| Sport: | box lacrosse |
| Founded: | 2011 |
| Teams: | 5 |
| Champion: | St. Louis Centurions (2017) |
| Most Champs: | Colorado & Cleveland (2 each) |
| Website: | boxlacrosseleague.com |
The Box Lacrosse League (BLL) was a senior men's semi-professional box lacrosse league in the United States. In its final year, the league consisted of five teams with a geographical footprint centered on the Midwest region of the United States and Ontario.
Formerly known as Midwest Indoor Lacrosse Association (MILA), the league was renamed the Continental Indoor Lacrosse League[1] due to expansion teams outside of the Midwest region in March 2013. The league again changed its name in 2017 to Box Lacrosse League, citing the new commitment to following guidelines set by USBOXLA. The league ceased operations after the 2017 season.
On August 27, 2011, Grand Rapids defeated Columbus 18-17 (OT) in the first-ever MILA game. Columbus went on to have the best record and were the top seed for the inaugural championship playoff, but Columbus withdrew on the day before the event. Second-seed Grand Rapids Dragonfish went on to claim the first league championship by defeating Chicago 13-7 on October 1, 2011. Chicago had advanced with a 26-1 semifinal win against Milwaukee.
In the off-season, several expansion teams were announced for the second season of MILA. The St. Louis Pride, Pittsburgh Octane, Southern Ohio Box Lacrosse, Cleveland Demons, Detroit Coney Dogs, and Nebraska Fighting Perkins were all announced before the end of the calendar year. Three more teams (Madison Capitals, Minnesota Jaxx, and Colorado Sabertooths) were also announced for the 2012 season. Nebraska never materialized and a group from Indiana took over the franchise rights, adding Indy Swagger to the league.
Colorado was crowned champion after the 2012 season, when 10 teams competed in league play. St. Louis and Nebraska/Indy failed to get its team off the ground.
Expansion was again on the off-season agenda as the Upstate Bears were named the 11th league member in February 2013. With the new geographical boundaries, the league again changed its name. In March 2013 MILA became the Continental Indoor Lacrosse League.
In May 2013, a league administration[2] was announced. Grand Rapids GM Russ King was named commissioner of the CILL. Detroit GM Owen Blank (secretary) and Ray Kincaid (treasurer) of Chicago were also appointed.
Seven teams made up the CILL in 2013, with Colorado going undefeated to win the regular season and #1 seed for the CILL Cup playoffs. The Sabertooths went on to defeat Chicago 14-11 in the championship game and were crowned CILL Cup champions.
The Cleveland Demons announced that they would return to the CILL in 2014. The Demons competed in the league starting in 2012, but went on a 1-year hiatus. The CILL announced that the Lansing Hot Rods would join the league as full-time members after playing a limited exhibition schedule in 2013.
Just prior to the season the Colorado Sabertooths announced that they would not play in 2014.[3] Soon after, the Columbus Brew pulled out of the season after multiple cancelled games. The Detroit Coney Dogs withdrew from league play after one game and a forfeit due to low player numbers.
Championship weekend took place September 27, 2014, in Chicago. Third place Milwaukee declined to participate so it became a three-team event. Second place Grand Rapids defeated the Pittsburgh Octane 20-7 in the semifinal to advance. Later that evening, the Chicago Outlaws defeated the Grand Rapids Dragonfish 20-13 to win their first CILL Cup.
Leadership change came in the spring when A.J. Collier II took over as league commissioner. A schedule was released in early July with nine teams set to compete.
Just before the regular season it was announced that the expansion Minnesota Ox would be joining the league as a probationary team. Minnesota played exhibition games in 2015, but then ceased operations.
The Cleveland Demons won the championship, beating the Dragonfish.
At the 2016 Winter Meeting that took place on March 19, the CILL accepted the application the expansion St. Louis Centurions.[4]
During the Winter Meeting, the Board of Governors voted to rebrand as the Box Lacrosse League. Governors also accepted the expansion Wallaceburg Satans.
St. Louis went undefeated during the season, capturing the BLL Cup.
| Team | City/Area | Arena | Founded | Joined | Head Coach | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago Outlaws | Palatine, Illinois | Salt Creek Sports Center | 2011 | 2011 | A.J. Collier II | |
| Circle City Copperheads | Indianapolis, Indiana | Ellenberger Park | 2015 | 2015 | Ken Levinberg | |
| Detroit Coney Dogs | West Bloomfield, Michigan | Inline Hockey Center | 2011 | 2012 | Owen Blank | |
| St. Louis Centurions | Ballwin, Missouri | Midwest Sport Hockey | 2016 | 2016 | Troy Hood | |
| Wallaceburg Satans | Wallaceburg, Ontario | Wallaceburg Memorial Arena | 2016 | 2017 | Chris Fox |
** = were added as expansion teams, but never competed in league play[5]
| Year | Champion | Finalist | Score | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | Grand Rapids Dragonfish | Chicago Outlaws | 13-7 | |
| 2012 | Colorado Sabretooths | Grand Rapids Dragonfish | 13-6 | |
| 2013 | Colorado Sabretooths | Chicago Outlaws | 14-11 | |
| 2014 | Chicago Outlaws | Grand Rapids Dragonfish | 20-13 | |
| 2015 | Cleveland Demons | Grand Rapids Dragonfish | 13-7 | |
| 2016 | Cleveland Demons | Chicago Outlaws | 13-10[6] | |
| 2017 | St. Louis Centurions | Chicago Outlaws | 12-7 |