Two young local lacrosse players are headed to Ontario for a national tournament in August.
Jace Asay and Caden Gulka are two 12-year-old St. Albert lacrosse players who have been selected to play for Team Alberta in this year’s Canadian Lacrosse National Championships in Whitby, Ont. The tournament is an annual meeting of the best pee wee aged lacrosse players across Canada representing their home provinces.
The two home-grown boys were chosen to represent Alberta after two rounds of province-wide tryouts. For the last six weeks the athletes have been travelling across Alberta to practice with their new team. Every Saturday and Sunday the boys meet with Team Alberta in Innisfail for five hour practices each day to help prepare for the tournament.
“They’re good kids,” Coach Abe Conn said. “They’re totally committed and their parents are totally committed as well.”
The youngsters both agree that despite the long hours of travel, it’s worth it to play for Team Alberta.
“I’ve made friends with the whole team,” Asay said.
Both kids say they are having fun with the new team and the higher level of competition the tournament brings.
“Everything is so new and so different but it’s so much more fast paced,” Gulka’s mom Glenda Smith said.
They were each selected for the team because of their speed, strength and overall superior skills.
“They’re athletic and they run like the wind,” Conn said. “They are both learning a ton. They’re really strong and strong defensively and they’re both super fast kids.”
The two strong competitors honed their skills in the St. Albert lacrosse system. At just 12 years old, the athletes are veteran lacrosse players, each having eight seasons under their belts. Although they are looking forward to nationals, they each have had some pretty great memories playing lacrosse at home.
“I scored the first goal of the season after the first face off and it was in under six seconds,” Gulka said.
The boys are not only great lacrosse players but they are both well-rounded athletes. When Asay is not playing lacrosse, he is winning wrestling championships or playing football. Gulka excels at basketball, volleyball, handball and badminton as well as lacrosse.
Along with bringing great athletic ability to the competition the local boys bring their excellent leadership skills and great personalities.
“Both of those boys really lead their teams,” Conn said. “They’re super fun and super good kids. They’re super personable kids too.”
The tournament starts on July 31 and runs until Aug. 6. The boys will play nine games against teams from all across Canada during the seven-day tournament in Whitby, Ont.
