Brophy thrilled to be a Golden Hawk
It was Laurier or bust for Josh Brophy.
The 17-year-old, Grade 12 student at E.L. Crossley will major in business administration while trying out for the men’s field lacrosse team at the Waterloo school beginning this fall.
Brophy said attending Laurier and following in the footsteps of his family — mom Leslie Brophy is principal while dad Jamie Brophy is a teacher at Governor Simcoe — was a no-brainer.
“Obviously my parents are teachers, so school, academics, is a very big aspect with it,” he said. “I wanted to get into business, and they have a great business school. Alongside that, they also have a ton of business studies players on the lacrosse team. So there’s going to be all those connections right there.
“The lacrosse is amazing, business is amazing, and it’s going to set me up with all those connections.”
Josh Brophy was so intent on attending Laurier he reached out to a member of their men’s lacrosse team coaching staff.
“I was messaging the coach and it was just kind of trying to be more personal with the coach,” he said.
An invitation to a game and a tour of the facilities followed.
“It was a great experience. He showed me all the facilities. You could really tell that it was more like a family there. So alongside the great program they also had a pretty good lacrosse team and I really just could see myself there.”
He is relieved to have the process complete.
“It’s amazing. I just feel like I’m comfortably cruising right now,” he said.
Josh Brophy grew up playing box lacrosse — he plans to play junior B for the Welland Raiders this summer where his father is coaching — but had to stop during COVID.
“As soon as COVID hit, box wasn’t really running, because inside you can’t play inside, so it was straight to outside and that was my first year field,” he said.
He enjoyed immediate success for the St. Catharines Athletics Team 2 who earned a silver medal at the provincials.
“Right off the bat it was amazing and I just kept it going ever since,” he said.
Josh Brophy has also been a mainstay on Crossley’s team who qualified for the OFSAA (Ontario Federation of School Athletic Association) championships the past two years.
Josh Brophy, who plays long pole (defence) in the field game, enjoys both the indoor and outdoor game.
“There’s definitely more physicality in box lacrosse and a lot more injuries, but it’s a lot more team-based with the field,” he said. “I find it more fun as a long pole. You just get to be out there in your free space. You get to do whatever you want. You’re not just controlling the play. In box, you have to depend on all your teammates. If one person makes a mistake, the ball’s in the back of your net.”
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