The intensity and frenziness of box lacrosse has long been acknowledged, particularly at older and higher levels of play.

With that in mind, best to buckle in to follow the lacrosse journey of Kai Erkkila – because this ride is wild.

Considering his athletic involvement spans three different continents, all prior to the 20 year old truly garnering an exposure to competitive box lacrosse courtesy of the Sudbury U22 Rockhounds this summer, one should hardly expect anything less.

Born in Sudbury, Erkkila quickly realized that the nature of his father’s work would be providing the family with a global perspective, the crew making the move to Finland when Kai was but three years old.

That was fine since a very modest hockey introduction in Canada would play well in the Scandinavian nation that Erkkila would call home until the age of nine. Then came the time to uproot, once more, with the next three years being spent in Alexandria, Virginia.

“That’s where my lacrosse journey begins,” said Erkkila, though his involvement was limited to field lacrosse, generally playing as a long pole defender – with a little hockey mixed in on the side.

That was no longer the case when the repacking of suitcases lands the young teen in Nairobi, Kenya. The International School of Kenya was fine for some sports – volleyball, soccer and tennis, in particular - but certainly not hockey or lacrosse.

“I had pretty much lost my hockey skills,” explained Erkkila. “The only hockey rink I saw was up on the second or third floor of a mall with corners that were boxes.”

Hardly sounds like the ideal pathway for an athlete who has just completed his sophomore year with the Marist University Red Foxes (Poughkeepsie, New York) and will be stepping away from the Rockhounds for a couple of weeks as he represents Finland (he has dual citizenship) at an international field lacrosse event in Poland in July.

For that, Erkkila can thank the grounding and stability that came courtesy of St Andrews College in Aurora, his school of choice from grade eight right through his high-school graduation. While he may have entered the Saints’ den with hockey still on his mind, his experience in the field game played well at a school that promotes the sport as one of its varsity offerings.

Always blessed with an athletic build, Erkkila would earn a selection to Team Ontario in his senior years, taking full advantage of the showcase tournaments in which his Evolve Club team were participating, more often than not south of the border.

With his parents still stationed in Africa, Erkkila has spent the past few summers in Lively – though this year was the first time he was even aware of the Sudbury Rockhounds box lacrosse program.

“It’s a pretty easy transition,” said Erkkila, joining a team that entered the season as three-time provincial champions (once at “C” and the past two at “B”). “With the Rockhounds, all of the guys are very accepting, very willing to teach me the little details that I am missing. It’s been an easy process, a fun process.”

While some lacrosse players appreciate the move from the constrained indoor box lacrosse settings (played on a standard ice rink) to the wide open space of the field game (played on what is pretty much a standard football or soccer field), Erkkila suggested that it is not the area but the rules which he appreciates the most.

“It’s a lot more freeing going from field to box because you can do anything with your stick,” he stated with a smile, apparently quite enamoured with the fact that legalized – and fairly violent – cross-checking is very much part of the indoor game.

“In field, you get punished for the little things,” he said. “I just feel that there is a lot more emotion in box lacrosse as well.”

As much as this facet of box lacrosse receives a whole-hearted thumbs up from Erkkila, it is also the one area which has required the biggest adjustment.

“You have to start getting used to getting hit from behind – or from anywhere – with no mercy,” he said. “In field, you have to plant yourself and not move anything.”

“In box, everyone knows what they are signing up for. It’s honestly such a fun game.”

It was only through a very casual friendship between his cousin and his now teammate Jacob Barney that Erkkila learned of the Rockhounds, as he now looks to make up for lost time. “If I had known, I would have played the last two years,” he said.

“The overall feel is great, with everyone here to have fun – but also to learn. It’s a really enjoyable place to foster some skills in box lacrosse.”

Kai Erkkila should know. He’s seen his fair share of new places in his life journey, so far.