Junior B’s ready for action
A’s transition player Ryan Andrews and head coach Mike Lines before practice this week. Photo by BILL POTRECZ.
The latest stop in Mike Lines’ long and impressive lacrosse coaching career is also one of his most challenging.
Lines, who’s coached at the National Lacrosse League level, won a pair of Mann Cups with Six Nations and also had two stints behind the bench with the St. Catharines junior A Athletics, is going back to the basics as the head man behind the bench with the St. Catharines WMKL Athletics junior B squad.
“It’s back to the drawing board,” the 51-year-old St. Catharines native said.
Lines, who will be assisted by Nick Baum, Alec Tamas and Bradley Fannell, said the staff is starting from scratch after two seasons interrupted by the COVID pandemic.
“We’re trying to put systems into place. The toughest part about this — it’s been a long time since I’ve been in junior B — especially the last two years because of COVID, a lot of these kids haven’t played offence-defence before,” he said. “They weren’t able to in bantam. They have never done any of this. It’s going to be a process.”
Lines said despite the huge learning curve, things are coming along nicely.
“One thing we have this year is a bunch of kids willing to learn, which is what you want. They’re listening and they are doing all right,” he said. “Our draw of kids played B and C ball all of their lives. We don’t have a lot of A calibre players, so it’s understandable.”
Lines quickly readjusted his expectations when it comes to practice plans.
“It’s as much of a learning experience for the kids coming up as it is for the coaches. We have to dumb it down and figure out where we are and make it work and fit.
“It’s a work in progress.”
The Athletics open the Ontario Lacrosse Association junior B regular season Thursday at home to the Guelph Regals. Game time at Bill Burgoyne Arena is 8 p.m.
The A’s only exhibition action came at a one-day tournament in Brantford where they won two of three games.
“It gave us an idea where we are and to look at some players,” Lines said. “Some pleasant surprises and some disappointments, but not bad at all.
“It was an eye-opener for us.”
Junior B general manager Joe Wormald and A’s GM Jeff Chcoski have been working to put together a roster.
“Joe is putting in 30 hours a week the last couple of weeks,” Lines said. “He’s just working his ass off. Doing a great job. We are on the same page and here for the right reasons.”
The St. Catharines Athletics Lacrosse Club acquired the St. Catharines Spartans Junior B Lacrosse Club in the off-season. The alignment will see two junior franchises operated by the same organization.
“Phenomenal,” Lines said when asked how the arrangement is going. “Going into this it’s the biggest reason I decided to come back and do this — it should have been like this 25 years ago — it’s been a long time coming.”
Lines praised A’s president Paul Coates and board members Dan Pilon and Todd Zavitz for their hard work.
“They have done a phenomenal job putting this together,” Lines said. “They are doing it the right way. Whatever the A’s are getting, we’re getting as far as equipment. We’re treated like a first-class organization which is something that has a never been done in St. Catharines before.
“It’s going to be run very well. We have communication for the first time.”
Lines said the goal is for players to able to make as seamless a transition up the lacrosse ladder as possible
“You’re not signing for the B’s, you’re signing for St. Catharines,” he said. “It’s an up-and-down situation.”
Lines said his main focus is development.
“I obviously want to win but if we don’t win 20 and send six kids up to the A’s, we did well. My whole job is to send kids up,” he said. “You’re going after a Minto. That’s the goal. That’s our focus. Every kid we’re signing, we’re letting them know the situation.”
2022 St. Catharines Athletics Junior B Roster
Ryan Andrews
Colton Armitage
Brady Bearisto
Lucas Briscall
Liam Dietsch
Nathan Fehr
Nolan Fehr
Ethan Fisher
Dan Kennedy
Christian LeFeuvre
Ethan Marsh
Maxwell McDonald
Teison McGregor
Trent Mooradian
Levi Roest
Tyler Stevens
Oliver Vanyo
Connor Waller
Colin Walters
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