The start of another lacrosse season has brought smiles to the faces of the junior Timbermen.
Nanaimo’s B.C. Junior A Lacrosse League club has been practising all month in advance of its season opener May 1 at Langley.
“These kids have come into camp this year with a real good team attitude. They like each other; they’re willing to play for each other,” said Dave Bremner, the team’s coach and general manager. “A kid that comes in here with a smile on his face before and after practice are kids that we want kicking around.”
The real change in attitude that the coach has noticed is a belief, more than ever, that the T-men can win this year.
“That’s what we’re going to continue to build on, and see where it goes from there,” Bremner said.
The coaching staff is running the players hard to build their fitness for a run-and-gun style of play. So far the Timbermen are keeping up the pace.
“From a work ethic point of view they’re above what we expected,” Bremner said. “From a learning point of view … we’ve got some things to work on, but these guys are real keen to win.”
It’s a pretty typical year as far as player turnover goes, and there are some impressive newcomers.
“We have some very nice ball players coming in to fit our system this year and help us produce some wins,” said Bremner.
Two of the standouts among the rookies are Tyson Roe, who has good hands and speed and a big body, and Quinn Smith, a draft pick from a couple years ago out of the Interior.
The Timbermen have undergone a few changes off the floor this off-season, with longtime general manager Forbes Mitchell stepping down.
“We need help with sponsorships, we need help with billets and everything,” Bremner said. “So we just need people to step up that know people.”
LACROSSE TALK … Potential billets or volunteers can call Bremner at 1-250-686-9330 … Season tickets cost $60, with partial proceeds going to B.C. Guide Dog Services. Visit www.jrtimbermen.com … The junior A Timbermen play their first pre-season game this Saturday (April 23) in Victoria.
sports@nanaimobulletin.com