Jacob Brewer was at Disneyland with his family so joining the Vancouver Stealth for the U.S. Boxla Nationals in Los Angeles was no big deal.
Brewer, 14, joined North Okanagan Bantam A2 teammates Troy Cuzzetto and Kaden Doughty with the Stealth, 6-4 winners over the Denver Elite in the lacrosse tourney final.
“I was going to Disneyland anyways and asked the Stealth if I could play for them,” said Brewer. “It was super fun and there were quite a few high-calibre teams, especially the last two.”
Brewer scored twice as Vancouver won their tournament opener, including a penalty-shot goal after being tripped on a breakaway his first shift. He was used mainly as a defensive specialist.
“Everybody on our team was good and we all played good defence and offence,” said Brewer, a Grade 9 student at Seaton who also plays hockey.
Doughty, who turns 15 on Monday, said the Stealth played in some nice rinks in the Irvine area.
“We played a defence-first style which worked well,” said Doughty, entering Grade 9 at VSS. “I love how fast lacrosse is and I also love the contact.”
The 5-foot-6, 130-pounder has played four years of box and two years of field. He scored once in the final game and had another snipe in a 7-5 semifinal victory over Cali LAX.
Vancouver ambushed Arizona 16-0 with Cuzzetto in net, stuffed another California entry 11-1 and doubled Seattle 8-4 in other prelminary wiins. Doughty said the Stealth took time out to ride some wild rides at the Six Flags Amusement Park.
Cuzzeto, a 5-foot-11, 195-pounder, equally shared the Vancouver goaltending.
“Our team played good together,” said the Grade 9 Pleasant Valley student. “We gelled pretty quickly by communicating well. It was fun meeting and getting to know my teammates.
“It was cool getting to see how the U.S. teams play. They play more of a field lacrosse game; they pass from the outside a lot.”
Cuzzetto, who played basketball at Len Wood Middle School last year, has patrolled the crease for six years. He and Doughty also helped the Stealth win a silver medal at the Calgary Canada Day Tournament.
Kaden’s older brother, Tiegan, struck gold with the Stealth Midgets in Calgary. The Bantam Stealth will finish their summer tournament schedule Aug. 28 in Oakville, Ont. The Toronto Rock, Rochester Knighthawks and Buffalo Bandits are entered.
