Since 1994, Canada has recognized hockey as its national winter sport and lacrosse as its national summer sport.
And the latter is about to make a large splash in the city this spring with the introduction of the St. Thomas Surge minor lacrosse program.
The aim is make lacrosse accessible to all families and provide a positive first experience and a clear road for long-term development.
Club president Tyler Fines explained the game plan moving forward this spring.
Fines added, “Our purpose is to grow the game locally while developing confident athletes, strong teammates, and a connected community.”
The program will include both box and field lacrosse. The Joe Thornton Community Centre will be the home of box lacrosse and field lacrosse will be played at both Cowan Park and 1Password Park.
Although this is the first program of its kind in St. Thomas, Fines noted there is a significant legacy within the region’s Indigenous community.
He extended the following invite.
“Come out, try it. Once they pick up the stick, they’re hooked. And again, they don’t even have to play competitive. Just picking up the stick and throwing it back and forth with a friend is no different than picking up a baseball or a football and throwing it back. It’s just another option.”
And Fines offered this prediction.
“Literally, you can play this game everywhere,” stressed Fines.” And one thing that’s also important, too, is it does create a culture. You have some great Indigenous People that just live on the outskirts of town here. It brings them into the community. It’s a great sport for them as well. I mean, it’s their sport. They started it.”
For more information on the St. Thomas Surge, including how to register, visit http://stthomaslacrosse.ca
Written by Ian McCallum
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