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Last Powell Standing Likes Team USA's Chances

by Chris R. Vaccaro | Special to Lacrosse Magazine Online

After playing with his famed brothers with the U.S. team in 2006, Ryan Powell will go it alone for Team USA in Manchester. © Kevin P. Tucker

The Powell name and lacrosse have run synonymous for years. But with three talented brothers running amuck the classic middle child battle had to come into play at some point.

Ryan Powell has often ridden quietly through the success of his older brother Casey and the pure domination of younger brother Mikey. When all three made the U.S. team in 2006, it was a storyline for the ages.

Now four years later, Ryan is the only brother playing for the national team that will compete at the FIL World Lacrosse Championships in Manchester, England. Casey opted not to try out and Mikey’s been hot and cold with the game for some time now, focusing on his music career in upstate New York.

After a disheartening loss to Canada in London, Ontario in 2006, Ryan made up his mind to fight for a gold medal this time around -- brothers or not.

“I haven’t put a whole lot of thought into that,” Powell said in a phone interview this week about being the only one from his family on this year’s national squad. “It’s really cool being able to play with them, but it’s about the team and all the guys we have.

“After the last loss, I was pretty firm on my decision and wanted to have the opportunity to compete for gold again. I didn’t have many conversations with them on whether they were going to do it or not. In the end, they didn’t submit their names.”

Asked if Mikey will return to the lacrosse world anytime soon, Ryan said he was in the dark like the rest of the world.

“I don’t think so; he’s just playing music right now,” he said, “but you can never say never with him. I think at this point though, he doesn’t have a plan to come back and play.”

The immediate goal is to win the looming world championship, and Powell stressed his cool confidence about this specific group of players. Team USA embarks on training camp Sunday and will play the MLL All-Stars in its final exhibition in July 8. Once the team takes a flight overseas and bonds, they should come together, Powell said.

The founder and owner of Portland-based Rhino Lacrosse, Powell has carved a niche as a premier lacrosse educator in the world. All of the Powell resumes are laundry lists of the top honors around. Ryan was a four-time All-American at Syracuse, two-time NCAA champion (one as a player and one as an assistant coach), two-time MLL MVP, and has made various all-star teams.

None of that will matter when Powell faces off against the best in the world this month.

“We have the personnel to win it,” he said. “It’s just a matter of coming together.”