Lacosse_Summer09:Layout 1 - Ontario Lacrosse Magazine

Transcription

SUMMER 2009 | $4.95
High school lacrosse
taking off in Ontario
Katie Guy, Lady Blue Knights
alumni, and current member
of Team Canada
THE PASSION
LIVES ON
How lacrosse
helped past,
current and future
NHL stars
CPM Agreement #40752539
Laurier Golden Hawks and
Lady Blue Knights driven by
tradition, teamwork & winning
www.ontariolacrossemagazine.com
CONTENTS
Summer 2009 • Volume 1 • Issue 3 //
St. Peter's Secondary School (Peterborough), 2009 OFSAA AAA/AAAA Champions
FEATURES
16
20
22
24
26
8
Ontario high school lacrosse growing
by leaps and bounds
THE UNDENIABLE LINK
From Joe Nieuwendyk to Dave Bolland
to John Tavares, hockey and lacrosse
continue to enjoy a deep connection
A BLUEPRINT TO FOLLOW
FORWARD THINKING
In Stayner, Whitby and Sudbury,
developing programs for a younger
generation has attracted a new crop of
lacrosse players and enthusiasts
HEY REF!
Time has come to let the referees have
their say
Photo: Graig Abel Photography
4
SCHOOL’S IN
Through tradition, dedication and
teamwork, the Lady Blue Knights and
Laurier Golden Hawks are putting
women’s lacrosse on the map
DEPARTMENTS
20
10
12
14
19
28
NEWS & NOTES
Team Canada Wins Bronze • NCAA Game
Sets Attendance Record • Roughnecks Win
NLL Title • OMFLL Recap
BAGGATAWAY
A stroll down Minto Cup memory lane
RULE BOOK
Line Changes & Illegal Checks
NATIONALS REPORT
Major Lacrosse League’s newest team
is holding its own
LACROSSE ART
Talking to the kids behind the masks
EQUIPMENT BAG
Helmets
ON THE COVER
Katie Guy, Team Canada
Photo: Pellerins Photography
Summer 2009 | Ontario LACROSSE
3
NEWS & NOTES
Ontario Lacrosse magazine is the primary
source of information for Ontario lacrosse
players, parents, coaches and officials.
Published quarterly (Winter, Spring,
Summer, Fall), Ontario Lacrosse is mailed
directly to more than 10,000 members of the
Ontario Lacrosse Association. Our readers
turn to the magazine for the latest lacrosse
news, products, trends, insights and expert
opinion. All editorial submissions and article
queries should be sent to Paul Grossinger,
editor: [email protected].
After a slow start at the
2009 Federation of International Lacrosse
(FIL) Women’s World
Cup,
Canada
defeated England 14-9 to
capture the bronze
medal. Held in Prague,
Czech Republic from
June 18 to 27, the 16team tournament was
the largest in the history
of World Cup play.
After losses to Australia (16-11) and U.S.A.
(11-4), Canada defeated England (10-9), Japan (23-12)
and Wales (10-6 in quarterfinals) before a close semifinal loss to Australia (12-10).
Dana Dobbie (18 goals, 3 assists), Amanda Friend
(12g, 7a), Crysti Foote (12g, 7a), Brooke McKenzie
(12g, 5a) and Abbey Friend (10g, 1a) led Team Canada
in scoring.
Team Canada members from Ontario included:
Jessica Brownridge (Whitby), Alana Chan
(Omemee), Christine Comeau (Whitby), Dana Dobbie
(Fergus), Kalley Greer (Whitby), Katie Guy
(Whitby), Lindsey Hart (Vineland), Tami Rayner (Oshawa) and Kylee White (London).
Similar to past tournaments, U.S.A. and Australia met in the finals with the Americans defeating the defending champions 8-7 to take home the gold medal.
For complete tournament results, visit: www.lacrosseworldcup2009.com The views expressed by the authors
are not necessarily those of the Ontario
Lacrosse Association (OLA) or
KAP Publishing Ltd. All editorial
submissions are subject to editing. All
rights reserved. Contents may not be
reprinted without written permission
of the OLA and KAP Publishing.
PUBLISHER
Ontario Lacrosse Association
3 Concorde Gate, Suite 306
Toronto, ON M3C 3N7
T: 416-426-7066; F: 416-426-7382
Published in partnership with:
KAP Publishing Ltd.
1054 Centre Street, Suite 199
Thornhill, ON L4J 8E5
T: 905-370-0736; F: 905-747-0409
[email protected]
www.kappublishing.com
EDITOR
Paul Grossinger
[email protected]
ART DIRECTOR
Mark Tzerelshtein
[email protected]
OLA JUNIOR 'A' TITANS MEET IN MID-SEASON SHOWDOWN
ADVERTISING SALES
REPRESENTATIVE
Dave Douglas
CONTRIBUTORS
Paul Grossinger
Nicole Kallmeyer
Roger Lajoie
Paul Whiteside
Melissa Yollick
Return Undeliverable Canadian
Addresses to:
KAP Publishing Ltd.
Circulation Department
1054 Centre Street, Suite 199
Thornhill, ON L4J 8E5
Printed in Canada
4
Ontario LACROSSE | Summer 2009
Photo: Mike Malone
Canadian Publications Mail #40752539
In an OLA Junior “A” mid-season battle of the top two teams in league standings, the Orangeville
Northmen, powered by the outstanding goaltending
of Nick Rose, defeated the Burlington Chiefs 13-10
in Orangeville in front of 1,100 fans. Four consecutive, third-period goals by Adam Jones of Orangeville wasn’t even the featured performance of
the contest as the highlight of the night was the
dominating face-off skills of the Chiefs’ Jordan
McIntosh (pictured).
Nine days later in the rematch at Central Arena in
Burlington, the Chiefs outscored Orangeville 8-2 in
the first period and cruised to a 15-9 victory. For
Burlington, Cameron Watts made 46 saves and
Kevin Brownell (3g,4a), Kiel Matisz (1g,4a) and Matt
Hicks (4g) led the way offensively. Far more important for the Chiefs’ playoff prospects was a loud
home crowd of fans genuinely interested in a championship chase likely to include the Northmen, the
Brampton Excelsiors and the Six Nations Arrows. Photos: Pellerins Photography
TEAM CANADA WINS BRONZE
NEWS & NOTES
JAMIESON SCORES GOAL OF HIS LIFE
Cody Jamieson (43) of Six Nations celebrates his gamewinning overtime goal to capture the 2009 NCAA Men’s
Lacrosse Championship at Gillette Stadium in Boston,
Ma. Played on May 25, Syracuse defeated Cornell 10-9
to finish 16-2 on the season, and take home back-toback national titles. In victory, the Orangemen set a
team record of 10 NCAA championships (since 1971).
Cornell had taken a 9-6 lead in the game with 5:31 to play before Syracuse embarked on
one of the most memorable comebacks in NCAA history. Three consecutive Syracuse goals
by Toronto-native Stephen Keough, Jamieson and Kenny Nims (with four seconds
remaining) forced the game into overtime. NCAA GAME SETS ATTENDANCE RECORD
SANDERSON & CODD DRIVE CALGARY TO NLL TITLE
On April 25, in front of a NCAA men’s lacrosse
regular-season record crowd of 30,192 in
Columbus, Ohio, the University of Notre Dame
beat Ohio State 14-8 to finish as the only undefeated team in U.S. college lacrosse with a
record of 13-0. The lacrosse game, promoted
as Showdown in the Shoe, preceded the Ohio
State Buckeyes spring football game.
On the field for the lacrosse Buckeyes that
afternoon was Brock Sorensen, a 2006 Minto
Cup champion and captain of Team Canada’s
U19 squad in 2008.
In front of 13,042 hometown fans at the Pengrowth Saddledome, the Calgary Roughnecks captured the National
Lacrosse League (NLL) Champions Cup by defeating the New
York Titans, 12-10, on May 15. The victory was the second
league title in Roughnecks franchise history. Josh Sanderson
was named the Reebok Championship Game MVP.
Orangeville-native Bruce Codd had a two-goal performance for Calgary and remembers the night.
“What a feeling it was winning the Champions Cup!” he says. “There is nothing better than
celebrating a championship on your home turf in front of your fans. The game itself was a
classic as it was a clash of two very different styles and had a little bit of everything: a goal from
centre (Calgary’s Kaleb Toth), between the legs (Titan's Casey Powell) and big saves (by
winning goalie Matt King). It truly was a spectacle for our game.” A two-time athlete-of-the-year at Kenner
Collegiate in Peterborough, Sorensen reflected on the experience: “The Showdown in
the Shoe was very special to our entire program. The atmosphere the crowd creates in
Ohio Stadium is breathtaking. For me personally, I don’t think it truly registered that we
played in front of that many people in a spectacular venue until weeks later. It was a great
experience and our team is looking forward to
the same contest next year. With this many
people watching in the State of Ohio, it does a
lot for the game of lacrosse.” www.ontariolacrossemagazine.com
5
NEWS & NOTES
FESTIVAL CONTINUES TO GROW
The Ontario Lacrosse Festival returns July 31 to August
9 with expanded facilities, program and status that now
ranks it as the second largest annual youth sport event
in the province. With the 2009 event approaching 6,800
athletes and coaches, the Festival is larger than all Ontario youth sporting events except the Bell Capital Cup
hockey tournament in Ottawa. The economic impact of
the event is now estimated at $5.1 million.
This summer the Festival welcomes four new
events as part of its 10-day celebration of the game:
the Girls Bantam Lacrosse Championship of Canada,
the U19 Girls Field Lacrosse Provincials, the OLA Bantam Provincials, and the OLA Midget Provincials. In
total, the Festival hosts 12 separate national and
provincial championships in both box and field
lacrosse. To accommodate the expanded size of the
event, the Festival now includes the use of additional
facilities in the City of Oshawa. Children’s Arena, Harman Park Arena and the Donevan Recreation Complex join the stable of existing facilities
(Iroquois Park Sports Centre, McKinney, Vipond and Legends Centre) to host approximately 400 teams this year.
Opening ceremonies of the Festival are scheduled for August 2 at 4:00 pm on Pad 1 at the Iroquois Park Sports Centre in Whitby. Rogers Television returns to broadcast the championship games of the three national tournaments on Saturday, August 8 from the same location, where
organizers expect a sold out facility for the sixth consecutive year. Lacrosse Inside the Game personalities Gary Marks (play-by-play) and Ron
Messer (game insights/analysis) will be featured on the Rogers broadcasts. 6
NEWS & NOTES
NEW EQUIPMENT POLICY RELEASED
BIG GOALS IN BIG GAMES
New for the 2009 OLA Provincial Championships is the implementation of a policy
designed to improve goodwill between
competing coaches and teams, reduce potential tensions in arenas and eliminate
ambiguity over illegal protective equipment, which may be used during games.
Lacrosse is a game filled with goals — goals that help teams play catch-up, goals that change momentum, goals that provide hope and goals that pad leads.
Goals can inspire and impress. Some goals are earned, while others are luck. Some goals are of
the highlight variety and some are game winners at tournament championship games. Here is just
a sample of recent big goals that have been celebrated.
Under the policy, protective equipment
worn by players/goaltenders falls into one
of three defined situations with different
prescribed consequences. The primary
purpose of the policy is to differentiate between those players/goaltenders using
approved legal equipment that may be
worn or installed incorrectly and those
who choose to wear unapproved illegal
equipment.
In cases of players/goaltenders using
approved legal equipment, which may be
worn or installed incorrectly, the
player/goaltender is simply ruled ineligible to participate until the equipment problem can be corrected. In these situations,
time penalties will not be assessed. With
the equipment problem corrected, the
player/goaltender is ruled eligible to reenter the game. Under no circumstances
will a game be delayed for protective
equipment corrections or adjustments.
Lacrosse sticks (players/goaltenders)
are not considered protective equipment
and are therefore not included under this
policy. Existing playing rules covering the
lacrosse stick apply.
The OLA Illegal Protective Equipment
Enforcement Policy can be found on the
Ontario Lacrosse Festival web site
(www.ontariolacrossefestival.com) under
Playing Rules Advisory. www.ontariolacrossemagazine.com
PLAYER
DIVISION
TEAMS
SCORE
TOURNAMENT
Bryan Cole
Midget A
Oakville defeats Oshawa 1
5-4
OMFLL Final
Andrew Kelly
Midget C
West Durham defeats Mississauga
6-5
OMFLL Final
Josh Glimes
Novice A
Mimico defeats Clarington
5-4
OMFLL Final
Austin Hasen
Novice B
Brampton defeats Centre Wellington
5-4
OMFLL Final
Patrick Vulgan
Novice C
Oakville defeats West Durham
6-5
OMFLL Final
Ryan Hunt
PeeWee A
Beaches defeats Oakville
5-4
OMFLL Final
Shane Ruddy
Midget B
Hamilton defeats Guelph
8-7
OMFLL Final
Nicholas Karam
Bantam A
Oshawa 1 defeats Clarington 1
9-8
OMFLL Final
Christopher Cloutier
Bantam B
Kitchener defeats Newmarket
9-8
OMFLL Final
Jake McNabb
Peewee B/C
Owen Sound defeats Whitby
5-4
Innisfil
Nicholas Chaykowsky
Bantam B/C
Newmarket defeats Caledon
4-3
Innisfil
Matt Henderson
Peewee D
Burlington 2 defeats Cambridge
4-3
Six Nations
Dustin Birkhof
Tyke A
Peterborough defeats Clarington
5-4
Peterborough
Joshua Medeiros
Peewee A
Brampton defeats Whitby
5-4
Brampton
Shane Halliwell
Tyke C
Cambridge defeats Milton
6-5
Milton
Jackson Topo
Peewee C
Mississauga 2 defeats Brantford
6-5
Milton
Johnny Powless
Midget A/B
Six Nations defeats Akwesasne
8-7
St. Catharines
Chase Kavanaugh
Peewee B
Windsor defeats Sarnia
4-3
Guelph
Nathan Bolger
Novice B/C
Elora defeats Windsor
6-5
Guelph
Zack Herrreweyers
Midget B/C
London defeats Sarnia
5-4
Guelph
Troy Peters
Intermediate A/B
Kitchener defeats Burlington
4-3
Guelph
Nashton Lawrence
Peewee C
Kahnawake defeats Whitby 4
5-4
Kingston
Garen Brant-Foster
Peewee D
Kingston defeats Nepean
4-3
Kingston
Zack Cameron
Novice C/D
Fergus defeats Toronto Stars
11-10
Stayner
Robbie Stovel
Peewee C/D
Fergus defeats Arthur
5-4
Stayner
Cody Farrows
Tyke C/D
Shelburne defeats Cambridge
7-6
Arthur
Robbie Stovel
Peewee C/D
Fergus defeats Orangeville 2
6-5
Arthur
Jacob Giacobbi
Tyke B/C
Nepean defeats Cornwall
5-4
Cornwall
Cortlon Skidders
Peewee B/C
Cornwall defeats Huntsville
4-3
Cornwall
Brine Rice
Bantam B/C
Kahnawake defeats Montreal
7-6
Cornwall
Levi Anderson
Novice A/B
Six Nations defeats Whitby
3-2
Owen Sound
Dean Ferris
Midget A/B
Elora defeats Barrie
4-3
Owen Sound
Kole Scott
Novice B/C
Orillia defeats Brampton
9-8
West Durham
Tyler Antram
Bantam B/C
Whitby 2 defeats Brampton
5-4
West Durham
7
NEWS & NOTES
// OMFLL Championships
Hail to the
CHAMPIONS
n May 22-24, the Ontario Minor Field Lacrosse League held its provincial
championships in Brampton. Here is a rundown of the gold, silver and bronze
medal winners in every division. Congratulations to all the players, coaches,
host (Brampton Minor Lacrosse Association) and volunteers who make this annual
championship a great event. Photos: Pellerins Photography
O
8
DIVISION
GOLD
SILVER
BRONZE
Novice A
Oshawa
Oakville
Mimico
Novice B
Caledon
Orilla
Brampton
Novice C
Beaches
Oakville
Oakville
Peewee A
Oshawa
Brampton
Beaches
Peewee B
Oshawa
Peterborough
Windsor
Peewee C
Centre Wellington
Kitchener
London
Bantam A
Oshawa
Clarington
Oakville
Bantam B
Peterborough
Mimico
Kitchener
Bantam C
Hamilton
Orangeville
Oshawa
Midget A
Halton Hills
Peterborough
Oakville
Midget B
Clarington
London
Hamilton
Midget C
West Durham
Mississauga
Kitchener
OMFLL Championships //
NEWS & NOTES
9
BAGGATAWAY
// By Paul Whiteside
50 YEARS AND COUNTING
A
half-century is a
long time to wait
for anything. Yet
this is how long it has been
since the Minto Cup was last
held in Brampton, Ont. It
was also the last time the
Excelsiors hoisted the
championship trophy.
Back in 1959, the Excelsiors were known as the
Armstrongs (aka, the
A.B.C.s).
Since
then
Brampton has had the
misfortune to always
win the OLA title during years — 1962, 1976
and 1994 — the Minto
Cup
championship
was held in British Columbia.
The 1994 final pitting Brampton and
the New Westminster
Salmonbellies was a
classic
showdown
between two clubs
with great lacrosse
traditions, as well as
the two teams with
the longest championship
droughts.
(New Westminster
had previously won in
1960.) After seven
hard fought games,
the Salmonbellies returned to the Promised Land, while Brampton fans have remained in the wilderness —
50 years and counting.
For Brampton, the other bitter pill to swallow
is the fact that a short distance up Highway 10 resides its arch nemesis: the Orangeville Northmen, the defending Minto Cup champs, and a
likely participant in this years’ finale. The contrast
10
between the two
franchises is striking. While Brampton
has endured a halfcentury of near
misses, but mostly
losing seasons, the
Northmen have enjoyed endless success since joining the
Junior ‘A’ ranks in
1991. Twenty years
ago the idea of the
small town of Orangeville winning the
Minto would have
been unthinkable
to many lacrosse
aficionados.
MEMORABLE MOMENTS
A tricky task for any Ontario lacrosse fan is to
remember the greatest moments in Minto Cup
history. Looking back, half the finals were
played out West, which leaves many people
without immediate access to half of the championships. To compound the problem, lacrosse
traditionalists (this one anyway) do not recog-
nize round-robin tournaments, which are currently in fashion again.
To make matters
worse, OLA clubs have
dominated Minto Cups
played in Ontario as
Burnaby in 1977 and a
B.C. all-star team in
1949 are the only two
western clubs to win the
Minto Cup in the east.
The norm for OLA fans
is Orangeville’s Minto experience. The Northmen
played host in 1993 and
1995 and won all eight
games played between the two events. I attended seven of those games and it was the
kind of miserable defensive dominance I had
grown accustomed to seeing Peterborough
play in the 1980s. If there’s such a thing as
lacrosse terrorism this was it! Frankly, the
only memorable moment of those two finals
was the unfortunate Game 3 brawl in 1995
with a coach being sucker punched, fans invading the floor and police officers called in to
restore the peace.
As for my favourite moments at the Minto
Cup, Game 3 of the 1997 final stands out. To
be precise, it was prior to the actual contest. In
my clipboard I was carrying my 1977 Minto
program, waiting for a chance to meet Jack
Crosby and have him sign it. Crosby was the
general manager of Burnaby in 1977 when the
team came from two games down to defeat
Whitby. Twenty years later, Crosby was still
running Burnaby and they were up 2-0 on
Whitby and looking good. He was quite happy
to sign my little program, a yellow sheet of
paper folded in half. I had the nerve to point
out to him how his boys had lost the first two
games and come back 20 years ago and
wouldn’t it be ironic if Whitby, having lost the
first two, turned the trick on Burnaby this time.
Photos: Tracy Hope, Hired Gun Photography
IT’S BEEN A HALF A CENTURY SINCE THE BRAMPTON EXCELSIORS WON THE MINTO CUP, BUT
WITH THE CHAMPIONSHIP TOURNAMENT BEING HELD IN ITS OWN BACK YARD THIS YEAR, IT IS
TIME TO LOOK BACK AT SOME MEMORABLE MOMENTS IN JUNIOR ‘A’ LACROSSE HISTORY
BAGGATAWAY
I think you can guess what happened. Whitby
won the next four games.
As for the greatest Minto Cup final held in Ontario, it’s an easy choice. Let me take you back to
Whitby’s Iroquois Park Sports Centre for the 1985
final. In the middle of a stretch of round robin
tournaments — 1983, 1984, 1986, 1987, 1988 &
1990 — the powers that be decided the 1985 final
would be a best of seven series. A youthful Joe
Nieuwendyk, 18 years old, was playing his last
seven games against the Gait twins, making their
first appearance in Ontario. The finals pitted two
free wheeling offensive minded clubs. It was the
best the Minto final has ever or will ever see. Unfortunately, the series was played during a terrible heat wave. The heat, plus seven games in
nine days took its toll.
The deciding match
was the third game in
three nights with Victoria’s legs giving out
as Whitby ran them off
the floor with a 16-8
victory.
Now we look forward to this year’s
final in Brampton. It
will be a four-team
tournament, including
one
non-league
champion from Ontario. At this point, as a
lacrosse conservative, I’ll exit stage left.
Paul Whiteside is a lifetime lacrosse fan whom,
back in the 1990s, had the honour of conducting
lacrosse research, pre-1961. That journey
through time took him beyond the box lacrosse
era, back to the start of the Ontario Lacrosse Association and the glory days of the National
Lacrosse Union.
PRIDE
LACROSSE
“Canada's Top 100”
“Canada’s Top 100” is a lacrosse camp focused
on exposing elite Canadian high school lacrosse players
to top NCAA Division I, II, and III lacrosse programs.
The camp also offers advanced instruction from some of
the top players and coaches in the game.
Date
June 30th and July 1st
Location The Hill Academy, Kleinburg, Ontario, Canada
Register Email Brodie Merrill at [email protected]
Camp is open to Rising Grade 10, 11, 12 High School Students.
Canada's Top 100 “Providing Canadian high school lacrosse
players with the opportunity to display their talents
in front of the nation’s top NCAA programs.”
"I spent my money on a number of US
based camps last summer. Canada's Top 100
was the best bang for my buck. I was able to
showcase my skills in a smaller environment
with a large number of NCAA coaches
watching. I recently committed to Yale and
know that Patrick and Brodie were
instrumental in making that happen."
Kirby Zdrill Yale Univeristy class of 2014
For more information, please visit our website at
www.thehillacademy.com/ath_camps_tournaments
Tel: 416.500.2492
11
RULE BOOK
LINE CHANGES &
Photo: Images of You
ILLEGAL
CHECKS
QUESTION: In arenas where the bench doors
are right beside each other, what players (i.e.,
home or visitors) have the ‘right of way’ during
box line changes?
ANSWER: The general understanding is that
the player leaving the floor has the right of
way, but this is not a hard and fast rule. In
these situations interference can occur in both
directions, either onto or off the floor. Even
though the person leaving the floor has the
right of way, referees are trained to look for
the player who initiates the contact. It is this
player — the one who created the interference
situation — that would be called for a penalty.
12
Considering that most of the time the ball is
down the floor away from the bench area
when this occurs, it would be a two-minute interference penalty.
QUESTION: When should an instigator penalty
be assessed in box lacrosse?
ANSWER: Under the fighting rule (#45) an
instigator is described as the person who
clearly initiates the altercation, not simply the
person who throws the first punch or the one
who drops his gloves first. A referee must see
the progression for some time prior to the actual altercation to determine if there is a
clear instigator of the fight. The same rule
goes on to describe an aggressor as the individual who continues to participate in the altercation after being instructed by the
referees to stop, after having been separated,
or after their combatant has clearly indicated
that they are done with the situation. Instigator and aggressor penalties both carry a
game misconduct penalty, in addition to any
other penalties assessed. Additionally, a report will be filed with the OLA (or tournament
convener) about the incident and there may
be a hearing called to see if further disciplinary action is required.
RULE BOOK
lacrosse, what constitutes an illegal check?
ANSWER: A player must not
roughly or recklessly check/tackle
an opponent’s crosse, nor can a
player strike an opponent with her
crosse or force an opponent’s crosse
into the opponent’s body. A yellow
card must be assessed for a check
that makes contact with a player’s
head. A player must not hold her
crosse within a field crosse width of
an opponent’s head or neck (approximately 18cm or the width of a
player’s shoulders). Furthermore, a
player must not reach around or
across her opponent’s body to check
her opponent’s crosse when her feet
are behind the opponent or level
with the opponent.
QUESTION: True or false: in
women’s field lacrosse, an advan-
tage call/flag is only assessed for a
player carrying the ball.
ANSWER: The advantage flag is a
held whistle for a major foul by the
defense when the attacking team is
on a scoring play within 15m of the
net. The advantage flag area includes the 15m fan and the playing
area behind the goal that runs 9m
deep and 15m to each side of the
centre of the goal line. In this situation, the umpire shall raise a yellow
flag when an attack player with or
without the ball is fouled while her
team is on a scoring play. Do you have any rules-related questions for box, men’s field, women’s
field and/or master’s rules lacrosse? If
so, e-mail them to [email protected]. One of our experienced officials will gladly answer
them in a future issue of Ontario
Lacrosse.
13
Photo: Pellerins Photography
QUESTION: In women’s field
NATIONALS REPORT
// By Roger Lajoie
OFF TO A
GOOD START
ALTHOUGH EARLY, THE TORONTO NATIONALS ARE PROVIDING FANS WITH
BIG-NAME PLAYERS, EXCITING LACROSSE AND EVEN SOME WINS IN ITS
INAUGURAL SEASON IN THE MAJOR LACROSSE LEAGUE
t hasn’t been easy, but the Toronto Nationals are
near the top of the heap in Major League Lacrosse
(MLL) in their inaugural season.
The Nationals were certainly expected to be one of the
league powers this season, primarily because of its veteranladen line up of players from last season’s league championship team that was based in Rochester. But any thoughts of
the club dominating the league were dispelled very early in
the season.
Toronto did win three of its first four games, but all of them
were tightly contested affairs. So a much more comfortable
19-12 win over the Washington Bayhawks at BMO Field recently was welcomed by the club, as it put Toronto in first place
in the standings.
Perhaps more importantly, however, it served as an indication that this team still has the ability to dominate most of
its opponents.
It was the third straight win over the Bayhawks, completing
a season sweep, and the Nationals — for the first time this season — showed just how good a team they can be.
I
14
Top: Geoff Snider faces off against the Washington Bayhawks. Photo: Paolo Cescato
Bottom: Brodie Merrill and Matt Vinc compete against the Chicago Machine. Photo: Paolo Cesato
Opposite page: (top) Joe Walters scores the first goal in Toronto Nationals history. Photo: Claire
Harvey; (bottom) Brett Queener stones the Washington Bayhawks. Photo: Averill Lehan
NATIONALS REPORT
Rookie goalie Doc Schneider, drafted earlier
this year in the Major Lacrosse League (MLL)
Collegiate Draft from the University of Massachusetts, looked sharp throughout the game,
stopping 11 of 15 shots in his MLL debut
“A lot of teams in this league have a lot of talent, with teams folding,” Thomson asserts. “We
have a lot of talent on this one team. It’s great to
beat a team three times, and this win puts us on
top so it was big. The main goal is to win a championship and that’s all that really matters.”
As for support of the team, attendance has
been “about what we expected,” says Stu
Brown, the Nationals’ general manager, who
feels that “everything considered, with the
economy the way it is, we’re doing pretty well
here. We have no doubt that in time, fans are
really going to get involved with this team and
come out and support us.”
2009 Toronto Nationals tickets are still available for July 23 vs.
Boston and August 8 vs. Denver. To learn more about available ticket
packages, call the Toronto Rock ticket office at 416-596-3075 or e-mail:
[email protected]. Roger Lajoie is a freelance writer in Toronto, Ont.
T he H ill A cademy
“We’re into the middle third of the season now and I think this is more
of what you’ll see the rest of the way,” says Dave Huntley, coach of the Nationals. “It was really the first time we played well offensively all year.”
Huntley certainly has a very strong roster to work with, including
many players from Canada’s national field lacrosse program. He admits with so many good players on board, getting playing time for everybody at first was a challenge.
“Everybody was good about it, the players knew we were going to
rotate the line up a bit until we got going,” Huntley explains. “Now it’s a
different story.”
It was certainly a different story the third time the Nationals beat the
Bayhawks. After 17-15 and 17-16 wins the first two times the teams met,
Toronto controlled the game this time around and if not for a second half
lapse, the final score would have been even more lopsided.
Midfielder Joe Walters says that’s because the team is now finally
coming into its own.
“It was a good team effort, it was a great game for us,” Walters says.
“It’s taken a couple of games for us to get used to each other and get a
line up we can stick with.”
Defender Brodie Merrill scored two goals, and scooped 10 ground
balls to be named game MVP. Walters scored three goals and an assist
and Merrick Thomson added three goals for the Nationals.
Rookie long pole Sid Smith added a short-handed marker and Delby Powless and Jeff Zywicki recorded a pair each. Geoff Snider, Colin Doyle, Jordan
Levine and Shawn Williams had one goal each in the afternoon victory.
The Hill Academy is a unique private school
that offers a program specifically designed
for Student-Athletes. While students are
engaged in an outstanding academic
program, they are working at a level of
sports training normally available only at
the College/University level. The “Hill”
provides the foundation for intellectual,
athletic, and personal development enabling
each individual to maximize their full
potential and ultimately reach the next level.
C oaches
Brodie Merrill
Men’s Varsity
Jamine Aponte
Women’s Varsity
T estimonials
"Each day the faculty at the Hill pushes
me to become a more mature player
and student which will prepare me for
my post-secondary career. This year at
the Hill I have learned and grown as a
player, student, and person and feel
confident that I will be able to walk
into SBU and make a positive impact
on the team on and off of the field."
- JJ Laforet Stony Brook University class of 2013
"The Hill Academy empowered me.
The coaching and training at the Hill
helped me improve my athletic and
lacrosse skills which greatly improved
my confidence and my game. Now my
ultimate dream of playing Division I
lacrosse has come true. Thanks Hill
Academy!"
- Jason Card Hofstra University class of 2011
For information on how to apply to The Hill Academy, please
contact us at 905.893.7065 or admissions@thehillacademy
or visit our website www.thehillacademy.com
15
SCHOOL’S IN
DESPITE SEVERAL OBSTACLES,
HIGH SCHOOL LACROSSE IN
ONTARIO IS GROWING IN
POPULARITY, MAINLY DUE TO THE
ENTHUSIASM, COMMITMENT AND
DEDICATION OF THE COACHES
WHO ARE TRULY PASSIONATE
ABOUT THE SPORT THEY LOVE
Photos: Paul Grossinger
// By Melissa Yollick
H
igh school sports in Ontario is no joking matter. Whether it is hockey,
rugby, track & field or volleyball, both
boys and girls from grades 9 to 12 are participating at record levels, and at great intensity.
You can now throw lacrosse into the mix of
high school sports garnering greater interest
from kids, university coaches and the media
as participation in the game has expanded to
70 boys and 60 girls lacrosse teams in Ontario,
according to the Ontario Federation of School
16
Athletic Associations (OFSAA). And with
many kids landing scholarships to play at colleges in the United States, there is no doubt
that high school lacrosse in Ontario is only
getting stronger.
However, there are still several issues that
stand in the way of the sport ever reaching the
popularity of more traditional high school
sports, such as hockey and basketball. The concerns from high school lacrosse coaches vary
from the usual complaints like competition for
field time and lack of funding, to more complex
issues such as the sport not being sanctioned
as an official Canadian Interuniversity Sport
(CIS) at the university level (for men), and the
lack of athletic scholarships at Canadian universities. While there is still significant room
for growth, and some challenges that lie ahead,
it seems the enthusiasm from the coaches —
who simply love the game — is what is driving
lacrosse’s positive progression.
Becoming an OFSAA sanctioned sport in
2007 has no doubt helped develop high school
field lacrosse over the past few years. However,
since lacrosse (at the high school level) is
played in the spring, it depends on the availability of outdoor fields, thus the season’s
length is at the mercy of school board regulations that do not allow teams to start playing
until May 1. One way around this obstacle is to
install turf fields, which may be customary in
private and independent schools, but not for
public schools that are already feeling the pinch
of tightening budgets. And it is because of turf
fields that teams like St. Michael’s College in
Toronto, Ont., can start practicing right after
March Break — more than a month before
many of the public schools.
Besides the turf versus grass debate, some of
the other challenges confronting high school
lacrosse affect all schools and high school
sports, such as dividing the leagues by school
population instead of ability.
“It is a challenge because we have a couple of
schools in our conference that could probably
be better suited playing with teams that are
more on par with their skill level, but they have
to play based on school population,” says Rob
McDonald, the boy’s field lacrosse coach at St.
Mary Catholic School in Pickering, Ont.
As for girls’ high school field lacrosse, there
are some schools that are seeing more development, such as St. Mary, which started a girls’
program this year. But where the most development lies is at the university level because
Canadian women’s field lacrosse has been sanctioned as an official CIS sport since 1998. This
status provides them with larger budgets,
among other benefits, making it easier to play
more games.
“One of the barriers is the failure of Canadian universities to sanction men’s lacrosse as
an official CIS sport, so many of our best college-bound lacrosse players go to the United
States,” says Greg Reid, director of athletics at
St. Andrew’s College in Aurora.
It is evident by watching just one game that
high school lacrosse is surely not lacking talented, passionate and skilled players. It is this
skill level that attracts many coaches from U.S.
Division I, II and III colleges.
“There’s about 150 Canadians on various
scholarships and bursaries right now playing
men’s lacrosse [in the U.S.],” says Reid. “In
Canada, there are a number of universities playing lacrosse, and have been doing so since the
early 1980s. The Canadian universities generally
do not have athletic scholarships. We are told
this may be changing, but we haven’t seen it yet.”
While there are a number of former Ontario
high school students currently playing lacrosse
at U.S. universities on athletic scholarships, talent alone cannot lead to receiving a scholarship.
Many high school coaches are teachers as well,
with busy schedules and not enough resources
or time to place their students’ academic and
athletic prowess in front of U.S. college coaches.
>> Continued on page 18
ST. PETER’S
CROWNED CHAMPIONS
At this year’s OFSAA Boy’s AAA/
AAAA field lacrosse championships
held on June 4-5 at the Sheppard’s
Bush Conservation Area in Aurora, 12
teams started the two day event with
only one goal in mind: to be crowned
champion. However, only one team left
the tournament with the right to this
claim and that was Peterborough's St.
Peter’s Secondary School which beat
Holy Cross Catholic Secondary School
14-11 in the gold medal game. St.
Andrews College nipped Leo Austin
Catholic Secondary School 8-7 to take
home the bronze medal.
Going into the two-day, pool play
tournament, the 12 teams were ranked
in the following order: #1 Holy Cross,
St. Catharines (SOSSA Champion);
#2 St. Andrews, Aurora (CISAA
Champion); #3 St. Peter’s, Peterborough
(COSSA Champion); #4 Father Leo
Austin, Whitby (LOSSA Champion); #5
Malvern Collegiate Institute, Toronto
(TDSSAA Champion); #6 MSGR Paul
Dwyer Catholic High School, Oshawa
(LOSSA Representative); #7 Mayfield
Secondary School, Caledon (ROPSSAA
Champion); #8 Notre Dame Catholic
Secondary School, Burlington (GHAC
Champion); #9 Sir William Mulock
Secondary School, Newmarket (YRAA
Champion); #10 Aurora High School,
Aurora
(YRAA
Representative);
#11 Brampton Centennial Secondary
School,
Brampton
(ROPSSAA
Representative); #12 St. Joseph
Catholic High School, Nepean (NCSSAA
Champion).
In the OFSAA Boys’ A/AA Field
Lacrosse Championship game, held in
Peterborough on June 1-2, Hagersville
Secondary School defeated Holy Cross
Catholic Secondary School 13-10.
17
Photos: Paul Grossinger
>> Continued from page 17
“Teachers in the public and catholic school
systems have their plate full with teaching. If kids
want to get athletic scholarships in the States,
they almost have to do it themselves. They have
to go to summer camp in the U.S. and they have
to promote themselves because most teachers
don’t have the information, the experience or the
extra time to do it for them,” adds Reid.
That being said, there are coaches who are
going above and beyond to make sure their players get noticed. Next year, both St. Mary and St.
Michael’s are planning to go to Florida to promote their teams in front of university coaches.
This June, St. Michael’s went down to New England to showcase 10 students in front of approximately 50 U.S. university coaches, while St.
Andrew’s ventured on a similar trip to Pennsylvania earlier in the year.
“It takes a lot of leg work on a high school
coach’s behalf and I know most are interested
in moving their kids to a higher level. They are
in it for the student athletes, and you hope
that when their playing days are done they are
going to jump back in there themselves and
help with the next generation,” says St. Mary’s
McDonald.
18
Some professional players have done just
that, such as Jim Veltman and Jason Crosbie,
former and current Toronto Rock players, respectively, who coach high school and other junior field lacrosse teams in Ontario. “Because of
the dynamic of professional lacrosse, professional athletes are very accessible,” adds Alex
Fescura, head coach of the St. Michael’s boys
lacrosse team.
It is these men, and the other men and
woman coaching high school lacrosse throughout Ontario, who are fueling interest and excitement in the game for the younger players,
and are stimulating the growth of the sport.
“Ideally, the high school players that I have
now that are going to university will comeback
in five years time and say, ‘Coach, can I give you
a hand?’ or they become teachers and start their
own teams, and give back to the sport,” says a
hopeful McDonald.
And with more opportunities to play at the university level, the more players there will be to come
back and pass on their enthusiasm to the next generation of high school student-athletes. Melissa Yollick is a freelance writer in Toronto, Ont.
LACROSSE ART
Behind
THE
MASK
EVERY GOALIE MASK HAS A STORY, SO WE ASKED SOME KIDS TO TELL US THEIR’S
MATT HASTINGS
LIAM WYNNE
Age: 13
Goalie Experience: Started in minor tyke
Team: Clarington Green Gaels
Story Behind Mask: With his nickname
“The Wall,” Liam’s parents decided to go
with a design based on the album cover of
Pink Floyd’s The Wall.
— “I play both field and box lacrosse, and I like
playing goalie because it offers more action. My
parents designed it — it was a surprise.”
Age: 16
Team: Mimico Mountaineers
Goalie Experience: Started when he was
five years old
Story Behind Mask: Native headdress
(mom is part Chipawa Indian) and grim
reaper because Matt is into supernatural
and good luck charms.
— “I needed a new mask, so I was pretty
excited. It was a surprise from my dad.”
KEATON DALE, Hamilton Bengals
BENOIT GAGNIER,
Gloucester Griffins
JONATHAN DONVILLE,
Oakville Hawks
STEPHEN WALSH
HAYDEN
JOHNSTONE
Age: 15
Goalie Experience: 7 years
Team: Toronto Beaches
Story Behind Mask: Bought
by coach
— “I was outside in the backyard playing with friends, and
they needed someone to
shoot on. I tried goalie and I
liked it.”
Photo: AZ Images
Age: 10
Team: Clarington
Green Gaels
Story Behind Mask:
Steven selected mask, but
was surprised when he
got mask for Christmas
from his parents. He used
to wear a hockey goalie
helmet, which was getting small and he
wanted to have a “real”
lacrosse goalie helmet.
— “Lacrosse is really fun and it helps with my
hand-eye coordination.”
19
THE UNDENIABLE
LINK
// By Roger Lajoie
H
ere’s a trivia question for all of you
die-hard hockey fans: What do
Wayne Gretzky, Steven Stamkos,
Brendan Shanahan, Gary Roberts, Joe
Nieuwendyk, Paul Kariya, Joe Sakic, Paul Coffey and Adam Oates, just to name a few NHL
greats, have in common?
For a lacrosse fan, the question is a ridiculously easy one to answer. All of those hockey
superstars – and many more actually – have all
played and loved lacrosse.
“I always said that there were a lot of
us that would have picked lacrosse
over hockey if we could have made
the same kind of living playing it,”
says Gary Roberts, 43,
who retired this
John Tavares, the first
pick in this year’s NHL
Entry Draft, attributes
some of this elite
hockey skills to his
days playing lacrosse.
Photo: London Knights
Hockey Club
20
past year after playing 22 seasons in the NHL.
“The toughness and physical aspect of lacrosse
has definitely had an influence on my playing
ability in hockey.”
In his younger days, Roberts was a terrific
lacrosse player, as was his Whitby buddy Joe
Nieuwendyk, whose brother Gil is considered a
superstar in the sport. Joe, recently named the
general manager of the Dallas Stars, wasn’t that
shabby himself as his impressive lacrosse résume
includes a MVP award from the Minto
Cup when he was as 18 years old.
“Lacrosse was a great way to get
ready for hockey, but it was much
more than that to me as well,”
Nieuwendyk says. “The memories
I have from minor lacrosse, growing up in Whitby, and from the
Minto Cup and the lessons learned
from that, are very special ones for me.”
Roberts and Nieuwendyk grew up and
FROM WAYNE GRETZKY TO JOE
NIEUWENDYK AND MORE RECENTLY
DAVE BOLLAND TO JOHN TAVARES, IT
IS AMAZING TO HEAR THE HUGE AND
POSITIVE IMPACT PLAYING
LACROSSE HAD ON NHL STARS FROM
THE PAST, PRESENT AND FUTURE
played lacrosse together more than 25 years ago
now. But hockey players playing lacrosse — or
for that matter, lacrosse players playing hockey
— was a common trend long before their time
and is still today.
One just has to look at the success of David
Bolland of the Chicago Blackhawks for proof of
today’s connection between lacrosse and
hockey. The 23-year-old Bolland just completed
his first full season in the NHL, in which he tallied 47 points in 81 games, and sported an impressive +19 plus-minus rating. The Mimico
native also got his first taste of the Stanley Cup
playoffs, which ended in the Western Conference semi-finals with a loss to the mighty Detroit Red Wings.
Although he is toiling in the Windy City now,
the former London Knights standout says lacrosse
was a love for him while growing up in Mimico.
“When my dad emigrated to Canada from
Scotland, he basically didn’t know anything
about hockey,” Bolland recently told Sun Media.
“But my uncle and my brother were big into it
and I started playing and loved it. Lacrosse was a
big thing for us growing up and it’s a sport that
really helped me develop as a hockey player.”
The Chicago Blackhawks’ Dave
Bolland fondly recalls his days
playing lacrosse in Mimico.
Photo: Chicago Blackhawks
checks or lean into guys, use your body to create
room, you do a lot more of that in lacrosse because it’s such a possession game,” he adds. “You
learn to make room for yourself, like in hockey.
I learned a lot of those things, working the puck
down low in front of the net to make room for
myself, get shots off or make plays and create
scoring chances [from lacrosse.] Obviously
hand-eye coordination is a big one as well. And
it’s a physical sport so you learn how to play that
physical style.”
Tavares admits he misses lacrosse, a sport he
loved as a youngster, and played until he was 16
years old.
“Lacrosse was a great thing for me because
it let me get away from hockey for the summer
as a kid,” he says. “My mom never really believed in summer hockey. I needed a break and
I always looked forward to the lacrosse season.
And when hockey season came around I was really looking forward to that. It was good both
ways to help myself in both sports.”
The elder Tavares was a great role model for
the younger Tavares. From his uncle he has
learned the importance of being a good teammate and leader, but the budding hockey superstar says he learnt a great deal watching his
uncle play lacrosse — and playing lacrosse himself as a youngster — that have paid dividends
for him as a hockey player.
“The biggest [thing] is moving in traffic,
shooting in traffic, making plays while guys are
on you,” Tavares told nhl.com. “When you’re
able to do that, you’re able to draw guys toward
you, make those plays in traffic, I think it creates a lot of chances offensively.
“Also rolling off checks — when you roll off
“I loved lacrosse, too, it’s a great passion of
mine,” he adds. “It was tough to give it up, but you
know it has to be done when the commitment
gets this high at this level of hockey. I was a pretty
good lacrosse player. I wish I could play both.”
He’s not the only hockey player who feels that
way. In fact, perhaps the greatest hockey player
of them all — Wayne Gretzky — told Sports
Illustrated the same thing many years ago.
“I couldn’t wait for hockey season to end so I
could pick up a lacrosse stick again,” Gretzky said.
And when it comes to describing hockey players, love for lacrosse, that pretty much says it all. When he first came to the Oshawa Generals
as a budding 14-year-old superstar, John Tavares
wanted to keep playing Junior ‘A’ lacrosse in
Mississauga. However, he only played one season of Junior "A” Lacrosse for there was much at
stake as the number one pick in the 2009 NHL
Entry Draft.
“It’s lacrosse that helped teach me to spin off
checks, take shots and protect the puck under
pressure,” says the all-time leading goal-scorer in
Ontario Hockey League history. “My stick skills,
the way to read the play quickly comes from
lacrosse. The hand-eye coordination is just one
of the little things that helps you in hockey.”
In fact, when Tavares scored a “lacrosse-like”
goal at the world junior hockey championships
in Ottawa last Christmas, he once again gave
credit to his lacrosse roots for his amazing ability to control a puck with his stick.
“Some of that comes from playing lacrosse and
Photo: Chicago Blackhawks
Photo: London Knights Hockey Club
working after practice fooling around,” he asserts.
“Sometimes those things
come into play and help
you out.”
Tavares certainly had a
great mentor in his life
when it comes to lacrosse.
His uncle John Tavares is
of course one of the legendary players in the
sport’s history. A two-time
National Lacrosse League
MVP, Tavares is the
league’s all-time leader
with 671 goals, 749 assists
and 1,420 points in 17
years with the Buffalo
Bandits. In 2009, even at
the age of 40, he led the
league with 51 goals and
was fifth with 94 points.
Roger Lajoie is a freelance writer in Toronto, Ont.
21
A BLUEPRINT
TO FOLLOW
WANT TO BUILD A SUCCESSFUL LACROSSE TEAM? LOOK NO FURTHER THAN OSHAWA’S LADY BLUE
KNIGHTS LACROSSE CLUB AND WILFRED LAURIER UNIVERSITY’S WOMEN’S LACROSSE SQUAD —
TWO ORGANIZATIONS THAT EXEMPLIFY TRADITION, WINNING AND TEAMWORK
// By Nicole Kallmeyer
here is no secret to building a successful women’s field lacrosse organization. Just ask Lynn Orth or Barb
Boyes, two women who have run two of the
most outstanding lacrosse teams in Ontario,
and perhaps all of Canada.
“It’s a combination of a lot of years, a lot of
leaders, and a lot of work on team,” says Orth,
the head coach of Wilfred Laurier University’s
women’s lacrosse team, the Golden Hawks.
“The biggest key to our success is the [girls’]
commitment level,” adds Boyes, chairperson of the
Oshawa-based Lady Blue Knights Lacrosse Club.
Although Orth and Boyes both site traditional methods of strengthening
their lacrosse programs, their teams’
superior reputations and numerous
trophies indicate they must be doing
something different, something
more than the average lacrosse
organization.
Laurier’s team has won six consecutive Ontario University Athletics
(OUA) championships to date, and
Photos: Wilfrid Laurier University
T
boasted six of the top 10 scorers in the OUA last
year. In the last nine years, the Lady Blue Knights
have grown to 430 from 90 members, many of
whom move on to play for Team Canada or at U.S.
colleges via athletic scholarships.
Luckily, these lacrosse leaders are willing to
share the insights and strategies that got them
to the top.
When Orth took over the reigns of Laurier’s
lacrosse team in 1998, women’s lacrosse was in
its trial year for varsity status in the OUA. “I
was definitely not recruiting at that point because I didn’t know how or where to recruit,”
she says.
Two years later, the team won its first OUA
championship “almost by accident,” and that
marked the beginning of the Golden Hawks’ rise
and Orth’s recruiting efforts.
She started sending letters to existing
women’s field lacrosse club players telling them
about the program and the team’s early triumph.
She has done this every year since, and her pro-
22
motion efforts are boosted by a comprehensive
web page established by Laurier’s athletics department. The site’s latest headlines are likely to
entice any varsity lacrosse hopeful: “Lacrosse
Hawks remain unbeaten,” and “Lacrosse Hawks
pick up six All-Star awards.”
As for Boyes, she relies on a “solid volunteer
base” to get the word out about the Blue
Photos: Lady Blue Knights
Knights. A media co-ordinator promotes the
club in local papers, and other volunteers organize the production and dissemination of
“high-end, glossy” posters and flyers. The club
also heavily recruits from hockey teams in surrounding communities.
Successfully recruiting players is one thing,
but keeping them year after year is another.
Boyes emphasizes the need to create a family atmosphere in the league, where the girls can develop close relationships with their teammates
and a true passion for the game.
“When they develop that passion, they keep
coming back,” Boyes says, adding she tries to include fun activities for the girls in conjunction
with their practices and games. The Blue
Knights have travelled to Vale, Co., and Lake
Placid, NY, while family picnics are organized
alongside tournaments that mix all ages and
skill-levels. “We go above and beyond trying to
create opportunities for them,” she adds.
Camaraderie is also a key ingredient in
Laurier’s recipe for success. The team spends
time together both on and off the field, and
older members help rookies integrate into the
team and balance their athletic and academic
commitments.
Similarly, the Blue Knights pride themselves
on the mentorship that flows from coaches to
players. Almost all the coaches played for the club
and return voluntarily year after year. Boyes says
her club is unique in its exclusive use of young, female coaches rather than older fathers. “How is a
dad a role model for a female athlete?” she asks.
Taylor Landry exemplifies Boyes’ theory. The
Under 19 A-team standout has played with the
Blue Knights for six years. She says her best experience thus far has been learning from her
coach, Kristen Millar. “Seeing her get a scholarship and seeing the success she created for her-
self through this program really just inspired me
to keep playing,” says Landry.
As for Orth, coaching Laurier’s team has been
an amazing learning experience. “I knew nothing
when I started the job,” she admits, adding she has
developed her own unique style over the years.
“I’m a very quiet coach. All my players will tell you
I don’t ever yell at them on or off the field.”
Orth gives her players lots of input in practice, and although they discuss strategies and
set plays beforehand, she allows the team to get
creative in matches.
She also has a unique no cut policy. Anyone
who comes to tryouts, stays on the team, although they might not get to play in games.
“You might find a diamond in the rough who by
her third or fourth year becomes a dominant
player,” Orth says.
Orth’s willingness to develop inexperienced
players is matched by Boyes’ attention to the Blue
Knight’s non-competitive house league program.
Boyes believes a solid house league is the foundation of her rep teams’ success and the overall
growth of the Blue Knights program. Recently,
the club has started house league teams for seven
to nine year-olds. With such an early start, these
girls are sure to become great competitive players
in the future, says Hanna Burnett, who has the
pleasure of coaching this age group.
Burnett epitomizes the success of the Blue
Knights and Golden Hawks. She played with
the Blue Knights for two years before playing
goalie on Laurier’s team in her first year of university. She is also a past OUA all-star and has
been coaching with the Blue Knights for two
years. Like her teammates in both programs,
she has become a strong, dedicated lacrosse
player and a gracious competitor who fights
hard to stay on top.
“Success breeds success,” Orth says.
If that’s the case, the Lady Blue Knights and
Laurier’s Golden Hawks won’t be slowing down
any time soon. Nicole Kallmeyer is a freelance writer in Toronto, Ont.
23
WITH LACROSSE ASSOCIATIONS ACROSS ONTARIO ALWAYS SEARCHING FOR NEW PLAYERS, IT
SEEMS THE BEST COURSE OF ACTION IS TO GET KIDS INVOLVED YOUNG AND BREED LACROSSE
ENTHUSIASTS AT AN EARLY AGE
// By Paul Grossinger
f you ever have the opportunity to talk
to John Grant Sr., take it — you will
not be disappointed.
The passion Grant has for the sport of lacrosse
is contagious. It is this passion, mixed in with his
experience in and knowledge of the game that has
led to the unbelievable success of the Greater Sudbury Lacrosse Association (GSLA).
Add a committed team of volunteers and
some pretty savvy promotional strategies that
include free lacrosse sticks given to every new
player and a dedication to get everyone in the
association involved in tournament play in
order to bolster pride amongst club members,
and what you get is an association that is making a difference within the community it serves.
Launched eight years ago, the GSLA focuses
most of its attention on its house league programs, with kids of all ages – four to 20 — participating in weekly games from April to June.
Sprinkle in the rep teams it fields in the older age
divisions, and the GSLA is building a grassroots
24
Photo: Stayner Hitmen Lacrosse Association
I
lacrosse program in an area of Ontario that is
typically known for its hockey fanaticism.
“It’s a hockey mad community in Northern
Ontario,” asserts Grant, whose son John Grant
Jr. is a star with the Rochester Knighthawks of
the National Lacrosse League. “[Lacrosse] is not
as strong here as it is down south. Up here, they
still think their kids are going to the NHL. They
feel they need the edge so there are a lot of
hockey people running spring camps. Although,
some hockey people see the value [in lacrosse]
and put hockey where it should be in the summer: back in the box.”
In its first year in existence, the GSLA signed
up 500 kids to play. It hired referees, ran coaching clinics and painted a three-foot line from the
Photo: Whitby Minor Lacrosse Association
FORWARD THINKING
boards to eliminate contact, thus improving
player safety. During its first three years in existence, the association was not part of the Ontario Lacrosse Association (OLA) because,
according to Grant, its house league was not yet
ready to “venture into the OLA world.”
Similar to lacrosse associations across the
province, the GSLA is always looking for ways
to promote itself, with the intention of recruiting kids to play lacrosse. One way that has
proven effective for the GSLA to attract a new
crop of lacrosse enthusiasts every year is
offering new players — regardless
of age — a free stick. Measured,
taped and ready to go when the season starts in April, the free stick
promotion seems to be working for
the GSLA.
“We believe if you want them to
stick with the game you have to
give them the best possible products to use,” says Grant, adding the
receipt of a grant from the Ontario
Trillium Foundation when the
GSLA was established definitely
helped allow for the stick promotion to become
a reality.
Funds from the grant were also used to purchase goalie equipment, and shooting targets,
even some adorned with Bugs Bunny and
Sponge Bob for the younger kids.
The GSLA is not alone in its belief that getting
younger kids hooked on lacrosse is the best path
to success. One just has to look at the Whitby
Minor Lacrosse Association (WMLA) for proof.
Two years ago, it launched Soft Lax, an introductory lacrosse program for three year olds.
Soft Lax teaches soft skills and forbids contact.
It is comprised of about 80 boys and girls, who
enjoy a 10-week session, plus a championship
day to close off the year. Each week, the kids
take to the floor for an hour-long practice, al-
Photo: Stayner Hitmen Lacrosse Association
though they might not last that
long because they get tired. The
cost of the program is an amazingly
affordable $50.
“We teach them how to scoop
and we keep it fun,” says Michael
Wheller, the director of house
league for WMLA’s primary divisions. “The best drills are the ones
where they don’t know they are
learning.”
“If you can introduce them a little younger
they hopefully catch that lacrosse bug,” he adds.
“We are fortunate in that we have a ton of volunteers so we have about five coaches per team.
You can actually use more because it is like herding cats. You make it fun and the goal in all of
our divisions is to get them to sign up for next
year and help grow the sport.”
Similar to the WMLA, the Stayner Hitmen
Lacrosse Association (SHLA) is trying to build its
membership through a grassroots approach. Drawing kids from towns like Collingwood, Creemore,
Wasaga Beach and Stayner, the association has
poured a lot of time and financial resources into expanding its Little Shooters program.
Designed for kids four to eight years old, the
program is key to the future viability of the as-
sociation. To increase enrollment for this age group, the
association places ads in local
publications, holds fun days
consisting of lacrosse demonstrations so parents and kids
can see what the sport is all
about — the kids even get to
play with sticks and throw the
ball around — and, similar to
the GSLA, gives every new
player a free stick.
According
to
Chris
Matthews, a member of the
SHLA executive, the association has been
helped by several key sponsors, including The
Lax Shack, which provides discounts for the
free stick promotion, and Tim Hortons, which
sponsors jerseys and medals awarded to players at the end of the season.
All three associations are outstanding examples of how getting young kids to play lacrosse
pays dividends for long-term growth and success. Each is also proof that it is not necessary to
always try to reinvent the wheel.
Take the GSLA as an example. It patterned
itself after the Peterborough Minor Lacrosse Association and has now become a blueprint for
other lacrosse associations to follow. Most recently, the association received a call from
someone in Newfoundland who expressed interest in starting a minor lacrosse house league
of his own in Atlantic Canada.
“We share everything we have done — what
works in one community might work in another,” says Grant. “We feel we have been successful. Our association is a template of
Peterborough, where I come from. There, the
kids have to play house league to be play rep and
we believe in that.“
At the end of the day, every lacrosse association is only as strong as its volunteers. And
with the case of Stayner, Whitby and Sudbury,
nothing can be truer.
For Grant, the GSLA has been very fortunate to have a strong group of people who care
about the game and who are learning as they
go, while in Whitby, its volunteers consist of
many people giving back to the sport that has
given them so much. For example, both Steve
Toll and Shawn Williams of the Rochester
Knightawks help coach their kids in Whitby’s
Soft Lax program.
“We are fortunate that we have a lot of great
volunteers,” says Wheller, adding the WMLA
boasts 1,400 members. “There is a lot of tradition in this area and it is one of those pockets
in Ontario that [loves] lacrosse.” Summer 2009 | Ontario LACROSSE
25
HEY REF!
YOU MIGHT NOT ALWAYS AGREE WITH THEM, BUT THE
MEN AND WOMEN WHO REFEREE ONTARIO LACROSSE
GAMES – BOX, FIELD, WOMEN’S FIELD AND MASTERS —
ARE PEOPLE TOO. IF YOU DON’T THINK SO, KEEP READING.
MARISA DI BARI
Hometown: Toronto
Age: 33
Years of Lacrosse
Refereeing Experience: 8
Type of Lacrosse
Refereed: Women’s field
Do you currently play lacrosse? I am not
playing anymore. I started out playing varsity
for York University (where I later coached), then
club for the Oshawa Lady Blue Knights.
What do you like most about refereeing
lacrosse? I like being able to give back to the
sport by ensuring the game is safe and that the
traditions of the game are upheld. Also, I get to
umpire with some of the best umpires in the
world and they make me feel like I’m a part of an
elite group of people.
Biggest lacrosse game refereed: A few years
ago, I refereed a game in the senior provincials:
Orangeville vs. Six Nations. I had friends on
both teams, they were the two best teams in the
league, both played with heart and showed what
women’s lacrosse is all about — finesse!
Toughest aspect of refereeing lacrosse:
Knowing you have to go from being yourself to
being an unbiased umpire who is umpiring your
friends, former players and former teammates.
The worst part is having to issue a card to one of
your friends when necessary. The other hard
part is having people (fans, coaches, players) not
agreeing with a call you made and getting
“booed” for it. But that’s part of the game; you
learn to block that out.
Lacrosse rule you would like to see
changed: Allowing goggles. If we played the
game the way it was intended, we wouldn’t need
goggles. I’m not a fan of the goggles, but I guess
I’m biased because I’m a goalie, but I think that
if people use their skills properly, they wouldn’t
need more equipment.
Most confusing rule amongst coaches and
players: A charge call against the offensive
26
player. Some players still think it’s okay to push
their way through a well set up defense. And on
the reverse of that, players often think they set
up a good defensive block and that’s not always
the case.
JOE SELLORS
Hometown: Whitby
Age: 19
Years of Lacrosse
Type of Lacrosse
Refereed: Minor Box,
Men’s Masters Box
Do you currently play lacrosse? I played
from the age of five until I was 18.
Why did you become a referee? Initially, I became a referee for a summer job and to stay in
shape. As I gained confidence as an official, I developed a passion for being on the floor. The intensity of being right beside the action every
step of the way can’t be explained through
words. It’s something you have to experience
for yourself.
lacrosse? I have a chance to make a difference
and provide a fair outcome to the best of my
abilities for each team. It is also the people you
meet both on and off the floor, the friendships
that develop and the memories you take home
that is so satisfying.
Most embarrassing moment refereeing
lacrosse: I was refereeing a novice house league
game and as I was turning to run up the floor I
tripped over one of the players. I made my best
effort to avoid him and in doing so fell flat out
on the floor. The fans were pretty amused but
the best part was when the player asked: “Am I
going to get a penalty?”
Biggest lacrosse game refereed: Last year, I was
given the opportunity to referee in the qualifiers
program, a two-weekend tournament with highlevel lacrosse at the peewee and bantam ages. From
there I was invited to referee in the Final Six: The
Ontario Provincial ‘A’ Championships.
Toughest aspect of refereeing lacrosse: No
matter how precise your call is, you will most
likely get yelled at. When one team is happy, the
other is usually not. I think this is what drives
younger officials away from the game. They
don’t know how to ignore the yelling and feel intimidated by it. I admit, being 6'10'' definitely
gives you some authority on the floor but being
tall will never discourage a coach or a fan from
letting you know just how dumb they think you
are. If you get past the yelling then the game is
nothing but fun.
EMILY BRANTON
Hometown: Wallaceburg
Age: 21
Years of Lacrosse
Type of Lacrosse
Refereed: Boys and Girls Box
lacrosse? There are a few things more rewarding than being on the floor and knowing that
you are part of the game. Not having had the opportunity to play growing up, I love that referring is giving me a chance to be a part of the
game I love. The second is the sense of family
that is created, the camaraderie with your fellow officials and mutual understanding of a
shared passion.
Why did you become a referee? My summers
have been centered on lacrosse for the majority
of my life and I grew up loving the game. My
brother and dad have both played and my mom
was a big part of my house league association for
a long time. Since I was unable to play, I think refereeing was my way to be involved with the game.
Biggest lacrosse game refereed: The biggest
game that I have refereed was the Bantam Girls
Gold Medal game at provincials. It was a really intense game and well played by both teams. Having
been a part of the girls system over the past few
years, I saw this game as a big step for girl’s
lacrosse. The skill level has just improved so much
since the league started and I am happy to see
that girls lacrosse is really coming into its own.
Toughest aspect of refereeing lacrosse: The
toughest part is being a minority in the game.
There are few female officials so we take a lot of
flak. Even before the game, people have a preconceived notion of me just because I have a ponytail
ANDREW ECCLESTONE
Hometown: Fergus
Age: 23
Years of Lacrosse
Type of Lacrosse
Refereed: Box, Men’s
Field, Board Box
Photo: Images of You
and I find a lot of people think that my gender
alone is grounds for harassment. There have been
countless times that derogatory comments have
been made about me being female and a lot of men
(and even some women) can be extremely disrespectful of my authority on the floor. However, the
reward definitely outweighs the harassment.
Do you currently play lacrosse? No. I did play
minor lacrosse from tyke upwards for the Fergus Thistles.
lacrosse? Being part of the game of lacrosse
and the camaraderie amongst officials. We get
the opportunity to see many different teams
across Ontario and to make some good friends
along the way.
Biggest lacrosse game refereed: I would
say the gold medal game at the Peewee Nationals back in 2004. It was my first big gold
medal game, it was televised, and Pad 1 at Iroquois Park Sports Centre was full. I remember
teams Ontario and B.C. went right down to
the wire. It was fun, intense, and one of my
most memorable games ever.
Toughest aspect of refereeing lacrosse:
Refereeing is a big commitment, so it is hard
to be able to juggle work and play
or family and friends with it. On top of it all,
it is physically demanding so you are usually
exhausted and need some recovery time after
a long weekend of tournaments and some
cross-province travel.
changed: It’s not so much a rule as it is a procedure, but I would like if all minor and major
coincidental penalties cancelled each other out
the way minor hockey in Ontario does it. It
takes so long and mistakes are often made when
sorting out multiple penalties. If we were able
to cancel out coincidental penalties, then we
could just say, “Both of you who just came in, sit
there for two minutes, and wait for a dead ball
before coming onto the floor!”
players: Equipment! There are always new
makes and models of sticks, facemasks, goalie
pads and other lacrosse equipment. Some
makes and models of equipment are legal for
junior-major, while illegal in minor field or box
lacrosse. Then there is other lacrosse equipment that was legal last year but is illegal this
year, or has never been legal, or is modified, or
does not conform to the body. It seems like
everyone (including referees, players, and
coaches) are not all on the same page, which
causes some major confusion.
JOSH HILTZ
Hometown: Brampton
Age: 23
Years of Lacrosse
Type of Lacrosse
Refereed: Minor Lacrosse
lacrosse? Being able to stay a part of the
game, meeting new people and working with
different partners.
Why did you become a referee? I played the
game for about 16 years. I became too old to
play anymore, but I still wanted to be a part
of the game.
Most embarrassing moment refereeing
lacrosse: When I was refereeing a Junior ‘B’
game, a fight broke out and the one guy fell
to the ground. I linked on to the guy that was
on top and he took me for a ride and smashed
my face off the ground. The two players who
were fighting stopped right away and said,
“Look the ref is hurt.” Funny enough, they
stopped fighting.
Biggest lacrosse game refereed: In my second year, I did a Junior ‘A’ playoff game in the
second round. I have never refereed a game
where the arena was sold out.
Toughest aspect of refereeing lacrosse: My
size. I’m not a very big guy, but if you work hard
and listen to other refs, you quickly realize size
doesn’t matter.
Lacrosse rule you would like to see changed:
The 30-second shot clock on the penalty kill. If a
team has a good player that can run around and
keep the ball off of the other team for two to five
minutes, I think he should be able to do that. As
of now, the rule states that the 30-second shot
clock runs during all possessions.
Most confusing rule amongst coaches
and players: The “No offense/defense” rule.
Bantam and divisions below cannot change
their players on the fly. They have to play a
shift at both ends of the floor, but are
allowed a draw team, a penalty kill team and
a power play team.
CAROLYN TOLL
Hometown: Oshawa
Age: 36
Years of Lacrosse
Type of Lacrosse
Refereed: Women’s Field
Do you currently play lacrosse? No, I retired
from the Canadian team in 2001 — after the
World Cup.
lacrosse? Exercise, working in the outdoors,
giving kids the opportunity to play and providing women with the opportunity to play at a
high level.
Why did you become a referee? I was involved in the grassroots development of
women’s lacrosse in the late 1980s. The game
was progressing and girls were getting involved
faster than umpires were being trained. I was
quickly given a whistle and learned the game
over the next 10 years. I continued to umpire
and play into 2000. After I finished playing at
the 2001 World Cup, I decided it was time to
focus on officiating and retire from playing. I
have two children who are involved in the sport
so it is easier to choose my schedule instead of
trying to work around a playing schedule.
Biggest lacrosse game refereed: Bronze
Medal Game, England vs. Canada, Naval Academy 2005.
changed: Currently, the “check to the head” rule
says that the offending player must sit out for
two minutes, but can return to the game after
the two minutes has expired. I would like to see
all “checks to the head” resulting in a two minute
penalty for the offending team and the offending player would not return to the game. My reason for this change is clear: there are some
people in the lacrosse world who are pushing for
helmets. I would never want to see the game
played with helmets. Instead, let’s make the punishment more severe so the defenders work
harder to get better body positioning and think
twice about swinging their sticks.
players: Most coaches and players complain
about the consistency of a “dangerous
check.” A player must establish good body positioning and be in control of her stick to make
a stick check. Summer 2009 | Ontario LACROSSE
27
EQUIPMENT BAG
CCM Vector V10
The Vector helmet features a shell with ergonomic,
aerodynamic design, EPP liner for multiple impact
protection, heat activated molded memory foam for
comfort, lift and lock tool-free length adjustment,
extensive venting for maximum air flow and
availability in small, medium, large and extra large
sizes. • www.ccmhockey.com
GAIT Identity XP
The Identity XP offers a quick flip adjustment
system that allows users to quickly adjust the
helmet to fit. Its Dial Fit Comfort System allows
users to adjust the overall fit of the helmet, while
its Tru-Vu Vision System provides players with good
visibility. CLA approved, features include
interchangeable visor and chin pieces; and oval
wire. • www.debeerlacrosse.com
// Helmets
BRINE Triumph XP
The Triumph XP
provides safety for a
player’s head as it features
a new safety comfort liner
that replaces all interior memory foam.
Its Custom 360 utilizes an infinitely adjustable
interior fit ring that creates a fitting helmet for any size or
shaped head, while its facemask configurations offer quality
sightlines. It also comes with an integrated shell, visor, jaw and
facemask designed to create the maximum field of vision and is
customizable with 15 different colour options. • www.brine.com
STRYKE Pro Z Titanium
The Pro Z Titanium comes with a
chinstrap pivot pint and 15 vapour
flow vent holes aerodynamic
venting system that channels air
in and moisture out. Available in a
variety of sizes (i.e., XS, S, M, L,
XL), it features: Bucktex laminate
liner that offers moisture
management, dual density foam
liner, three expanded ear holes,
cutback shells for increased
peripheral awareness, extended
back shell length, raised platform
chin straps and availability in
custom colours. •
www.strykelacrosse.com
BAUER 9500 Helmet
The 9500 helmet is CSA, HECC
and CE certified, and features
FXPP foam protection, triple-density
impact management foam, ergo translucent
ear covers, bio-mechanical shell, occipital
lock 2.0, tool-free adjustment, ventilation
ports, and molded memory foam temple
pads. • www.bauer.com
28
Helmets //
EQUIPMENT BAG
NAMI OTNY Box Lacrosse Cages
NAMI/OTNY box lacrosse cages are
available in five sizes to fit all helmets from
tyke to adult. The following models are
available and CLA approved: Tyke, Junior,
and Intermediate/Senior. The facemask
curves under the chin and its kit includes
adult-sized facemask, hard chin cup, straps
and hardware. • www.nami.ca
RIDDELL XR Chrome
The XR Chrome Lacrosse Helmet comes with a
Chrome-Tek face cage and an aerodynamic chin
strap. It offers an inflatable lining system for an
individual custom fit, an extended aerodynamic
jaw-line protection and lowered visor with sleek
mask to create an unobstructed sight line.
Available in medium and large, the helmet also
offers a lowered visor, exclusive Cycolac Shell,
which enables full customization with custom
paint, and a Chrome-Tek Cage available in
chrome or graphite. • www.riddell.com
REEBOK 8K Helmet
The 8K hockey helmet features a mechanically
attached expanded polypropylene (EPP) liner
for professional level protection and integrated
venting channels to keep users comfortable
and cool. It also has translucent Surlyn ear
covers for protection. CSA, HECC and CE
certified, the 8K also features: FitClip that
adjusts the length of the helmet; MicroDial,
which adjusts circumference by tightening the
stabilizer straps for a customized snug 360
degree fit; molded grip texture Comfort
Cushions; and secure-strap ear loops that keep
the chin strap in position. • www.reebok.com
CASCADE CPX
The CPX box lacrosse helmet has a liner
system built to the NOCSAE standard.
Offered at three different price points,
the one size, fully adjustable helmet is
available in classic black mask,
Chromanium or Titanium. Helmets can
be customized with various colour
combinations for shell, chin and visor at
no additional charge. •
www.cascadelacrosse.com
WARRIOR Venom
The Venom comes with an adjustable EXO
Air Fit System that inflates inside the
shell to create a custom fit while
providing the maximum protection for
the head during impact. Its
BlackChrome and all chrome face
mask finishes with U-bar connections
offer good vision and protection, while
its 5-Point Face Mask Mounting
System is designed for extra
protection in critical impact zones. The
helmet also features neckline padding and
an extended back shell length for additional
protection against errant sticks. Other features include:
vapour flow vent holes throughout the helmet, expanded
side ear holes that provide improved air flow into the
helmet, and adjusts to fit small, medium, large and extra
large heads. • www.warriorlacrosse.com
To have your company’s lacrosse products considered for potential preview in a
future issue of Ontario Lacrosse magazine, or on its web site, e-mail product
features, specifications and high resolution picture to: [email protected]
29
IN ACTION
, 2009
0
2
e
n
Ju
nals
Photo: Buffalo Bandits
Natio ws
o
t
n
o
Tor
utla
O
r
e
v
n
vs. De
COLIN DOYLE
#7 Toronto Nationals
30

Lacosse_Summer09:Layout 1 - Ontario Lacrosse Magazine

Transcription

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