For Ryan Colsey, the summer is not a time for rest, but for transformation. The University of Virginia midfielder has taken an unconventional route to improve his lacrosse game by heading north to play Junior A box lacrosse with the Coquitlam Adanacs in the BCJALL.
In four games so far this summer, Colsey has a goal and 10 assists. He is part of a dominant Adanacs team that has steamrolled opponents and currently holds a 9-2 record. They will host the Minto Cup this August.
Colsey came up north after his trip to Memorial Day weekend with the Virginia Cavaliers. He scored 19 goals and 4 assists this year as a first-line midfielder for one of the best offenses in the country.
Colsey, who is from Ridgefield, Connecticut, has a rich history with lacrosse. His dad Roy Colsey was a legend at Syracuse University, winning two national championships and making four all-american teams. He was elected to the PLL hall of fame in 2023.
Unlike most Americans, he has substantial box experience.
“I started playing box lacrosse in 6th grade in the US,” he said. He has competed in the Connecticut Collegiate Box League (CTBLL) for many years.
He also competed in Canada, participating in the IIJL World Indoor Tournament in Saskatoon and the Trevor Wingrove Memorial Tournament in Coquitlam.
“I’ve played countless games and tournaments in the states and Canada, often against the same teams I’m now facing,” said Colsey.
Colsey joins a growing list of Americans who have spent summers north of the 49th parallel. Joey and Jake Spallina are playing this summer in Orangeville, while ASUN Player of the Year Ryan Stines is competing in Mimico. Cornell’s CJ Kirst and PLL Archers player Mac O’Keefe have also come up to play in recent summers.
The transition from field to box lacrosse has been a learning experience for Colsey.
“Going from being a midfielder at Virginia, playing with more space and dodging down the alleys with speed, to being in tight quarters and making moves in a lot less space has been a big difference,” he said.
Adjusting his shooting technique has also been a challenge.
“In field lacrosse, I’m used to shooting from the outside with a lot of power. In box, shooting overhand and placing my shots accurately is more important than speed,” Colsey explained.
Colsey hopes that the summer will pay dividends for his collegiate career.
“My finishing in tight and accuracy from the outside is already improving just from a few games,” he said. “That’s exactly what playing Junior A lacrosse is doing for my field game. It’s giving me an edge over many Americans I play against who have never played box.”
Like a study abroad program, the immersion for Colsey is happening on and off the floor.
Colsey notes that he was surprised, “how much better I have gotten at NHL 24 the video game. Canadians really do love their hockey. I’ve been playing my teammate, Jaxon Dillon, at least once a day since I’ve got here.”
Coquitlam, like Virginia, is a program that measures success in banners rather than in wins and losses. Colsey is focused on helping Coquitlam make that happen. .
“Right from my initial conversations with the coaches, it was made clear that there is only one goal, and it’s to win a Minto Cup,” he said. “My dream has always been to play in the NLL, and I think playing Junior A is the first step to being able to compete at the highest level of box lacrosse.”
Colsey also has advice for aspiring players. “I would recommend every field player in the states to give box lacrosse a try. It’s the best version of lacrosse currently being played and, from my perspective, even more fun than field,” he said.
Colsey will look to use these skills and join a very short list of American players to hoist the Minto Cup. Stay tuned to Lacrosse Culture Daily for the rest of the summer to follow the Adanacs on that journey.