By season’s end, the Coastal Windows Timbermen hope to be a band of brothers. For now, they’re satisfied with their new set of siblings and what they bring to the team.
Mat and Mike MacLeod of Owen Sound, Ont., are in their first season in the Western Lacrosse Association and they’re getting comfortable with their surroundings.
In their very first game together on the T-men earlier this month, the MacLeods sparked a victory as Mat scored four goals and Mike had two goals and two assists.
It was just the sort of returns the Timbermen must have hoped for when they signed their major off-season acquisitions.
Mike decided first to head west this year, convinced by friends Bobby Debrone and Lewis Ratcliff. Then Mike convinced Mat to come along.
“I’ve always wanted to come out here and play; I’ve heard a lot of great things about summer ball out here,” said Mat. “Playing out here, the atmosphere at all the games has been awesome.”
And the MacLeods will help to add to that excitement with their fearless style and scoring ability.
They each have things they do particularly well. Older brother Mike, 25, is 5-foot-10, 210 pounds and can play any position on the floor. He sets huge picks and likes to try to draw penalties. Mat, 23, is 6-feet, 190 pounds and more of an offensive specialist. He shoots hard from outside but also likes to slash to the middle.
“He’s got more wheels than me and he’s got the shot from outside, but I like to think I’m grittier and get the dirtier goals,” Mike said.
Mat said his brother is a “whole package” type of lacrosse player.
“He’s definitely a big body out there and he can cause some intimidation,” said Mat. “It’s always good to have a guy like him up on offence to create space as well as score goals.”
It just makes sense to play the brothers together. They were teammates in minor lacrosse, then again in junior A with the Orangeville Northmen, then again last season with the President’s Cup-winning Owen Sound Woodsmen.
“Obviously we know how each other play and we play well together,” Mat said. “When you have that familiarity with another player it definitely makes it easier.”
Mike said he and his brother seem to know where the other is going to be on the floor most of the time.
“I don’t think we really look for it, it’s just something that happens,” he said.
That ready-made chemistry can be an advantage over a short summer lacrosse season, especially to a team like the Timbermen who fancy themselves contenders.
“We have a lot of potential with this team, with the talent that we have and the youth,” Mat said. “We’re just a high-energy team and as long as we go out there and work hard every game and eliminate small mistakes, I think we’re going to be very successful.”
GAME ON … The Timbermen lost 10-7 to the New Westminster Salmonbellies on Thursday on the road. For a recap of the game, please click here. The Timbermen play the Burnaby Lakers (2-5) on Sunday (June 19) at 7 p.m. at Frank Crane Arena.
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