Women's U20 Field

Player Profile: Mackenzie Beam - On Cloud Nine

Mackenzie Beam has an identical twin sister, but you will only find one of them on the lacrosse field. During the 2019 Women’s Lacrosse U19 World Championship, Mackenzie will be wearing #9 as she represents Canada on the world stage. It’s a number that she has worn throughout her lacrosse career and that many of her family members have worn over the years.

“I began playing lacrosse when I was seven years old,” Mackenzie remembered. “I started playing lacrosse because my hockey coach at the time had told me that lacrosse was a great off-season sport to play, and by learning to play lacrosse it would help with my hand eye coordination for hockey. Also, my parents were signing my sister up for softball and there was no way I would let them sign me up too.”

She has played with the Lady Blue Knights for her entire lacrosse career, winning five provincial gold medals and three provincial silver medals. She has also played for the U19 Team Ontario field lacrosse team for three years and won just as many gold medals with them. For the past three years she has been attending the Hill Academy and was nominated as Defensive Player of the Year. In the fall, 18-year-old Mackenzie will be attending the University at Albany and majoring in human biology. She has plans to go to medical school and pursue a career in paediatric oncology.

As a defence player, Mackenzie has looked up to Team Canada alumna Katie Ranger (nee Guy) for many years. She said she strives to have the versatility and tenacity that Ranger has. Ranger is one of this year’s Team Canada coaches, teaching defenders like Mackenzie the tricks of the trade. 

“Making [Team Canada] means everything to me,” Mackenzie expressed. “I have dreamed of accomplishing this goal ever since I started playing the sport. The fact that I have been able to make this dream a reality has still yet to hit me. It is truly amazing to be given this opportunity. It is so incredible but the fact that I get to experience this just forty minutes away from my hometown makes it extra special to me.”

The Brooklin native found out she made the final roster in July, after three tryouts over many months. The final evaluation camp was nine days long, allowing the athletes to gel both on and off the field.

“There isn’t one girl on this team that I can say I won’t be best friends with after the tournament. Everyone has bonded so closely over the last couple of months during the tryout process. And it is with most certainty that I can say that we are all basically like sisters now,” shared Mackenzie. “I think the coaches did a spectacular job at not only deciding the eighteen best players but also the eighteen best to create a team dynamic. Every individual brings forth a character trait that makes this team so special and I think it’s something that is wonderful to have.”

About the Canadian Lacrosse Association     

Founded in 1867, the Canadian Lacrosse Association (CLA) is the governing body responsible for all aspects of lacrosse in Canada. Our organization is comprised of 10 Member Associations representing nearly 85,000 individual participants, including coaches, officials, and athletes of all ages and abilities. The CLA'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. The CLA oversees the delivery of numerous national championships and the participation of Team Canada at all international events sanctioned by the Federation of International Lacrosse (FIL). The CLA is proud to be affiliated with partners that share the same vision and values, including our corporate partners - New Balance Athletics, Warrior Sports, NormaTec Recovery Systems, Canadian Red Cross, Westjet, RockTape, OPRO 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 on Canadian Lacrosse Association and the sport of lacrosse, visit our website at www.lacrosse.ca and follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

For more information, please contact:
 

Victoria Klassen

Communications and Marketing Coordinator
Canadian Lacrosse Association
Phone: 613-260-2028 ext. 302
Email: victoria@lacrosse.ca