When Canada took home the International Lacrosse Federation world championship with a 15-10 victory over the United States in July before a home crowd of more than 7,700 fans in London, Ontario, it was thanks in large measure to the efforts of two Fightin’ Blue Hens.

Among the key players for Canada were Jordan Hall, a midfielder from British Columbia, who is preparing for his senior season with the Hens, and attack John Grant Jr., CHS ’00, from Ontario, one of the greatest players in UD history and a member of the UD Athletics Hall of Fame.

Both played in all eight games during the championship tournament gold medal run. Hall scored seven goals, including two in the championship game, and added six assists, while Grant had 21 goals and a team-leading 21 assists.

Veteran UD Head Coach Bob Shillinglaw says the victory by Canada was a landmark, given that the United States had not lost in international competition in more than three decades.

He adds that Hall’s participation was exceptional because he was “one of the few college players, if not the only one, who stepped on the field for one of the heavyweight teams—the United States, Canada, Australia and Great Britain—during the world championships.” And, not only did Hall step on the field but he was an important part of the national team.

Shillinglaw calls Grant “a remarkable player” who followed his collegiate success with a brilliant professional career with the Rochester Knighthawks of the indoor National Lacrosse League and the Rochester Rattlers of outdoor Major League Lacrosse. While playing for UD in 1999, Grant scored 56 goals and had 54 assists, led the Hens to the NCAA Division I championship tournament quarterfinals and was named the national player of the year.

Grant “is a big, strong, physical attack,” Shillinglaw says. “He is a very dominant player, and yet he is unselfish. He will find the open players, as well as score himself. He was our quarterback when he played here.”

The midfielder Hall is a “phenomenal athlete, fast, quick and tough,” Shillinglaw says. “He is a player who can absorb a body check and go through a stick check to score.

“Both are great players to coach, easy to talk to and terrific ambassadors for our program and the sport of lacrosse.”

For Hall, who scored the first goal to give Canada an early lead in the championship game, the victory was one to savor as it gave his nation its first lacrosse world championship in 28 years. “It was something that I’ve always dreamed about,” Hall says. “I’ve always wanted to represent my country in any sport or in any way I could. Then, being able to take home the gold on home soil was incredible.”

Hall remembers both of his goals clearly, the first catching the United States defenders napping. “I was pretty pumped up all day, and I knew it was one of those games you never feel tired in no matter how much you play,” he says. “I just came on the field and saw the U.S. defense not quite set. I moved across the field and slipped into an area where I thought I would get picked up right away. When I realized that the defense wasn’t really paying attention, I cut as hard as I could.”

Hall says Canada attack Jeff Zywicki “made a great feed, and I caught the ball, took a slash across the cage and put it off side high. It was nice scoring the first one to get us going.”

After scoring on the run for his second goal of the championship game, Hall says he remembers just “running around looking for someone to celebrate with, and I saw Junior [John Grant] and ran over and went crazy.”

Hall originally played ice hockey, taking up lacrosse because he was attracted to the game “by the contact and speed,” plus the fact that “it was played in hockey’s off season.” Although he first played lacrosse at about age 10, he did not really focus on it until his junior year of high school, when he became determined to earn a scholarship.

Although he was offered scholarships by several universities, Hall says he was drawn to UD by the coaching staff and the recruiting visit. “Delaware has a great campus, an active social scene and looks good on a résumé,” he says.

It is a decision Hall says he hasn’t regretted, citing the support offered by the staff at UD while he is far from home. “The coaches here have treated me great, helping me through an ACL [anterior cruciate ligament] knee surgery and a couple of other challenges,” he says. “My academic advisers and trainers have been great, too. All those people have played the parent role in one way or another while I’m so far from mine.”

In addition to support from coaches and staff, Hall says he has a close relationship with his teammates. “My teammates are like family now,” he says. “We see each other too much at times and fight like brothers, but we all know how much we can rely on one another.”

As for the 2007 season, Hall says he believes the Hens have enough talent to challenge for the Colonial Athletic Association championship. ”We have a great group, and everyone is excited to get the season started,” he says. “There’s a confidence this year that I don’t think we’ve had before.”

UD is tentatively scheduled to open the 2007 season with a game against St. Joseph’s University on Feb. 10 at Rullo Stadium.