Canadian Lacrosse Association’s minor box national championships that begin Aug. 20 in Coquitlam are embracing the future, even as the event strengthens bonds to the sport’s past.
Garrett Ungaro, president of Coquitlam Minor Lacrosse, said this year’s tournament is the first to include boys and girls playing for national titles at the same time, in the same venue. He said it’s a significant step for advancing the girls’ game, which has been driving growth in lacrosse in recent years.
“By having them as part of the boys’ tournament, it really legitimizes the female game as a true national game,” Ungaro said, adding parents are beginning to realize the opportunities that exist in lacrosse for their daughters to get scholarships at American universities, which must have a balance between male and female athletes.
Ungaro said female bantam and midget players will be able to learn from watching and cheering for their male counterparts but, most importantly, the boys will get a chance to see how good the girls are getting. He said the rising skill level of female players was recently highlighted by several scrimmages between girls' and boys' teams as they prepare for the nationals.
“If you didn’t see the pony tails, you’d be hard-pressed to see the difference,” Ungaro said of the quality of play between the genders.
He said that has been aided by girls who are already top athletes in other sports like soccer taking up lacrosse as cross-training, as well as ex-pro players who are now dads of daughters and are taking up positions behind the bench for girls’ teams.
But if the future of lacrosse is female, its past is firmly First Nations, and Ungaro said the tournament will be emphasizing that connection.
He said representatives from the Kwikwetlem First Nation will participate in the opening ceremonies, and the tournament’s logo and awards were all designed by a local Aboriginal artist.
“We want to sow the connection to the game,” Ungaro said.
With days until the opening faceoff, Ungaro and his committee of six organizers as well as more than 35 volunteers have finalized all the logistics to accommodate and transport 26 teams, along with more than 20 officials — not an easy task given the dearth of local hotel rooms as well as the availability of motor coaches during Vancouver’s busy tourism season.
But, he said, he’s confident the effort will pay off.
“It’s been non-stop lacrosse for two months,” Ungaro said.
• For more information about the tournament, as well as a complete schedule of games at Poirier Sport and Leisure Complex, go to https://2019minorboxlacrossenationals.ca.
