Lacrosse Canada Announces coaches for Canada East Development Teams
We are excited to announce the coaching staffs for the Lacrosse Canada East Development Teams. With U15, U17, and U19 teams for both men and women, there were many qualified candidates for these teams, and we believe these coaching staffs will set the standard for our Development Teams.
Tryouts for Canada East will take place on December 27-28 in Oshawa, Ontario. Registration for these tryouts will open next week so stay tuned for that announcement.
Below Are each team’s Head Coaches along with their staff.
U15
Head Coach:
Tracey Kelusky: A native of Peterborough, Ontario, Kelusky racked up 383 goals, 440 assists and 823 points during an NLL career that spanned 195 games over 14 seasons. He announced his retirement from the NLL in 2014 and began his the next phase of his career behind the bench. Tracey was previously the Head Coach of the Panther City Lacrosse Club, and now serves as man Assistant with the Philadelphia Wings.
Assistant Coaches:
Dustin Dunn: Dunn is a product of Peterborough minor lacrosse, going on to play five seasons with the Peterborough Junior A Lakers. He won a Minto Cup in 2006 and was selected to the Jr ‘A’ All Star team in 2009. Collegiately he played in both the NCAA for the SUNY Potsdam Bears and in CUFLA for the Brock University Badgers .Dustin began coaching collegiality for the Brock Badgers, returning after graduation as the offensive coordinator. He returned to Peterborough minor lacrosse in 2019. Coaching U13, helped lead the team to a provincial bronze medal.Most recently, he helped lead the U17 Clarington Green Gaels to a 2024 Ontario Summer Games ‘A’ gold medal.
Jason Crosbie: Jason Crosbie is a graduate from St Lawrence University 98’ where he was an All American and UCAA 1st team 3 times and scoring champ twice while participating in the North-South All Star game. Jason played professionally in the National Lacrosse League for 11 years producing 436 points. In the summer he was a part of 4 Mann Cup Championships with Peterborough and Brooklin. Crosbie’s coaching has been a 20+ year journey from minor to major series. Jason has won 2 Founders cups (2002, 2004) along with 3 coach of the year accolades.
Jon Birsner: Birsner played at the Naval Academy (2003-2006), Birsner was twice named an All-American while guiding Navy to three top 10 finishes, including advancing to the NCAA Final Four and Championship game in 2004. He finished his senior year by being named the Patriot League Offensive Player of the Year, the Patriot League tournament MVP as well as being selected to try out for Team USA in 2006. Birsner ranks eighth on Navy's all-time points list (154), is fourth all-time in assists (105), and was voted team captain his senior season. Following his playing days Jon has had coaching stints at Forman and VMI, and now serves as the Director of Lacrosse and Assistant. Athletic Director at Culver.
U17
Head Coach:
Dan Coates: Dan Coates has spent 11 years in the NLL as a player and has also been on Team Canada as a player and coach. Dan has been the captain of two NLL franchises (Colorado, and Rochester), and in that tie he has accumulated 711 loose balls and 103 points in 167 games as a defender. Recently, Dan served as the video coach for Team Canada at the 2023 Men’s World Championship, where he helped the team to a silver medal. As a player Dan has been a part of 2014,2015, and 2019 Team Canada. In all 3 events Dan captured a gold medal, the most historic coming in a 8-5 upset win over USA in 2014. Recently Dan served as an assistant coach for the Men’s Sixes Team.
Assistant Coaches:
Joe Hiltz: Joe Hiltz grew up in the lacrosse hotbed of Peterborough, Ontario where he was part of three Minto Cup championship teams. He played in both the MSL with the Peterborough Lakers and WLA with the New Westminster Salmonbellies as well as professional lacrosse for five seasons in the National Lacrosse League. Over the years Joe has served in every capacity at the local, zone, and provincial levels as a coach, official and organizer, including ten years with the Ontario Lacrosse Association as Vice President of Field Lacrosse. Joe has led Team Ontario U15 and U19 to national field titles and coached with the Team British Columbia field program. Currently Joe is the Ontario Series Lacrosse Commissioner, the head coach of Team Ireland Women’s National Box Lacrosse, general manager/head coach of the Arena Lacrosse League Oshawa Outlaws and is the head coach of Evolve Elite’s 2028 team. Joe is the proud father of four children who play, officiate, coach and organize the game they all love.
Jason Rudge: Jason is currently the Head Coach of the Nipissing University Men’s Lacrosse team, where he has transformed the program into a competitive force within the Canadian University Field Lacrosse Association (CUFLA). With years of coaching experience at the minor, provincial, and national levels, Coach Rudge has made a significant impact on the sport, both in developing players and contributing to the growth of the game. His coaching journey spans multiple age groups and prestigious teams, making him a respected leader in Canadian lacrosse.
Brock Haley: Haley was the 7th overall pick in the 2023 NLL Entry Draft out of the University of Vermont. Haley posted 175 points in 67 career games for the Catamounts. The 6’1, 180-pound attacker also posted 20 goals and 34 assists on the Senior A circuit in Ontario this summer. With the Whitby Junior A Warriors in 2022, he posted an astounding 105 goals and 70 assists in 26 regular season and playoff games
U19
Head Coach:
Reilly O’ Connor: Reilly is currently the Head Coach of the Toronto Beaches Jr A Lacrosse Club as well as a current NLL player for the Ottawa Black Bears, where he serves as a team captain. An eight-year National Lacrosse League veteran, Reilly was selected by the Calgary Roughnecks with the seventh overall pick in the 2015 NLL Draft. He played his jr lacrosse for the Whitby Warriors capturing two minto cups. He has also won an MLL championship as a member of the Boston Cannons. Reilly attended Georgetown University following his high school career at The Hill Academy. Following that he coached at The Hill for 7 years. Reilly is a Team Canada alumni as he represented the U19 team in Finland in 2012 and the Men’s team in 2019 at the Fall Classic.
Assistant Coaches:
Scott Fitchett: Scott Fitchett brings over 30 years of involvement in the sport, spanning all levels of experience from minor to senior lacrosse divisions. Scott has been both a player and coach at Provincial and National levels, achieving multiple championships across Canada. His personal accolades include a National University Championship title with Guelph University, recognition as an All-Canadian midfielder, and numerous Canadian and International field and box titles as a Coach for Team Ontario.
Graydon Hogg: After graduating from The Hill Academy, Graydon attended the University of Albany and was a five year member of the Great Danes Lacrosse team. Graydon was a four-time America East All-Conference Team member, SUNY scholar-athlete of the year in 2023, and an Academic All-American in 2024. Hogg played his Jr career with the Whitby Warriors, and most recently was selected 15th overall by the Rochester Knighthawks. Graydon has represented Canada at the 2023 Fall Classic, and the 2022 U20 Championship.
Andrew Dowdell: Andrew was named the CUFLA rookie of the year in 1997 as a goalie, and has not looked back since then. A 4 year starter at Western, Andrew then went on to sign with the Calgary Roughnecks in 2001. Since then Andrew has been a coach at all levels. He has been apart of Team Ontario as well as coaching the Netherlands at the World U20 Championships in Ireland.
U15
Head Coach
Rachel McKinnon: Rachael McKinnon is committed to helping develop players to compete at the next level of play. This past summer, McKinnon was an Assistant Coach for Team Canada’s U20 Women’s Field Lacrosse team, who brought home a Silver medal and received two All-World player recognitions. She has a strong track record of success, having coached Team Ontario’s 17U Women’s Box Lacrosse team to a gold medal at the 2022 Canada Summer Games. She also led Team Ontario’s Women’s Field Lacrosse team to national championships in 2022 as Head Coach and in 2019 as an Assistant Coach. McKinnon has also helped coach NCAA and OUA collegiate programs, that have garnered All-American recognition, All-Conference recognitions and a Final Four Appearance. McKinnon is a graduate of the University of Denver, where she played under Coach Liza Kelly.
Assistant Coaches:
Tory Merrill: Tory is a graduate of the University of Toronto, where she captained both the Varsity Women’s Lacrosse Team and the Varsity Track and Field team. As the leader of the women’s lacrosse team she was a five-time OUA First Team All-Star, and 2005 OUA Rookie of the Year. On the Track and Field Team she was a five-time OUA All-Star, two-time CIS All-Canadian, four-time CIS medalist, and Academic All-Canadian. Tory was also a member of the Senior Women’s National Team. She represented Team Canada in the 2017 FIL Women’s Lacrosse World Cup in Guildford, England and the World Games in Wroclaw, Poland, earning two silver medals.
Bryar Hogg: Oshawa, Ontario native Bryan Hogg had quite the career at the University of Albany just like her brother. Accumulating 125 points over 67 games, Bryar was named to the America East All Conference team, along with the All district team. Hogg was also a member of Team Canada at the 2022 Women’s World Championship where she took home a silver medal. Bryar now focuses on her coaching career and looks to use her expertise to help the National Development Team.
Olivia Toll: Toll, a native of Oshawa, Ont. Played three seasons for the Louisville Cardinals at the division 1 level in the NCAA. During her time with the Cardinals, she appeared in 61 games, with 44 starts with 60 ground balls and 42 caused turnovers. From 2009 until 2019, Toll was a prominent member of the Lady Blue Knights team, which held a record of 200-1-0 and a ten-year streak as an OWFL champion. Toll was named the team captain in her final year and is one of three women to have won the most games and provincial championships in the OWFL.
U17
Head Coach:
Jen Johnson: A four-year letter winner and 3x All American at Penn State, Johnson led the Nittany Lions in overall scoring as a junior (73 points) and a senior (70 points). She also had a team-high 49 goals in 1998 and led again in 1999 with 47 goals. Johnson finished her career ranked among the top 10 all-time at Penn State in goals scored (136), assists (64) and overall points (200). She was named Head coach at The University of Vermont from 2004-2016. Under Johnson, UVM posted a program-record 12 victories in 2014, and the 2015 season concluded with the Catamounts' third straight America East Tournament berth. Johnson was a co-captain of the Canadian National Team for three World Cups (2005, 2001, 1995). Then in 2007, she was the Head Coach for the U19 Canadian Team participating in the World Cup in Peterborough. In 2005, she helped lead the team to a fourth place finish and lead all players in caused turnovers and ground balls, earning her All World Team honours.
Assistant Coaches:
Carly Quinn: Carly has an extensive resume as both a player and coach. In 2007, she was a member of the U19 Canadian National team, and represented Canada in the FIL U19 World Women’s Lacrosse Championships. From 2008-2012, Carly was a member of the Canisius College Golden Griffins Lacrosse team. Acting as captain for her last two seasons, she lead the team to a MAAC Championship in 2011 and 2012. She was named to the All MAAC First Team in 2011 and 2012, and in 2012 being named MAAC Offensive Player of the Year after leading the conference in points and being ranked 8th nationally in assists per game. Carly was a member of the 2015 U19 Team Canada coaching staff that made history winning Gold at the World Championships in Edinburgh, Scotland.
Shelby O’Ryan: Shelby is an alumni of the Burlington Chiefs and Team Ontario programs. She played collegiately at Laurier and Queens, where she won an OUA championship and two OUA bronze medals, served as captain for two seasons and was an OUA all-star. Shelby has been coaching for the Oakville LadyHawks for over a decade at the JEWL and U15 level. Shelby is in her fourth season as the U15 Team Ontario Head Coach.
U19
Head Coach
Jessica Markew: Coached all levels from grassroots learn to play to Women's National Sixes team. Highlights include twice named Ontario Coach of the Year, Ontario Summer Games Champions, multiple provincial championships and medals with the Lady Blue Knights. Several seasons as part of Team Ontario u19 coaching staff and part of Team Canada Sixes Development league coaching staff. Playing highlights include 4 world cups as a player for Team Canada, winning bronze in junior and a bronze with Team Canada. 4 Years at James Madison University- 4 year starter, Senior captain, Female James Madison University athlete of the year finalist , Inside Lacrosse All-America second team.
Assistant Coaches:
Lyndsay Brooks: Brooks, from Owen Sound Ontario, played her club lacrosse with the Brampton Excelsiors and post secondary at Western University. She currently coaches the JEWL program with the Owen Sound NorthStars and has since 2017. Brooks has coached the U17 Team Ontario Women's field program for the last 8 years and has served as the Director of Women's field Scouting, Recruiting and player personnel for the last 5. She is an international level official in both Women's Field and Sixes and formerly served on the OWFL board as the Director of Development.
Bianca Chevarie: A team captain at Syracuse, Chevarie was a three-year starter for the Orange and earned All-America and All-ACC honors as a senior. She finished her career with 109 ground balls, 71 caused turnovers, 28 draw controls and 23 points (14g, 9a). Bianca has been apart of the Canadian National Team three times, earning silver medals at the 2022 Senior Women’s World Championship, 2019 U19 World Championship and 2017 Senior Women’s World Championship. In August of 2024, Bianca was named an assistant coach at William & Mary in Williamsburg, Virginia.
Skylar McArthur: McArthur, a native of Peterborough, Ontario, was an assistant coach at High Point University during the 2024 season. She served as both the defensive coordinator and goalie coach. Her role included aiding students in achieving athletic and academic success, contributing to game preparation through tape review, scouting reports, and travel coordination. Her contributions helped High Point to a runner-up finish in the Big South Conference.As a player, McArthur has represented Team Canada's women's lacrosse team since 2018, initially as part of the U19 squad and now as a member of the senior team. She helped Team Canada win a silver medal at the 2019 Women's Lacrosse World Championship while on the U19 team. McArthur previously played at Canisius College, a fellow MAAC school, from 2018 to 2023. She served as team captain for her final two seasons and earned All-MAAC First Team honors in 2022 and 2023.
About Lacrosse Canada
Founded in 1867, Lacrosse Canada is the governing body responsible for all aspects of lacrosse in Canada. Our organization is comprised of 11 Member Associations representing nearly 85,000 individual participants, including coaches, officials, and athletes of all ages and abilities. Lacrosse Canada’s mission is to honour the sport of lacrosse and its unique nation-building heritage, by engaging our members, leading our partners, and providing opportunities for all Canadians to participate. Lacrosse Canada oversees the delivery of numerous national championships and the participation of Team Canada at all international events sanctioned by World Lacrosse. Lacrosse Canada is proud to be affiliated with partners that share the same vision and values, including our corporate partners - Nike, CoachThem, Gait, Cascade, Normatec, Zoll, Signature Lacrosse, and Baron Rings - as well as our funding partners the Government of Canada, the Coaching Association of Canada, and the Canadian Lacrosse Foundation.
For more information, please contact:
Kealan Pilon
Communications Coordinator
Lacrosse Canada
Email: kealan@lacrosse.ca