The Interstate Box Lacrosse Association (IBLA) was a men's professional 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 minor league developmental funnel. 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. In 2021 there were 52 total teams playing in 17 regional leagues. The Seneca Marksmen were the most last IBLA champions, defeating the Grand Rapids Grizzlies in Lakeland, Florida on September 19, 2021.
The league ended in controversy when it was revealed some games leading up to the 2021 championship game had been miscounted. Additional conversations from teams meeting at the 2021 championships uncovered repeated inconsistencies in financial support from the league itself. The outcome of the controversy saw all league teams leaving for the Great Plains Box Lacrosse League (now the Box Lacrosse League), The North American Box Lacrosse League, or returning to independent operations.
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
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.
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
Current Teams Team City Arena Joined Head coach ReferencesRBLL - CaliforniaHuntington Beach Screamin' EaglesHuntington Beach, CaliforniaThe Rinks, Huntington Beach2019Irvine SkyfireIrvine, CaliforniaThe Rinks, Irvine2019San Diego WhalersSan Diego, CaliforniaSportsplex USA2020RBLL - Empire NorthAlbany HyenasAlbany, New YorkTimes Union Center2020Saugerties NightpandasSaugerties, New YorkKiwanis Ice Arena2020Salt City EelsSyracuse, New YorkBurnet Park Turf2021Utica Yeti Lacrosse ClubUtica, New YorkAdirondack Bank Center, John F. Kennedy Civic Arena2021RBLL - Empire SouthHudson Valley Arsenal LCNewburgh, New YorkIce Time Center2021845 Silver FoxesOrangeburg, New YorkVeterans Memorial Park2019NYC SpidersNew York City, New York2020RBLL - FloridaOrlando RocketsOrlando, FloridaTBA2021Tampa Bay TwistersTampa, FloridaTBA2021RBLL - LouisianaBaton Rouge RedfishBaton Rouge, LouisianaPremier Soccer Center2021New Orleans MamboNew Orleans, LouisianaJefferson Indoor Sports2021RBLL - MarylandBaltimore BombersBaltimore, Maryland2021Maryland ArrowsBowie, Maryland2021Virginia Golden BearsWashington, D.C.2021Westminster WildWestminster, Maryland2021RBLL - MichiganDetroit HooligansDetroit, Michigan2SP The Rink2020Grand Rapids GrizzliesGrand Rapids, MichiganEast Kentwood Arena2020Rouge River SteelheadsDetroit, MichiganTBA2021Illinois DoughboysNaperville, IllinoisPlayers Indoor Sports Center2021RBLL - MinnesotaEastside FreezeCottage Grove, MinnesotaSchulz Highland Arena2017Lucas AilportInver Grove IsotopesInver Grove Heights, MinnesotaVeterans Memorial Community Center2021North Metro NordiquesLakeville, MinnesotaSchwan Super Rink2018Jon MitchellMinneapolis Wheat KingsMinneapolis, MinnesotaVeterans Memorial Community Centre2018Nick MidboeRBLL - NebraskaAksarben StampedeOmaha, NebraskaOff the Wall Omaha2019Bill WostoupalRalston RegalsOmaha, NebraskaOff the Wall Omaha2019Greg McManusIowa DogfishDavenport, IowaRiver's Edge Arena2020Louis DeenyRBLL - New EnglandAuburn AviatorsAuburn, MassachusettsHorgan Arena2019Jack PiatelliCambridge Nor'eastersCambridge, MassachusettsSimoni Rink2019Mike VerganoMaine NorthmenBiddeford, MaineBiddeford Ice Arena2019Kyle BakerRBLL - New JerseyDelco DevilsBroomall, PennsylvaniaMarple Sports Arena2021Morristown RallyMorristown, New JerseyMennen Arena2019Olympos Lacrosse ClubAberdeen, New JerseyHighline Arena2021Philadelphia PhunkVoorhees Township, New JerseyFlyers Skate Zone2019RBLL - OhioCincinnati Flying PigsCincinnati, OhioCincy Sports Nation2018Cleveland DemonsCleveland, Ohio2021Columbus CoyotesColumbus, Ohio2020Louisville CanardsLouisville, KentuckyKing Louie Sports Complex2019RBLL - Pacific NorthwestEverett ExpressEverett, Washington2018Portland VoodooBeaverton, OregonIndoor Goals Sports Center2018Seattle KingsSeattle, Washington2020RBLL - PennsylvaniaMooncrest MunitionzPittsburgh, PennsylvaniaRobert Morris University Island Sports2020Pittsburgh GnomesCheswick, PennsylvaniaPittsburgh Indoor Sports Arena2020Seneca MarksmenSalamanca, New YorkAllegany Community Center2021RBLL - Rocky MountainDenver OttersDenver, Colorado2021Salt Lake StormSalt Lake City, Utah2021RBLL - SoutheastCharlotte ReapersCharlotte, North Carolina2020East Cobb HedgehogsAtlanta, Georgia2020Nashville IgniteNashville, TennesseeTSC Indoor Soccer Arena2020RBLL - TexasAustin JazzAustin, TexasThe Crossover2021Austin ScorpionsAustin, TexasRock Sports Arena2021
Association Champions
Year Champion Runner-up Score Location Venue Reference2017Parker RangersHastings Walleye22 — 2Lakewood, ColoradoFoothills Fieldhouse2018Cambridge Nor'eastersDenver Mile HighStars14 — 6Lakeville, MinnesotaLakeville Hasse Arena2019Maine NorthmenLouisville Canards17 — 14Huntington Beach, CaliforniaThe Rinks - Huntington Beach2020Philadelphia PhunkMinneapolis Wheat Kings9 — 5Pittsburgh, PennsylvaniaRMU Island Sports Center2021Seneca MarksmenGrand Rapids Grizzlies10 — 2Lakeland, FloridaRP Funding Center
Rules IBLA rules are nearly identical to NLL rules with minor adjustments to account for slight arena dimension variations.
Notable League Rules: Diving is Allowed Face-off clamps are allowed Shot clock runs on man-down kill
Awards IBLA Top 25 NLL Prospect List IBLA National Championship Cup
Notable players Isaiah Davis-Allen (Virginia Golden Bears) - PLL (Whipsnakes Lacrosse Club) Casey Dowd (Maine Northmen) - MLL (Denver Outlaws) George Downey (Philadelphia Phunk) - NLL (New England Black Wolves, Philadelphia Wings) Brad Gillies (Maine Northmen) - NLL (Rochester Knighthawks, Halifax Thunderbirds) Jules Heningburg (Minneapolis Wheat Kings) - PLL (Redwoods Lacrosse Club), NLL (San Diego Seals, New England Black Wolves) Will Jennings (Maine Northmen) - MLL (Boston Cannons) Dylan Maltz (Virginia Golden Bears) - PLL (Whipsnakes Lacrosse Club) David Mather (Seattle Kings) - NLL (New York Riptide) - Team USA 2015 & 2019 Bill O'Brien (Philadelphia Phunk) - NLL (New England Black Wolves) Bobby Schmitt (Louisville Canards) - MLL (Ohio Machine) Tim Semisch (Nashville Ignite) - NFL (Tennessee Titans, San Diego Chargers) Chris Shevins (Detroit Hooligans, Minneapolis Wheat Kings) - MLL (Ohio Machine) Larson Sundown (Mooncrest Munitionz) - NLL (2020 Draft selection by the New York Riptide with round 2 pick 36) Corbyn Tao (Minneapolis Wheat Kings) - NLL (Colorado Mammoth, Minnesota Swarm) Ty Thompson (Albany Hyenas) - Iroquois Nationals, PLL (Chrome Lacrosse Club) Chad Toliver (Louisville Canards) - MLL (Philadelphia Barrage) Rachel Vallarelli (New York City Spiders, Cambridge Nor'Easters) - NLL New York Riptide Arena Lacrosse League ALL (Whitby Steelhawks) Brain O'Gorman ( Hudson Valley Snappers. Hudson Valley Arsenal) -HVBLL Mahopac Water Panthers - NLL New York Riptide.
References