembled media at Gillette Stadium. She's much the same on the ice, having led the Eagles to the NCAA championship game in that sport, as well. Kent deservedly graces the cover of our Best of Lacrosse issue.
Don't get US Lacrosse Magazine? Become a member of US Lacrosse today to start your subscription and to enjoy other member benefits.
3. The Federation of International Lacrosse has bestowed its highest honor, the FIL Lifetime Achievement Award, to Stan Cockerton of Canada and Shelley Maher of Australia. This marks the first occasion the FIL has given this award since 2009.
Cockerton has been instrumental in the development and leadership of lacrosse on the world stage, playing a key role in the 2008 merger of the men's International Lacrosse Federation and the International Federation of Women's Lacrosse Associations. Before any Olympic dream were to become reality, the sport's international governing bodies had to unify. He has since served as a vice president and president of the FIL.
On the field, Cockerton best may be remembered for leading Canada to a 17-16 overtime win over the United States in the 1978 world championship game. He scored six goals, including the game-winner, and added three assists to lead the Canadians to their first gold medal in stunning fashion. His offensive exploits came as no surprise, as he played for N.C. State's then-varsity team in the late 1970s and graduated with 193 career goals -- an NCAA record until 2008.
Maher spent much of her life working to develop women's lacrosse in Australia, following a playing career at the club level. She served as president of Women's Lacrosse Victoria, Lacrosse Victoria and Women's Lacrosse Australia. Australia won the 1999 U19 world championship and the 2005 World Cup.
She served as the FIL's director of women's lacrosse from 2008 through July 2017, coordinating two World Cups and two U19 championships. Maher helped boost the profile of women's lacrosse internationally by directing its six-team entry in the International World Games in Poland shortly after the 2017 World Cup in England. She's an assistant coach at Emma Willard (N.Y.) School.
4. The Fred Opie Show welcomes former All-World Team USA goalie and current USC women's assistant coach Devon Wills for a wide-ranging interview.
Wills will speak at LaxCon.