Jory helps Rage net B.C. lacrosse title
Oceanside’s Jory Clermont is back home from the field lacrosse provincials, a bit leg-weary to be sure, but all smiles after helping his team net a gold medal at the B.C. Provincial U16 Field Lacrosse Championships.
It marks the first time since 1997 that a local has garnered gold at the championships, the last one when legendary local coach and soon-to-be retired BSS teacher Al Halverson’s Buccaneers team won it all.
North Island advanced to the B.C.’s two weeks prior by blasting the Nanaimo Raiders 15-2 in the Island Championship.
In action at the eight-team Tier 2 U16 B.C. Field Lacrosse Championships played out at Burnaby Lake Sports Complex March 1-3, the Rage opened the tourney with a huge 13-11 upset win over top-seeded Vancouver.
The Rage lost game two to Mission 9-7, then bounced back with a 10-9 win in the cross over game against their Island rivals Nanaimo in a thriller.
That win put the Rage in the gold medal game for a rematch against Mission, and the North Island side clinched themselves a provincial title with a hard-fought 6-2 win.
“It felt pretty good,” Clermont confirmed with a chuckle when asked how it felt to mine gold.
Clermont, 15 and in Gr. 10 at Ballenas Secondary School, plays midfield and was one of the Rage’s face-off specialists. He started playing field lacrosse his first year of novice and just finished his third season.
He also excels in box lacrosse, soccer and snowboarding.
“You can’t slow him down for five seconds — he’s always doing something,” laughed a proud mum Holly.
Oceanside Minor Lacrosse did not have enough players to field a U16 team this year. Clermont was the only local player on the North Island Rage. His Oceanside counterparts — Erik Johnston, Quin Donaldson, and Chase Anderson — all chose to play for Nanaimo, which won Bronze at the BC’s beating Burnaby 11-9 in the 3rd/4th game.
“It was really good — the whole team was motivated,” Clermont answered quickly when asked about the campaign. “It was my favourite season ever, for sure.”
“Awesome that two island teams took home medals,” Jory’s dad Tim, who coaches lacrosse himself, said, adding “the North Island team were amazing all year — great stick skills and speed, great sportsman, and they welcomed Jory with open arms.”
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