The Canadian University Field Lacrosse Association is pleased to announce the 2024 All Canadian teams for the Eastern and Western Conferences. Players are selected by a vote of the teams within their conference, based on performance in the regular season.
Western Conference
Attack:
Connor Murphy led Western's balanced attack with 23 goals and 33 assists as the Mustangs finished second in the West, setting up their run to winning the Baggataway Cup championship. This is Murphy's second straight season being named an All Canadian.
Liam Aston was the driving force behind the Guelph Gryphons' league-leading 150 goals scored as they soared to a perfect 10-0 regular season. Aston's CUFLA-leading 46 points (24g/22a) were 20 more than any other Gryphon. This is Aston's second straight season being named an All Canadian.
Jaden Patterson scored more than twice as many points as any other Brock Badger. His 27 assists were tops in CUFLA and he tied for the Brock lead with 14 goals.
Midfield:
Zach Tarr had a breakout season after missing most of last year because of injury. He had previously scored double digit goals, including in 2021 when he was named an All Canadian as a rookie. Tarr's 24 goals alone would have set his career high in points, and he added a dozen assists, as well.
Jacob Hickey was a two-way standout for Western. The midfielder played solid defence, often matching up with an opponent's biggest threats. On the offensive end of the field, his 29 points were second among middies in the West. He was a first-round pick of the Georgia Swarm in 2023 NLL entry draft. This is Hickey's second straight season being named an All Canadian.
Chris da Silva set a career high with 23 points. He is a shifty midfielder who always seems to find a way through or around the opposition to create chances for himself and his teammates. This is da Silva's second straight season being named an All Canadian.
Defence:
Nathan Fehr is a reliable defender who played every game for Brock for the third straight season, bringing a robust presence to the Badgers defensive zone.
Kaz Nizielski is a first-time All Canadian thanks to his sturdy defending and his aptitude for clearing the zone. Nizielski added 3 goals and a pair of assists in the transition game.
Nolan Schott is the third of three Schott brothers to star in CUFLA. He excels in both one-on-one and team defence, thriving at facing the opponent's most challenging forwards. This is Schott's second straight season being named an All Canadian.
Faceoff:
Joe Columbus made an immediate impact at the faceoff dot for the Gryphons, earning All Canadian status as a rookie and playing for the Western Conference in the inaugural CUFLA Rookie All-Star Game on Baggataway Cup weekend.
LSM:
Brendon Hoeschmann, a native of Cranbrook, British Columbia, is a first-time All Canadian in his third season with the Gryphons.
SSDM:
Sam Van der Zalm was on the 2023 All Baggataway Cup team and followed up that success with a dominating season for the Mustangs. With his combination of size, strength, speed and skill, Van der Zalm is a thorn in the side of opposing offences and consistently effective on the clear.
Goalie:
While Laurier won only three games, they were competitive in several battles with the top teams in the conference largely because Dante Mancini led them in allowing the third-fewest goals in the Western Conference.