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Lacrosse rebirth continues in Sudbury

BY SCOTT HUNTER HADDOW Last year lacrosse came back to the Sudbury region in a big way after years of being virtually extinct.
BY SCOTT HUNTER HADDOW

Last year lacrosse came back to the Sudbury region in a big way after years of being virtually extinct.

The City of Greater Sudbury Lacrosse Association opened up a whole new world to young athletes across the city and this year the association is looking to expand that opportunity.

Â?Lacrosse has all the elements of hockey, soccer, running, eye and hand co-ordination and stick skills,Â? said John Grant, vice president of the association, long-time player and fan of the game. Â?It develops mental toughness and control.Â?

Skaters Edge in conjunction with STX, a lacrosse equipment manufacturer and supplier, put on a lacrosse promotion event Friday evening at the indoor soccer centre at the Falconbridge Exhibition Centre.

Â?Our goal is to propel this league to the level it could be at with other areas of Ontario,Â? said Alex Heffern, Operations Manager at SkaterÂ?s Edge. Â?ItÂ?s just a fun and terrific sport.Â?

The event also featured Shawn Cardy, a Major Â?AÂ? Senior League lacrosse player with the St. Catharines Athletics. He conducted clinics and spent time talking with the young lacrosse players.

The event is open to people of all ages and itÂ?s free.

Last year 518 girls and boys from all ages participated in the league.

Â?We had 180 on the waiting list last year,Â? said Grant.

The association has six divisions spilt into mini tyke, tyke, novice, peewee, bantam and midget. The league starts up later this month and runs until June.

Cost of registration is $100 and players get great bangs for their bucks as they are on the floor two or three times a week Monday through Thursday.

What makes lacrosse such a great fit in Sudbury and Northern Ontario is the huge popularity of minor hockey as lacrosse players use many of the same skills and equipment.

Â?You can use hockey helmets, gloves, shoulder pads and elbow pads, but you do need to get kidney pads,Â? said Grant.

Grant believes lacrosse and hockey go hand in hand.

Â?There are many great professional hockey players who have played lacrosse their whole lives like Joe Sakic, Brendan Shanahan, Gary Roberts, Adam Foote and Wayne Gretzky,Â? said Grant. Â?Playing lacrosse can help with the game of hockey.Â?

Grant is actively involved in all aspects of the sport and its growth in Sudbury.

Â?I work with the coaches and help set up practices.Â?

The association adopted a unique new rule last year. There is a painted line three feet away from the boards all the way around the rink. When a player goes into that zone defending players must back off on the check. The players arenÂ?t allowed to run within the line. They must stop and pass the ball.

Â?ItÂ?s basically a safety net and gives kids the opportunity to learn the game without fear,Â? said Grant. Â?ItÂ?s good for a league in the development stage.Â?

The first week of the season will concentrate on instruction and assessment.

Â?We will assess sticks and equipment and make sure the kids are ready.Â?

Grant loves to be involved with the game and loves seeing it grow.

Â?I believe in the sport and I want kids in Northern Ontario to have the same opportunities I had when I was growing up.Â?

Grant has been playing lacrosse since 1961. He played on a Minto Cup winning team in 1971 and won the Mann Cup in 1973. He played for Philadelphia in the professional league and has represented Canada at three world championships.

He was a member of Team Canada that won gold in 1978, a bronze medal in 1982 and silver medal in 1986.

He has also coached at various levels throughout his career and remains dedicated to the sport and its growth in Sudbury.

Â?We want to make sure every kid and parent walks out of the arena with a smile on their face and know they are part of something special.Â?


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