By Devan Mighton
There is optimism in the air as the Windsor Clippers Jr. B lacrosse team migrate from their off-season practice facilities at Central Park Athletics and the WFCU Centre to their home turf at Forest Glade Arena.
It’s going to be a young team this year, that is what everyone is saying. After years of teams loaded with grizzled veterans and absolute monsters at each position, striking fear across the Ontario Junior B Lacrosse League’s Western Conference, the Clippers are ready for a youth movement.
“We’re all pumped up, especially all the young guys that haven’t seen the floor in junior,” says third-year veteran Jacob Higgins, who is in his final year of eligibility. “It’s a whole new ball game, it’s night and day, but we’re trying to get all the boys all fired up and ready to go.”
As a vet, the Riverside native is excited to be a leader on the floor for the Clipper’s youth group.
“It’s awesome,” he states. “It’s something I’ve always been looking forward to since I started in my rookie year. I’ve always looked up to those guys and now I’m one of those guys. It’s really crazy to think about.
“As a team, I’m really hoping that all of the young guys progress thoroughly and that we progress as a team and win some games as a team. [Individually, we need to] focus on the little things, focus on yourself, you can only do what you can—you gotta make yourself better to make the team better.”
Head coach Jerry Kavanaugh confirms that the team is going to be younger at its core. “There’s a lot of question marks to start the season. Which guys are going to make the Jr. A jump? Which guys are we going to get back from school? When are they getting back from school? We are going to start the season really young—which we’ve done in the past—but we are especially young this year.”
According to Kavanaugh, Jack Bulmer will be returning to the club as team captain, and is currently trying to work out balancing his work and school schedules. Also, Nate DeThomasis, Tommy Irwin, Cal Brennan, Niko Spewock, and Connor Scott will be returning as their school obligations conclude. “Those guys, along with Jacob Higgins, Ajinn Vantassel, Vance Dalpe, Quinn Brennan, Mason Myers-Whiteye, and Kane Murphy will form our veteran leadership group, and from there we’ll choose the other captains.”
“I don’t think we’re going to have the [Zane] Dalpe-[Xander] Derkatz thing from a couple years ago where we had guys who could come out and just score goals,” explains Kavanaugh. “We’re going to have to do the right things and take care of the ball—be patient. We’ve got some talent—Mason has an elite skill level, Vanny had a great start to last year and got hurt and struggled to get back to 100 per cent—and he looks great to start the season—we’ll be counting on him early and Quinn Brennan is ready to take the next step and has great hands too.”
Vance Dalpe is itching for the season to start.
“I’m excited,” agrees Dalpe, who is from Belle River. “We’re going to have a young team, but it’s always exciting at the start of the season—to get the boys back. It’s going to be a fun start. Being back in The Glade, it’s a fun environment, and playing competitive ball again—it’s fun to get back with the team and back in a more competitive setting than the off-season.”
Dalpe, himself, is hoping to rack up the points this year after a strong start last season but getting sidelined by injury.
“We’re starting to glue together a bit,” he says. “We’re still missing some guys, but hopefully we start getting them in the lineup soon and get a little more team chemistry going—but, we are starting to figure things out a little bit.”
Kavanaugh says that, in addition to the leadership core, Owen Coffey and Kaden Ducharme will be asked to take on bigger roles this season and Logan Gough will be expected to lead a group of rookies that will be pushing for time in the lineup.
“We have a lot of good, young, athletic guys, but they’re learning how to play defence in this league,” explains their coach. “I think we got a little exposed on the weekend (at the Elora Preseason Showcase)—just youth and inexperience—you can see the talent-level, it’s there. It’s different than playing U17-level lacrosse.”
Between the pipes, Kavanaugh says that MJ Schwager and Kitchener-product Markus Madill have impressed in exhibition action. This being Schwager’s first season as a starter, serving behind Griff Salaris last year, the young tendy is elated for his chance to make an impact.
“I’m pretty excited to get back into a full season,” the LaSalle native states. “I haven’t been a starter since my minor career, which was a few years ago. It’ll be nice to get into every game and get a lot of shots.”
“[I’m hoping for] development and a lot of shots—obviously, no goalie doesn’t like shots—and I’d like to go up to Kitchener for a game or two and see how that goes. This will be a good development year to see where I am.”
After a long off-season of playing the United States with Premier Lacrosse Group in Canton, MI, Schwager is happy to be back at The Glade.
“It’s always exciting when you’re sitting around all winter,” he states. “Some guys, like me, we play in the winter, but nothing really compares to the actual season when you’re on the concrete floor and it’s sweaty and hot. It’s exciting to get back in it with the guys I’ve played with my entire life and get another season with them—having fun and making memories with the guys you’ve played your entire career with.”
Kavanaugh adds that goalie prospects Jay Proctor and Nathan Anger, who fared well in tryouts, will spend the season learning the junior-sized nets and the Jr. B pace of game while they await their opportunity.
“Right now, making the playoffs is the goal,” states Kavanaugh. “It’s never been something we’ve been worried about before. I think we have the potential to be there, but the early part of the season is going to be important. We’ve got a four-game homestand to start the season—which could be good if we can take care of business.”
The Clippers’ home opener will take place on Sunday, Apr. 28 at 4 p.m. at the Forest Glade Arena, as they host the Cambridge Highlanders.
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