Submitted by Comox Valley Lacrosse Assn.

Special to the Record

Head Coach Gary Spaven knows lacrosse.

He and assistant coach Shane Egilson had a plan for this year鈥檚 U15 team. When asked what brought the team of 13- and 14-year old players success at the provincial championships in July, Spaven said that it was the kids鈥� dedication to practices and team play that made the difference.

鈥淪hane and I had a system of running lines and all the kids responded to what we were doing,鈥� Spaven said of the squad of 20 players, some with years of experience and some who were new, or near-new, to the game. 鈥淭he kids totally bought into the plan and had to rely on team play. Every player knew their role and we never once had to run a short bench. In the dressing room before a game, the kids were excited to see whose line they were on. They rolled in their lines and did a great job.鈥�

Spaven said the key to managing rookies with experienced players was to place the newer players in positions where they could succeed. 鈥淲e made sure not to put all the new kids out there at the same time. We gave them the opportunity to catch a pass from experienced players. And they weren鈥檛 out there not knowing what to do. Their linemates helped them to be in the right position and they responded to the structure of the team.鈥�

Spaven has a hard time singling any player out.

鈥淚t was the kids that came to practice, and the new players who practised their stick skills at home that showed.鈥�

Graidy Higginbottom, new to lacrosse and new to the Comox Valley, joined the team this March at pre-season drop-ins.

鈥淗e was a brand new kid and totally dedicated, winning the Warrior Fair Play award at the provincial championships.鈥�

Spaven said Jack Cowell, in his second year of lacrosse, totally stood out.

Trey Whitelaw, another rookie, 鈥渋s a natural athlete and able to run the floors.鈥�

Then there was Kai Seymour.

鈥淜ai exemplified team play and always did his job,鈥� said Spaven. 鈥淗e鈥檚 a quiet player with impressive play.鈥�

This was Seymour鈥檚 third year playing lacrosse.

鈥淚 got hooked when a friend invited me to join him for an open house for an introduction to lacrosse session,鈥� he said. 鈥淚 like the idea of being on a team. I get to meet different people in a different sport.

鈥淟acrosse helps me work on my speed and strength.鈥�

Kai said his highlights of the season included 鈥渂eing recognized for hardest-working player twice and being put on the power-play and getting a goal, and of course winning the gold medal game for provincials.鈥�

Box lacrosse is a physically demanding sport some call the fastest game on two feet. When asked what makes a good lacrosse player, Spaven laughs and says 鈥渟omeone who is kind of fearless, who loves to be active and loves sports. How could you not love it? It鈥檚 a great sport for kids who don鈥檛 play baseball, or don鈥檛 play hockey 鈥� some of our players don鈥檛 play any other sport. If you do play hockey, it鈥檚 a great off-season sport. It鈥檚 an avenue to get out there and be a good athlete.鈥�

Spaven, who grew up on lacrosse and has played the game since he was five years old, said he played because his dad was involved.

鈥淚 couldn鈥檛 skate and I didn鈥檛 play hockey. I tried all sorts of sports and was competitive and liked to win. I kept coming back to lacrosse.鈥� Like other sports, lacrosse runs in families. Joining Spaven and Egilson on the bench were Gary鈥檚 father, Brian Spaven, a long-time and well-respected coach in B.C., and son Grady, 16.

鈥淚t was amazing,especially the win on Father鈥檚 Day,鈥� said Spaven. The fact that my dad, at 80 years old, could help out. He knows so much about the game. And Grady, he was the first on the floor to celebrate the gold medal with the team. Three generations on a team hardly ever happens.鈥�

The team was supported by valuable sponsorships from MDO Painting Services, Courtenay Motorsports, and Happy鈥檚 Source for Sports.

The B.C. box lacrosse season runs from April to June and the Comox Valley Wild have teams for youth aged 4 to 16. Drop-in sessions for new players take place each February with pre-season team practises starting in March. Interested families can check the website at .