A Race to the finish
Julian Race received a memorable birthday gift from St. Catharines WMKL Athletics general manager Jeff Chcoski Thursday night.
A couple of hours before the A’s defeated the Orangeville Northmen 11-8, Chcoski presented Race with a classic A’s jersey as a memento of his final season with the team.
It was a gesture that Race, who turned 21 earlier in the week, more than appreciated.
“Just tradition, history, a lot of respect,” Race said when asked what the jersey meant to him. “I respect the hell out of this program and all the guys that came before me. It means a lot to be one of those guys and be an alumni after this season and be part of the history.”
Race could be wrapping up his junior career with another team — the A’s offered to deal him to a contender to try and win a championship — but he would have none of that.
“It shows how much they respect me and how much mutual respect there is from me and the coaching staff and general manager,” Race said. “It meant the world to me to be able to make that decision myself. There’s no place I’d rather be than here.”
Race said he just couldn’t see himself playing for another organization.
“It says how special it is what we have here right now and how special every team that ever puts on the A is,” he said. “We create a brotherhood here. I don’t want to win anywhere else, I want to win here. Win or lose, I want to have fun and battle with my boys.”
Race, who has spent four seasons in double blue, isn’t focused on the end of his time with the A’s.
“It’s hard when you’re playing so many games. You’re fully immersed and definitely coming up to it now. It’s definitely scary. It’s not hard to get it off your mind when you’re coming out here. It feels like you’re going to be here forever when you’re out on the floor. Just trying to stay in the moment.
“You just want to enjoy the time you have left.”
Race didn’t hesitate for a second when asked what he will miss the most.
“The guys,” he said. “The facility is great and it would have sucked playing somewhere else but I could play anywhere with these guys. That’s what I’m going to miss the most, it’s not even close.”
Race recently completed his second year at Hobart College in Geneva, N.Y., where he in majoring in economics.
“Been an absolute blast. Definitely created a family out there,” Race said. “Coaches have a lot of respect and faith in me and it’s progressed my game a lot out here, especially with my endurance and also becoming a better defender and learning how to communicate better and that helps everybody.”
A’s head coach Steve Toll will miss the speedy Race.
“He’s turned into a really good player with his speed and he’s really become a leader this year with the A on his shirt,” Toll said. “He does all the little things right. Like every defender, you wish he was probably three inches bigger. He knows his speed is the thing and he plays a tough and smart game. He’s got lacrosse IQ which makes is easier.
“What his family (Mountainview Homes) has done for the dressing room and the team is unbelievable.”
The A’s took a huge step toward locking up a playoff spot Thursday, rallying for an 11-8 win with seven goals in the third period.
St. Catharines, which improved to 9-9, wrap up the regular season Saturday at Whitby and Monday at Burlington.
“We would love to win every game. I think nine (wins) gets you into the playoffs,” Toll said.
A’s acorns: Chcoski celebrated birthday 51 this week while trainer Lee Randell turned 80 Thursday . . . The A’s had their annual team picture taken before the game.
STATS PACK
A’s 11 Northmen 8
WMKL Player of the Game: Tye Steenhuis with three goals and three assists.
St. Catharines Athletics: Steenhuis 3; Keaton Zavitz 3; Thunder Hill 2; Colton Armitage, Nathan Fehr, Christian Lefeuvre.
Orangeville Northmen: Liam Matthews 2; Jaden Ciappara, Dylan Sanderson, Joey Spallina, Brian Jackman, Aiden Long, Trey Deere.
Up next: The A’s round out the regular season Saturday at Whitby and Monday at Burlington.
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