Box lacrosse alive and well in the West Island

BY MICHAEL PIASETZKI

It’s a spring/summer sport that falls under the radar of soccer, baseball and football, but hard work by volunteers has enabled box lacrosse to make inroads on the local landscape.

Now into the latter stages of its sixth season, the West Island Lacrosse Association (WILA) boasts 180 players divided into house-league teams at the tyke, novice, peewee, bantam and midget levels as well as rep or inter-city teams at the novice and peewee levels. For the second consecutive year, WILA has integrated its house-league schedule with that of the St. Lazare/Ile Perrot-based Far West Lacrosse Association (FWLA) while its novice rep team features players from both WILA and FWLA.

“It’s always tough attracting kids to play lacrosse, what with summer hockey now becoming more popular and soccer being what it is,” said WILA president Bruce McCullogh. “Still, we’re encouraged and feel the sport now has a strong base in the West Island.”

As do the junior B West Island Shamrocks, made up of athletes aged 17 to 21 who have developed their skills through WILA.

The Shamrocks, who play in the Quebec Junior Lacrosse League, call the Dorval Arena home. They had three head coaches last year, starting with Kevin Biggs, followed by the legendary John Davis and finally, Pierre Morissette. This year, management hopes it has solidified the situation by bringing in West Island resident George Martin, well known in local lacrosse circles, as head coach. Morissette returns as an assistant along with Ron Beaulne.

Martin’s troops defeated the Valleyfield Astérix 8-6 last Friday night at Dorval Arena before hitting the road and crushing St. Laurent 17-5 on Saturday night. Dexter Tanner led the way against the Astérix with two goals. The victories improved the Shamrocks’ record to 5-3-1, and moved them into a tie for third place in the

standings with the Astérix.

The Shamrocks face a huge test this Friday night, as the first-place Sherbrooke Extreme visit the Dorval Arena. Game time is 8 p.m.