Interstate Box Lacrosse Association

Last updated
Interstate Box Lacrosse Association
Interstate Box Lacrosse Association Logo.jpg
Sport Box lacrosse
Founded2017
Ceased2021
No. of teams52
CountryUnited States
Last
champion(s)		Seneca Marksmen (1st title)
Most titles5 teams tied with 1
Official website www.iblalacrosse.com

The Interstate Box Lacrosse Association (IBLA) was a men's senior box lacrosse league based in the United States. From 2019 to 2021, the IBLA 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 senior leagues into a system similar to the Canadian Lacrosse Association structure of men's Senior A and Senior B box lacrosse teams. [2] As of 2021 there are 52 total teams playing in 17 regional leagues. The Seneca Marksmen are the most recent IBLA champions, defeating the Grand Rapids Grizzlies in Lakeland, Florida on September 19, 2021. [3]

Contents

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 RBLL - Portland was also added with the Portland River Monsters and Beaverton Mountaineers, but both teams folded after one season with the first bit of controversy for the IBLA. The 2017 champions were the Parker Rangers, who took down the Hastings Walleye to capture the inaugural league title.

2018

An Iowa Dogfish player (Green) looks to defend the Aksarben Stampede (Brown) as a forward dodges toward the goal during the 2020 season. Iowa Dogfish versus Aksarben Stampede - August 15, 2020.png
An Iowa Dogfish player (Green) looks to defend the Aksarben Stampede (Brown) as a forward dodges toward the goal during the 2020 season.

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 saw 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 was formed by teams in Baton Rouge and New Orleans, RBLL - Texas placed two franchises in Austin, RBLL - Florida hosted teams in Orlando and Tampa, RBLL - Maryland included four teams, and the RBLL- Empire South formed by splitting three teams off from an RBLL - New Jersey that added two expansion teams. In total, 22 different states fielded an IBLA team in 2021. The 2021 playoffs took place September 17 through September 19 at the 8,178 seat RP Funding Center in Lakeland, Florida. Painters tape was used to line the arena and refs decided that getting paid was overrated. [4]

Controversy arose in the second of two semi-final nationals games with the Tampa Bay Twisters taking on the Grand Rapids Grizzlies. The game concluded after the Twisters scored a sudden-death goal in second overtime to secure a seat in the finals. The League even published this game result on its social media channels and announcing the final matchup would be between the Twisters and Seneca Marksmen, only to go back just before the final and realize they had miscounted the number of goals scored in the game. As such, under further review, the Grizzlies were awarded the final spot in the finals. Some Grizzlies players having perceived from the errant record-keeping that they lost their semi-final matchup had left the arena after their game and were unable to return in time for the championship game. Shorthanded, the team fell to an overpowering Marksmen team that had not lost all season (regular, postseason, or nationals). It was later revealed that this Tampa Bay Twisters game was not the only game at the tournament to be miscounted.

Teams

Current Team Locations

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Locations of IBLA teams. 2021 expansion teams in yellow.

Current Teams

TeamCityArenaJoinedHead CoachReferences
RBLL - California
Huntington Beach Screamin' Eagles Huntington Beach, California The Rinks, Huntington Beach2019
Irvine Skyfire Irvine, California The Rinks, Irvine2019
San Diego Whalers San Diego, California Sportsplex USA2020
RBLL - Empire North
Albany Hyenas Albany, New York Times Union Center 2020
Saugerties Nightpandas Saugerties, New York Kiwanis Ice Arena2020
Salt City Eels Syracuse, New York Burnet Park Turf2021
Utica Yeti Lacrosse Club Utica, New York Adirondack Bank Center, John F. Kennedy Civic Arena 2021
RBLL - Empire South
Hudson Valley Arsenal LC Newburgh, New York Ice Time Center2021
845 Silver Foxes Orangeburg, New York Veterans Memorial Park2019
NYC Spiders New York City, New York 2020
RBLL - Florida
Orlando Rockets Orlando, Florida TBA2021
Tampa Bay Twisters Tampa, Florida TBA2021
RBLL - Louisiana
Baton Rouge Redfish Baton Rouge, Louisiana Premier Soccer Center2021
New Orleans Mambo New Orleans, Louisiana Jefferson Indoor Sports2021
RBLL - Maryland
Baltimore Bombers Baltimore, Maryland 2021
Maryland Arrows Bowie, Maryland 2021
Virginia Golden Bears Washington, D.C. 2021
Westminster Wild Westminster, Maryland 2021
RBLL - Michigan
Detroit Hooligans Detroit, Michigan 2SP The Rink2020
Grand Rapids Grizzlies Grand Rapids, Michigan East Kentwood Arena2020
Rouge River Steelheads Detroit, Michigan TBA2021
Illinois Doughboys Naperville, Illinois Players Indoor Sports Center2021
RBLL - Minnesota
Eastside Freeze Cottage Grove, Minnesota Schulz Highland Arena2017Lucas Ailport [5]
Inver Grove Isotopes Inver Grove Heights, Minnesota Veterans Memorial Community Center2021
North Metro Nordiques Lakeville, Minnesota Schwan Super Rink 2018Jon Mitchell [6]
Minneapolis Wheat Kings Minneapolis, Minnesota Veterans Memorial Community Centre2018Nick Midboe
RBLL - Nebraska
Aksarben Stampede Omaha, Nebraska Off the Wall Omaha2019Bill Wostoupal
Ralston Regals Omaha, Nebraska Off the Wall Omaha2019Greg McManus
Iowa Dogfish Davenport, Iowa River's Edge Arena2020Louis Deeny [7] [8]
RBLL - New England
Auburn Aviators Auburn, Massachusetts Horgan Arena2019Jack Piatelli [9]
Cambridge Nor'easters Cambridge, Massachusetts Simoni Rink2019Mike Vergano [10]
Maine Northmen Biddeford, Maine Biddeford Ice Arena2019Kyle Baker [11]
RBLL - New Jersey
Delco Devils Broomall, Pennsylvania Marple Sports Arena2021
Morristown Rally Morristown, New Jersey Mennen Arena2019
Olympos Lacrosse Club Aberdeen, New Jersey Highline Arena2021
Philadelphia Phunk Voorhees Township, New Jersey Flyers Skate Zone2019
RBLL - Ohio
Cincinnati Flying Pigs Cincinnati, Ohio Cincy Sports Nation2018
Cleveland Demons Cleveland, Ohio 2021
Columbus Coyotes Columbus, Ohio 2020
Louisville Canards Louisville, Kentucky King Louie Sports Complex2019
RBLL - Pacific Northwest
Everett Express Everett, Washington 2018
Portland Voodoo Beaverton, Oregon Indoor Goals Sports Center2018
Seattle Kings Seattle, Washington 2020
RBLL - Pennsylvania
Mooncrest Munitionz Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania Robert Morris University Island Sports2020
Pittsburgh Gnomes Cheswick, Pennsylvania Pittsburgh Indoor Sports Arena2020
Seneca Marksmen Salamanca, New York Allegany Community Center2021
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 Arena2020
RBLL - Texas
Austin Jazz Austin, Texas The Crossover2021
Austin Scorpions Austin, Texas Rock Sports Arena2021

Association Champions

YearChampionRunner-upScoreLocationVenueReference
2017Parker RangersHastings Walleye22 — 2 Lakewood, Colorado Foothills Fieldhouse
2018Cambridge Nor'eastersDenver Mile HighStars14 — 6 Lakeville, Minnesota Lakeville Hasse Arena
2019Maine NorthmenLouisville Canards17 — 14 Huntington Beach, California The Rinks - Huntington Beach [12]
2020Philadelphia PhunkMinneapolis Wheat Kings9 — 5 Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania RMU Island Sports Center [13]
2021Seneca MarksmenGrand Rapids Grizzlies10 — 2 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:

Awards

Notable players

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References

  1. ↑ "National Lacrosse League Partners With IBLA to Further Grow the Sport of Lacrosse". NLL.com. Retrieved 13 July 2020.
  2. ↑ "History". IBLA. Retrieved 13 July 2020.
  3. ↑ "VISTA Today's Weekend Warrior Wins National Championship with His Semi-Pro Lacrosse Team". vista.today. Retrieved 13 February 2021.
  4. ↑ "2021 IBLA Nationals". iblalacrosse.com. Retrieved 12 February 2021.
  5. ↑ "Freeze, Wheat Kings set for rematch in finals". Ludwig Media. Retrieved 27 September 2020.
  6. ↑ "RBLL- Minnesota Preview". IBLA. Retrieved 27 September 2020.
  7. ↑ "IBLA Announces Expansion". IBLA. Retrieved 14 July 2020.
  8. ↑ "Lacrosse Finds Its Footing in Iowa". Medium. Retrieved 27 September 2020.
  9. ↑ "Lacrosse: These Aviators don't mind being boxed at Horgan Arena". telegram.com. Retrieved 13 July 2020.
  10. ↑ "Nor'Easters bring box lacrosse to Cambridge". Wicked Local. Retrieved 13 July 2020.
  11. ↑ "Maine's first box lacrosse team brings the fastest-growing game indoors". News Center Maine. Retrieved 6 September 2020.
  12. ↑ "Box lacrosse team from Biddeford wins national title". Sun Journal. Retrieved 13 July 2020.
  13. ↑ "Updated IBLA Nationals Date/Venue Announcement". IBLA. Retrieved 6 September 2020.
  14. ↑ "Rules". IBLA. Retrieved 13 July 2020.
  15. ↑ "IBLA and NLL Announce Formation of Top 25 Prospect List". IBLA. Retrieved 7 September 2020.
  16. ↑ "IBLA Top 25 Prospect List". IBLA. Retrieved 2 October 2020.
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