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PROSPECTS GAME
For the second consecutive year the BC Junior ‘A’ Lacrosse League is ringing in Canada’s 143rd birthday with an extra special game of our nation’s summer sport. This year the Prospects Game will be held at the brand new Langley Events Center on July 1st at 3:00pm.
“Between having arguably the finest lacrosse facility in the lower mainland, and the easy accessibility with the new Golden Ears Bridge, it was an easy sell to the governors to have the game here in Langley for 2010,” says Thunder GM Brock Rose, who thinks tying the game in with Canada day brings extra meaning to the match. “Our national summer sport pays homage to the First Nations communities that invented and are the caretakers of the game for hundreds of years. That fact hasn’t been lost, and on behalf of the Langley Thunder organization it’s an honour and a privilege to host the 2010 Prospects Game.”
Last year the game at Queens Park turned out to be more multi-faceted than originally expected as it was not only an impressive show of offense, but the defensive players were just as noticeable, and the goaltending between all four keepers was top notch.
With National Lacrosse League experience as a referee and behind the bench, new Junior ‘A’ Commissioner Rick Lum is looking at the game from a very wide perspective and says although some of these guys have played against each other for years, it’s important to see what they do in this unique situation. “What the Prospect Game shows coaches and scouts is how quickly participants can adapt to new players. With guys looking to play at higher levels, it’s important to be able to read and understand their new teammates and develop chemistry.”
Lum credits the talent of the Junior ‘A’ coaches with NLL experience as the stepping stone for the rising stars coming out of the BCJALL. “Coaches like (Curt) Malawsky and (Rod) Jensen from the Calgary Roughnecks, (Dan) Perreault from the Colorado Mammoth, and (Dave) Bremner (ex Calgary GM), all these ex NLL’ers coming back to coach means greater development potential; just look at players like Matt Beers, Kory Kowalyk, Shaun Dhaliwal, and Brett Mydske who have made the jump right from Junior ‘A’ to the NLL.”
Rose highlights the fact that although the Prospects game is about proving yourself worthy of the next level of professional lacrosse, there is a relaxed facet to the game as well. “This is an opportunity for the players to be free from encumbrances of their respective club teams. It allows them to play with friends they have garnered along the way without worrying about trades. I know these young men really look forward to playing in this game without the normal tribal warfare emotions that are necessary to compete at the highest level possible.”
Once again, game time is scheduled for 3:00pm on Thursday July 1st at the Langley Events Center and the particulars are as follows: Coquitlam and Nanaimo coaching staff will be behind the benches, and each of the eight teams in the BCJALL will have five graduating representatives to make up two teams of twenty. Those teams who do not have five graduating players will have their extra spots filled by other teams with excess graduates. If you can’t make it in person, the game will be broadcasted live through the Thunder website at www.langleythunder.com and there will be a link posted on the BCJALL site on game day as well.
Submitted by Jen Mutas
League Reporter
jmutas@bcjunioralacrosse.com
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Around The League With Jen - Archives
2010 Articles
July 28, 2010 - (Finals—What To Expect)
July 16, 2010 - (Round Two—What To Expect)
July 10, 2010 - (Playoffs—What To Expect)
June 24, 2010 - (Prospects Game)
April 30, 2010 - (Beat This)
April 19, 2010 - (New Coaches A'Plenty)
2009 Articles
July 30, 2009 - (Getting to the Good Stuff Faster)
July 1, 2009 - (Prospects Success)
May 13, 2009 - (National Rankings)
April 26, 2009 - (Shamrocks pluck two netminders from Ontario)
February 9, 2009 - (2009 Midget Draft Report)
2008 Articles
August 23, 2008 - (Fans Have Say)
June 9, 2008 - (Mid Season)
May 2008 - (Month One)
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