'Mystery box' Bermuda in tough group

Stephen Wright, Assistant Sports Editor

Published Jun 30, 2018 at 8:00 am (Updated Jun 29, 2018 at 10:12 pm)

Crucial experience: midfielder Drew Jenkins could be instrumental for Bermuda at the World Championships in Israel

The Bermuda lacrosse team are happy to be labelled as a “mystery box” as they put the final touches to their preparations for the World Championships in Israel next month.

Bermuda, ranked 24th in the world, will join 45 other counties at the championships — the largest in the history of the event. They will play Puerto Rico in their first game on Saturday, July 14.

The island, who have defeated France, Uganda, and Denmark in their most recent internationals, have also been grouped with Wales at the championships, which run from July 12 to 21.

Bermuda’s squad is considered to be one of island’s most talented teams since they first began competing internationally in 2006.

It includes a number of former collegiate athletes as well as star turn Drew Jenkins, who played as a midfielder for the storied Syracuse University in the NCCA Division I.

Jenkins was Bermuda’s top scorer at the previous championships in Denver, Colorado, in 2014.

Also travelling to Israel will be attacking players Steve Michel, James Chiappa, Da’Zhon Johnston and Tucker Moore, who have all been part of the Bermuda programme since at least 2008.

The defence will be anchored by the experienced Sean Tucker, Stephen Mayor, and Jake Nichols and will be bolstered by the additional talent of young Bermudians competing collegiately and professionally in the United States.

The tournament games will be broadcasted on television and online through ESPN.

Bermuda is in discussions with the Federation of International Lacrosse to compete in the 2020 Under-19 World Lacrosse Championships in Ireland and to potentially host the 2024 tournament.

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