The Kootenay summer games lacrosse team held its try-out camp on Monday night at the Castlegar Community Complex. On hand were 25 Midget aged players (15 and 16 year-olds), including four from Cranbrook, competing for 17 spots.
Head coach Travor Balyk and assistant coach/trainer Maria Chirdaris were both impressed with the talent on hand.
“It was great to have Cranbrook players participate in order to select the top from both the East and West Kootenays and to have fair representation in our zone for these B.C. Summer Games,” said Chirdaris.
The Cranbrook players play in a junior league, due to a lack of midget players in the key city.
“Their skill level showed a high calibre and fast pace, but was comparable to some of our West Kootenay Wolfpack players who haven’t played junior level lacrosse,” said Chirdaris.
Goalie Billy Chirdaris, Maria’s son, is honoured to get the chance to play at the summer games.
“I’m excited and looking forward to the competition,” he said. “It’s going to be tough. Some of the teams from the lower mainland have very skilled A1 level players who average shots that are over 120 kilometres per hour.”
The coaches expect to finalize the team roster this week. Billy, and fellow goalie Gavin Perepolkin, are guaranteed spots as the only two goalies to try out.
The B.C. Summer Games goes July 19-21 in Surrey.