By Sabrina Polidoro

The 2012 Summer Olympics in London wasn’t the only place where nations competed to prove their athletic worth. The 2012 Federation of International Lacrosse World Championships in Finland featured its own measure of on-the-field heroics and nail-biting victories—and NYIT’s Danny McDermott (pictured), who was voted Most Outstanding Defender and named to the All-World Team as he helped Team Canada nab a silver medal.

“The feeling [of representing your country] is one that is very hard to put into words,” says the Bears’ junior defenseman, who hails from Vancouver. “Being on a national team, representing my country, and playing the sport I love was absolutely phenomenal.”

McDermott, who is majoring in business management, was one of 23 under-19 players chosen to represent Canada. The process began in November 2011 when he submitted an athletic resumé and was invited to a regional camp for the top 150 players in British Columbia. From there, McDermott made the top 50 cut and, over the Thanksgiving break, participated in national tryouts just outside Toronto, where coaches from the U19 Canadian team selected the final 23 for the roster.

“Danny is an exceptional student-athlete who stepped into a starting defensive role and has never looked back,” says NYIT head lacrosse coach Bill Dunn. “It wasn’t a surprise that he made the U19 team.”

A 2012 First Team All-American, McDermott not only represented his country and NYIT in the tournament, but was the only NCAA Division II athlete named to the Canadian roster.

“My experience at NYIT gave me the training I needed to compete with the different collegiate players from around the world, especially against the United States,” says McDermott. “After playing a couple seasons for the Bears, I was able to take my knowledge of how Americans played the game of lacrosse and use it to my advantage.”

That he did, as the Canadians defeated the U.S. team in overtime in group play, 11-9. However, the American team would prove victorious in the championship, with a 10-8 win over Team Canada to capture the gold.

“That first game against the United States was the biggest highlight for me,” adds McDermott. “I was able to almost completely shut down U.S. player Matt Kavanagh, the tournament’s MVP.”

The experience has taught him how to play smarter and faster on defense.

Adds McDermott: “I look forward to using what I have learned against teams playing NYIT.”

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