Good morning. Here’s the latest from around the lacrosse world:

1. Dino Mattessich, former Maryland men’s lacrosse head coach, returned home to the small Croatian island of Susak to help grow the sport he loves most.

He left more than 50 years ago, but one Google search followed by a phone call from Kevin Boyle brought him back to his roots.

“It was a perfect fit,” Mattessich said. “If it were any other country, I probably would not be doing this. It’s giving back to the game of lacrosse and also to my native land. I appreciate the opportunity to be in this position.”

Now, he will lead the Croatian national team into the 2018 FIL Men’s Lacrosse Championship in Netanya, Israel, this upcoming summer.

2. Billy Dee Smith and Mark Steenhuis will take opposing sides for the first time in an NLL game Saturday.

The brothers-in-law were former Buffalo Bandits teammates for 15 years before Smith signed with the Rochester Knighthawks in September. Steeinhuis still plays for the Bandits.

“As soon as the whistle blows, it’ll be just another game and we’ll both do whatever it takes to help our teams win,” Smith said.

3. Professional lacrosse had a whirlwind year. Take a look back at the major events of 2016-17 in the MLL, NLL, UWLX and WPLL. 

4. The WPLL announced Tuesday a new initiative called Future's, which is a developmental program providing 2019-21 high school graduates in 12 regions across the U.S. the opportunity to gain comprehensive in-classroom and on-field leadership skills, as well as bravery training. Those regions include California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Ohio, Massachusetts, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Texas and Virginia.

What We’re Reading

• Marquette is getting a new Athletic Performance Research Center and lacrosse coaches Joe Amplo and Meredith Black are excited.

• Columbus Business First officially dubbed Ohio as a “hotbed” for the sport after US Lacrosse Magazine recapped the exciting year for the sport in the state.

• Take a listen to NLL commissioner Nick Sakiewicz talk expansion and the possibility that indoor lacrosse will return to the Nassau Coliseum in New York.

• The plan for the Chesapeake Bayhawks’ $200 million stadium and fields project is still in flux as engineers crunch numbers and state and county agencies meet to discuss approval.

• Uganda Lacrosse ended its tryouts for its men’s national team on Monday and its roster announcement is expected in January.

• Inside Lacrosse takes a deep dive into loose balls as a stat unique to lacrosse.

What We’re Watching

LaxSportsNet remembers Atlanta Blaze head coach Dave Huntley, who died unexpectedly Monday. Huntley, 60, was a Canadian and National Lacrosse Hall of Fame member and a three-time All-American at Johns Hopkins.

Dave Huntley was always generous with his time and quick with his wit. Here is a sampling of memorable Dave Huntley moments on LSN. Rest in Peace. pic.twitter.com/8mxPJv3lm2

— Lax Sports Network (@LaxSportsNet) December 19, 2017

Many others in the lacrosse community continued to mourn Huntley, including Canadian lacrosse players and fans. Calvert Hall (Md.) also remembered its longtime assistant coach on Tuesday, a day full of tears and laughter.

What’s On Tap

• The New Year is almost upon us. Stay tuned for a sneak peak at our January cover.

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