An Alberni Valley lacrosse player has been selected as one of 15 players across Vancouver Island to compete for the Team BC Tryouts in the Peewee division.
Declan Fines is a first year peewee, currently playing with the Alberni Valley Tyees. He joined the local team when he was just four years old, but his father and coach, Kelly Fines, said he wasn’t much older than two years old when he first picked up a lacrosse stick.
“He was following in dad’s footsteps,” Kelly joked.
“My dad always played it,” said Declan. “I didn’t really know anything about it. I thought it was cool, so I kept playing. Plus,” he added, “I never scored a goal in my first year, so I kept trying.”
This is partly because Alberni lacrosse was in its beginning stages, and didn’t have a tyke team. Declan was playing with much older players.
“I was playing with seven- and eight-year-olds,” he said.
Declan also plays hockey in the wintertime, but admits that the sport is fairly different—partly because he plays the position of goaltender in hockey.
“It’s way colder,” he said, then added, “Lacrosse is way better.”
The Team BC Provincial Main Camp has previously only been open to second-year peewees, but Declan made the first cut following the Vancouver Island District Camp. He was one of 15 players selected out of 40.
The camp takes place this weekend from May 12-14, and the Saturday and Sunday combined will feature 12 hours of practice, but Declan is excited for any challenges ahead.
The Provincial Camp at the Langley Events Centre in Vancouver will feature 45 to 60 players competing for 15 spots.
“There are no expectations, just go out and have fun,” said Kelly. “The main goal is to get on the team next year as a second year.”
elena.rardon@albernivalleynews.com