WOLVES ON THE WORLD STAGE: Three Junior A Stars Headed to Inaugural Female European Box Lacrosse Championships!

WOLVES ON THE WORLD STAGE: Three Junior A Stars Headed to

Inaugural Female European Box Lacrosse Championships!

The Wolves Lacrosse organization is bursting with pride as history prepares to be made across the Atlantic. From June 25 to July 4, Prague, Czechia, will host the first-ever European Box Lacrosse Women’s Championship. Standing on the floor for this monumental event will be three of our very own Junior A female players, representing their national heritages and carrying the spirit of the Wolves with them.

The Dynamic Duo: Kayla & Brynn Martin (Team England)

Sisters Kayla and Brynn Martin are officially heading to Prague to wear the red and white of Team England! Both girls are homegrown Wolves players, having started their lacrosse journeys with the organization back in 2014 at the tender ages of 4 and 7. Over more than a decade, they have flourished under the Wolves banner, developing into elite international athletes.

Brynn, an offensive powerhouse, has consistently proven herself against top-tier competition. After a 4th-place finish representing Team Nova Scotia at the 2025 Canada Summer Games, she made an immediate impact overseas. As the youngest player on the Team England roster, Brynn truly left her mark during the She-Box Invitational tournament in April, finishing 3rd overall in team points and showcasing an elite floor IQ that completely defied her age.

“I am so excited to be able to play on the World stage and represent England, this sport has given me so many opportunities and I am forever grateful for all those who have supported me along the way from my family, friends, coaches and the Wolves Lacrosse Association where it all began. “Let’s Go England”.

Kayla, a wall in the net, also made an impressive start to her England career at She-Box, picking up a stellar 86% save ratio. She made 42 saves and conceded just seven goals across her appearances, helping anchor an undefeated England squad that swept away Germany, Hong Kong, Tokyo, and the Netherlands.

“I have loved this game for as long as I can remember, and now have the opportunity to play the sport I love on the international stage. Representing England at the Euros is an honour and I can’t wait to get on the floor and give my all for the team!”

The Leader: Bente Van Bilsen (Team Netherlands)

Lining up on the other side of the floor is a name familiar to everyone in our organization— 2025 ECJLL Championship Wolves & Bronze Medal Winning U22 Team Nova Scotia Captain, Bente Van Bilsen. Bente’s dedication, leadership, grit, and lacrosse IQ will be on full display as she wears the orange jersey to represent the Netherlands. Having captained numerous teams and now coaching the 2026 ECJLL Wolves team that Brynn and Kayla play on, Bente knows exactly what it takes to lead a team through adversity, and she is ready to bring that trademark passion to the European stage.

“I never thought this would be possible,” said Van Bilsen.  “It’s great to see how far the women’s game has come.  Lacrosse doesn’t have to stop for girls after junior any more, there’s more lacrosse to be played.”

Bente’s journey is certainly testament to the opportunities that continue to evolve in women’s lacrosse, having previously competed in the LAXNAI North American Invitational tournament, the Women’s Arena Lacrosse League (WALL) as a 4th overall draft pick and currently playing Women’s Major Series Lacrosse (WMSL) in Ontario for the Arthur Aces.  

Van Bilsen credits Brianna Tremblay for opening many of these doors for her, as well as her Junior Wolves coach Ryan Evong for “showing her how to play” and how to “stay out of the penalty box,” as well as KJ MacNeil for providing an abundance of opportunities for her to develop and work on her game as a player and coach. 

Mentorship in Action: Giving Back to the Pack

What makes these three athletes truly special isn't just their skill on the floor; it’s their dedication to building the future of the sport. Kayla, Brynn, and Bente are actively pouring their knowledge back into the local community through the newly launched Wolves Coach Mentorship Program.

Introduced this season to support the development of new and aspiring coaches, the program bridges the gap for those stepping behind the bench by pairing developing coaches with experienced mentors. The goal is to create developmental opportunities for new coaches, giving them practical guidance, one-on-one mentorship, and a chance to explore various aspects of coaching that peak their interest (i.e. video breakdown, strength & conditioning, mental performance, etc).

Over the course of the season, mentor and mentee coaches connect regularly on and off the floor to observe, discuss strategy, and share direct feedback. Kayla, Brynn, and Bente are vital parts of this initiative within the Wolves minor system. For the past year, they have trained rigorously together to prepare for Europe while simultaneously spending their hours on the floor coaching, guiding, and inspiring the youngest generation of Wolves players. 

A Canada Day Clash You Can't Miss!

While they have sweated, trained, and coached together all year in Wolves colors, these three friends will become international rivals for one very special day.

Mark your calendars for Canada Day! On July 1st, at 5pm (12pm AST) Team England will face off against Team Netherlands. It will be Wolves vs. Wolves on the global stage, and all of Nova Scotia can tune in online to watch this incredible matchup.

https://www.youtube.com/@EuropeanLacrosseFederation

Honorable Mentions

The international Wolves connections don't stop there! We also want to send a shoutout tonfellow Nova Scotians who are competing on the men's international circuit:

• Paddy Quinn, who will be representing the Men’s Irish National Team.
• Thomas MacDonald, who will be suiting up for the Men’s Netherlands National Team.

*Ireland plays Netherlands at 10am (5am AST), on Saturday June 27th.

To Kayla, Brynn, Bente—the entire Wolves family, from our foundational minor system to the executive board is cheering you on. Go show Europe how we play lacrosse in Nova Scotia!