If the sunshine’s an omen of things to come then the futures’s so bright for Oceanside’s upstart Buccaneers they’re going to need shades in Burnaby this week.
The two local lacrosse teams were down at Parksville Community Park Feb. 20. It was both teams’ first time back on the pitch since competing in their respective Island finals down Island at UVic turf fields Feb. 12.
Against a more experienced team of North Island Ravens in the one-game final, the U14 ‘Bucs found themselves in tough and on the short end of a 13-5 final.
“I still have not thawed out,” Buccaneer coach Tim Clermont panned days later, explaining the two teams made the trip down to UVic in monsoon conditions.
Comprised entirely of first year field lacrosse players, the ‘Buccaneers finished the Tier 2 regular season sitting 2nd, and punched their ticket to the provincials and earned a shot at the Island title by beating Pac Rim Bagattaway in the Vancouver Island Youth Field Lacrosse League two game total points showdown in Parksville the week before.
Clermont said he predicts North Island, which is comprised of the six top players from Courtenay and nine from Campbell River, will be in the gold medal game at the BCs, slated for Burnaby Sports Complex Feb. 24 to 27.
As has been the case all season, Clermont was clearly proud of his players who have worked hard all year.