NEW FACES AND NEW PROMISE AT THUNDER JR A LACROSSE
With 16 Midget draftees, new players arriving through trades, a small airlift of US College players and new coaches, the Langley Thunder lacrosse program is underway for 2010.
The Thunder Intermediate A team – formerly the Stickmen in Abbotsford are preparing to host home games on Sundays at 2:00 at the Langley Events Centre.
The Junior A Thunder will play home games Thursday evenings at 7:30 – also at Langley’s events centre – the most comfortable and accessible sports facility in Greater Vancouver.
Close to a hundred rookies and veterans will be vying for positions on both clubs at least until the season starts in late April.
Recent trades announced by GM Brock Rose involving either players or player rights add Kevin McFegan, Sam Margaretson, Markus Critchley, Karl Ralph and James Jackson to the array of junior talent that Head Coach Rey Comeault will build into the 2010 team.
There will be two new faces along the bench, assisting Coach Comeault. NLL Championship goalie Chris Levis now of Langley will provide strength and conditioning expertise for the Thunder, and operating his new Source for Sports outlet on the Fraser Highway in Langley, except when he flies off to join the Colorado Mammoth where he is one of their regular goalies.
Long time minor coach Dennis Bull moves up to the Junior A team this year, along with many of the players he’s coached in the minor programs in Langley.
Two former Senior A men will handle the coaching of the Thunder intermediate A Club. Bryan Poole, who played with the Sr. A Thunder will be assisted by Sean Kelly.
They also have a raft of talent to draw on. The Club drafted 16 graduating midgets – including the numbers 1 and 3 overall picks Ben Saklofsky and Brett Fleming - both of Kamloops and two of their Midget team mates Kyle Gunn and Ryan Flottorp. The four will commute from Kamloops for games and practices. Joining them will be the 5th pick in the first round, Connor Buick of Terrace/Kitimat who has also joined the intermediate club.
The Junior club is reaching farther afield for USA NCAA Division One field players who are looking for box experience. So far at least three are likely to be on this year’s roster.
Club President Joe Willmott, surveying the talent and the leadership assembled by General Manger Brock Rose said, “We’re setting our sights on hosting a Minto Cup tournament in the next few years. These are the people who can help us. In the meantime, there’s going to be some very good lacrosse at the Langley Events Centre this year. Very good indeed.”
For more information on the team please contact any of the club officials who are listed in the Thunder Executive and Staff page in the TEAM button on this website.
The Jr. Thunder will be looking for young performers who would like to appear in between period presentations; booster club volunteers; corporate sponsors who want to be associated with the fine young men who play Junior lacrosse; parents of young lacrosse players and businesses that wish to advertise in the club publications.
CLICK ON THE VIDEO TO SEE THE LATEST INSTALMENT OF JOE'S CHIRP
Joe speaks with GM, Brock Rose about the new faces in the Thunder club.
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