Lacrosse 'baby' delivered
By MORRIS DALLA COSTA -- London Free Press
If you were to put the pacing Brian Laporte in a hospital waiting room instead of the Ray Lanctin Arena, you could easily mistake him for an expectant father.
In a way, one supposes that's exactly what Laporte is, an expectant father whose baby is about to make its entry into the world. In this case, the baby is the London Blue Devils junior B lacrosse team.
Last night, the Blue Devils played their regular-season debut in the Ontario Lacrosse League against the Wallaceburg Red Devils.
A junior lacrosse team of any sort is a first for London.
"Baby? This isn't my baby," said Laporte, president of the Blue Devils. "It's my teenager and it's driving me crazy.
"It's funny, it seemed this day was so far away and we couldn't wait to get to it. Now that it's here, we can't believe it's gotten here so quickly."
Like anything which is new, there is always a crisis to handle.
"You see this bald spot here," said Laporte, pointing to his head. "That's when I found out we couldn't get into the junior (B) Nationals dressing room. This is when I found out (yesterday) morning at 6.30 a.m. that we didn't have releases for Jay Leroy and Mike Bonk, two of the players people came to see play."
It all got cleared up, but not without last-minute anxiety.
London's entry into the world of junior lacrosse has been a goal the sport's supporters for a number of years. Finally, the sensational growth of the game in this community made the creation of a junior team a necessity.
The minor lacrosse system has watched its top players go to play in other communities. Now, they have a place to play. While it may only be junior B, it was important for the sport to establish another level so players could move on to play locally at that higher level.
The Blue Devils have managed to sign some good local talent. But they appear to have something almost as important -- a strong board whose main interest is the promotion of the game.
Lacrosse is a game that has survived difficult times, not only because it's a marvellous sport to play and watch, but because those who participate in it develop a remarkable love for the game and actively work to preserve it.
Chris Standish, an assistant coach with the Blue Devils, might see a little of himself in some of the players on the floor. He played two years in the National Lacrosse League.
"Kids needed something like this to shoot for," he said. "I was as nervous as I was before my first pro game."
There was that feeling of pride and accomplishment at the Ray Lanctin Arena, formerly Medway Arena, last night. There was great disappointment that plans to play at Nichols Arena fell through. The facility is dark and the floor is far too slippery for lacrosse. The lacrosse nets have seen more overhauls and repairs than Cher. But the seats were packed with a crowd of about 450. The atmosphere was uniquely lacrosse with the swoosh of the ball, the constant thumping of stick on body, the slamming into the boards of ball or player and the oohs and aahs resonating throughout the building when a big hit was delivered, usually every 15 seconds or so.
In the long run, it was the type of game one would expect of a new team in new conditions. Plenty of mistakes and sloppy play, but a ton of heart and desire.
"I'm pumped," said Leroy, one of the feature attractions. "It's exciting to play the first game in London and it's good for the kids to see that there is somewhere else to play."
It's nice to see such a great game not only survive, but flourish.
