Lacrosse continues to grow in the Mid and North Island. According to recent accounts one school in Nanaimo is adding the game to its list of school sports and Carihi in Campbell River is said to be looking at doing the same.
This follows the lead of Claremont school in Saanich which has a full development program for field lacrosse involving daily practice. This is one of the four sports on offer as part of the Claremont Sports Institute Program.
Students who are accepted and enrolled in the Claremont Sports Institute program in all grades focus on skill development within their sport. Students in their respective grade levels earn credit for PE9, PE10, PE11, PE12, Science of Sport and Training 9 &10, Strength and Conditioning 11 and 12. Work ethic and personal commitment and responsibility are of the utmost importance for this program.
The program has paid off big time for students combining their love for the game with the requirement to keep their grades up.
Last season both junior teams made the BC High School Provincial Tournament semis, as did the Grade 11 squad. The Grade 12 team was the class of the province-wide tourney, winning the final 11-6 and taking their fifth banner in last eight years. Strong proof of a successful program worthy of duplication in our neck of the woods.
Last weekend the U16 North Island Rage fought hard to eke out a 7-7 tie at Nanaimo Turf, playing with a less-than-full roster. They managed the draw with 11 players and one substitute. What’s more, four of the players were parachuted in from the Rage U14s.
While Rage battled in Nanaimo, the U14s with a depleted roster, dropped both games to PacRim2 in a doubleheader at the Highland field in Comox. Ten minutes worth of penalties played a large part in the 7-5 and 6-4 losses.
On the bright side two goals each by Owen Shears, Kaleb Vivier and Colby Black kept the first contest close. Angus Atkinson found the back of the net for the single from just outside the crease.
In the second game Kaleb, Owen, Levi Smith Landsell and Carson Foy each sunk one into the twine. Full marks to the coaches for keeping the those tired legs in the game!
The Big Orange U14 will need a full compliment of shooters next weekend in Richmond. On Saturday they contest Kelowna, Sunday they meet Mission and Monday they battle the Coquitlam Adanacs. If they find a way to cut those penalty minutes they’ve every hope of making it to the finals on Tuesday.
QUICK FLICKS The Vancouver Island select team, Seaspray, with four North Island members came back from a weekend in Seattle with 18-0 and 10-2 victories …
– North Island Rage
