Guelph’s Reece DiCicco and Elora’s Chris Rathwell are also teammates with Kitchener-Waterloo (OJLL)
Two friends and lacrosse teammates from Guelph and Elora are setting off to take on the world.
Guelph’s Reece DiCicco and Elora’s Chris Rathwell are en route to South Korea to represent Canada at the men’s U20 field lacrosse world championships.
“In any sport, it’s the greatest honour to play for your country,” DiCicco said.
“First and foremost, I’m super grateful for that chance and grateful for the coaching staff giving me that opportunity, as well as my parents who have helped me throughout everything. It’s pretty surreal.”
“You don’t really get many chances at all like this,” Rathwell said. “To try out, we had three different camps and whatnot. Being able to make it at least through all three of them and making the team is an exciting time, but you’re more grateful for the opportunity and everything along the way.”
For both, it will be their first time representing Canada on the international stage.
There are plenty of similarities between the two.
Both spend their summers as teammates with the junior-A Kitchener-Waterloo Braves box lacrosse team.
Both play NCAA field lacrosse – DiCicco at Johns Hopkins University, Rathwell at Lehigh University – and have post-school dreams of playing in the National Lacrosse League.
But their play styles couldn’t be more different.
Guelph’s Reece DiCicco plays in the NCAA for Johns Hopkins University. Johns Hopkins Athletics
DiCicco is more of a defensive player, but prides himself on being able to do what is needed.
“Whether that is offense, defense, in the middle of the field doing some grittier things, picking up ground balls, I’ve kind of prided myself growing up, and throughout my lacrosse career on being versatile,” he said.
Rathwell, meantime, is more offensive, posting 32 goals in 22 games with the Braves.
But don’t let that fool you. Rathwell is not afraid to sacrifice points to make plays on defense.
Elora’s Chris Rathwell, seen here with the Lehigh men’s lacrosse team in action against Loyola in March. Lehigh Athletics/Matt Smith
Rathwell models himself after guys like the Toronto Rock’s Challen Rogers, his former coach, who taught him personal traits and running up the floor.
“He’s more of a transition guy, but he’s a guy I really look up to and maybe someone I’d like to play in the future,” he said.
Combine that with the offensive style of Buffalo Bandit star Dhane Smith, Rathwell sees a bit of both in his game.
For DiCicco, his role models have been with him the entire time.
The youngest of three siblings, Reece named his brother and sister as his role models when asked.
Sister Brooke is a Western University women’s hockey alum. Brother Trent just finished his first season with the NLL’s San Diego Seals, after he was drafted in the first round of last year’s draft.
DiCicco said he models his game after Trent, and his Seals teammate Zach Currier.
While the two fell short in their quest for the Minto Cup with the Braves, DiCicco and Rathwell have hardware on their mind before heading back to school.
They will meet with Canada teammates on a layover in Los Angeles, before flying to Tokyo for a few days for training camp and practice.
Then, it’s off to South Korea, where the test begins Saturday with a matchup against the United States.
“I’m super excited,” DiCicco said. “Canada’s never won at this tournament. They’ve come close many times. My brother played in 2022 when they lost in the final to the US, so definitely a chip on our shoulder.
“I think our group’s looking to make some history, and we understand that, understand the significance that comes along with playing for your country, and how great of an honour it is.”