Blue Devils drawing crowds to their entertaining play
By MORRIS DALLA COSTA -- London Free Press
It probably won't ever take over as the nation's summer pastime but any sports fans looking to spend an interesting couple of hours in an arena could do a lot worse than take in a London Blue Devils Junior B lacrosse game.
It seems, at least after the first two home games, many are doing just that.
The Blue Devils are the first junior lacrosse team established in London. On Wednesday at their season opener, more than 600 people packed Ray Lanctin Arena to watch a home-team win.
One would expect a crowd for the opener, although even that large a number was surprising to a number of people. But the test of time would tell.
That test might come when a game is played on a Sunday afternoon with the weather fit for golfing or just lounging around.
Just the type of day that was ordered up yesterday.
The lacrosse team passed the test. Not only did they win an entertaining game 9-8 over the Windsor AKO Fratmen but 502 fans sat and watched.
What makes it especially gratifying for the club is that the place of competition, the former Medway Arena, is hardly a pleasure destination for fans or players. With the ice in the arena, it looks a little less medieval because it's brighter. With the ice out, the place is an embarrassment for the city. Ideally, Nichols Arena is where the team should be playing. There's really no reason they shouldn't be there now.
But the entertainment value from the game overcomes all other negatives. Yesterday's game might not have been as nasty as the opener but it was still a physical contest played at a greater clip.
There is no other sport that encompasses gruelling physical play with the exquisite ball handling and shooting skills of lacrosse. Even more amazing, the game can be played by participants of all sizes. There aren't many places you can see both ends of the size spectrum you see in lacrosse. The Blue Devils' Brent Yost, who tips the scales at 160 pounds with equipment on, scored four goals.
On the same power play you'll find Mike Bonk.
Seeing Bonk run at you with or without the ball would cause anxiety attacks. In the fall, Bonk toils as fullback for the Western Mustangs football team. But now he's one of the main guys and captain of the Blue Devils.
He's a handful. When he lowers his shoulder and heads to the net, he can't be controlled by one defender. But he's also adept at the intricacies of the game. He's a lot of fun to watch.
He scored a goal yesterday and assisted on two others. For some reason the Fratmen wanted to engage him. In the second period, Fratmen Rob Tellier egged him into a fight. Bonk obliged and Tellier immediately covered up. Bonk took a costly double minor.
For such power, Bonk is one of those nice individuals who just loves to compete.
"He kept lipping me all game, 'Do you want to go? Do you want to fight?' Finally I said yes and then he doesn't want to fight," chuckled Bonk. "I won't fight someone who doesn't want to fight. To tell you the truth, I don't want to fight anyone. That's not me."
Getting Bonk was a coup for the Blue Devils. When you are a Mustang football player, playing another other sport that has serious contact is often forbidden.
But Bonk is enjoying his teammates and the sport and the Mustangs may benefit because he's getting in shape.
"I'm a little out of shape," said Bonk. "I need to lose 20 pounds. Right now I'm at 255 so this is good. But this is a tough sport. Right now my arms and legs are just covered in bruises. I was sore after football but right now I feel like an old man."
But a skilled and entertaining old man.
