The men’s lacrosse team is made up of players from all over the country, East Coast, West Coast, southern states and quite a few from Colorado, but there are four members of the team who live a little farther away.

These men, freshman Jamie Lincoln, sophomore Ilija Gajic and juniors Brad Richardson and Cliff Smith have known each other since they played in junior leagues together back home in Canada.

Gajic, Richardson and Smith are all from British Columbia and Lincoln is from Ontario.

“You’ve either played with them or against them before,” said Gajic of knowing other Canadian lacrosse players in the United States.

Three of them won a national championship together, and Smith joked that he “beat up Ilija when we were 14.”

Though the lacrosse program, education and school all played into why these Canadians came to Denver, it was the friendships from home that made the most importance.

“My best friends are here,” said Lincoln. “That’s one of the main reasons I came. I had a great time when I was out here visiting them.”

The coaches also have a strong connection with junior teams in Canada and recruit through them.

“One of the main reasons I came is because I knew the coaches,” said Richardson. He knew he wanted to play in college, but it was the coaches’ connection with his junior team that made him choose DU.

When these four players came to Denver, they had to make a drastic change in the way that they played lacrosse.

“It’s a completely different sport here,” said Richardson.

In Canada, where lacrosse is the national sport, they play box lacrosse like the Colorado Mammoth. It is more confrontational and the goals are smaller. The arenas are all indoors and the general feel of the sport is different.

“Besides the differences in the way you play, here it is more systematic,” said Gajic.

Richardson agreed with him, “Everyone at home starts playing young and its more of a family thing. Here it feels like more of a job.”

Despite the differences between here and home, the teammates are enjoying their time in Denver.

“I love the campus and the small school feel,” said Gajic. “Colorado is a great place to be, especially Denver and at this time of the year.”

They felt well prepared to play at the Division I level here even though the style at home is different.

“If you played juniors in Canada and you come here, you’re set,” said Gajic.

While they are still unsure of what opportunities there will be after school, most of them are looking forward to going back to playing box lacrosse.

Whether they stay here to play or go back home will depend on what options they have after graduation.

For now they are looking forward to going home for summer and playing with, and against each other in their summer leagues.