Vancouver Stealth’s training camp this past weekend was a chance for the organization to assess lacrosse talent, but also an opportunity for some young players to get a glimpse into elite level play.
Brandon Lyons, Case Latournis, and Koru Joseph were in the Langley Events Centre stands, watching players and hopefuls from age 20 to just over 30 go through drills and scrimmages. Camp continues Nov. 25 and 26, with the wrap up on Dec. 2. The three boys dream of making it to the National Lacrosse League.
Koru, 11, has been playing since about kindergarten.
“I’ve been playing for about seven years. I’ve been playing since I was three,” said Brandon, who plays for the Coquitlam Adanacs.
Case, 11, also has a history in the sport, involved since he was seven. He and Koru play for a North Shore team.
“I came last year and this year, and I just came to watch good lacrosse,” Brandon said.
“I just love watching games,” Case added.
Brandon is more of a defensive player who is watching how to break down plays and to learn more about checking.
Koru watches to see how if a player or ball gets stuck, the ways to get unstuck.
He and Case tend to play attack. Case is watching the players to learn different ways to shoot.
Brandon wants to play with the Stealth when old enough while Case and Koru want to get good enough for the NLL.
It’s a few years and countless hours of hard work between now and when they will be old enough to attend something like the Stealth training camp. They all know there’s but one route to the big leagues.
“Practice hard and don’t give up,” Brandon summed up.
