Sam the scoring man
Sam LeClair is going to be busy with lacrosse this summer, one way or another.
The 19-year-old Welland native is hoping to be deep into a playoff run with the Spartans junior B squad, or if that doesn’t transpire, perhaps a spot on Team Canada at the World Junior Lacrosse championships.
LeClair recently returned from a pre-tournament in Czechoslovakia where he suited up for Canada.
“It was pretty unreal going there and playing with Team Canada,” said LeClair, a graduate of Notre Dame. “Just seeing how big the game was there was pretty eye-opening.”
LeClair got the idea of trying out for the team after watching last year’s tournament.
“I followed the world juniors last year and once I saw it I knew I wanted to be part of the team the next year,” he said.
LeClair attended one of four combines of 40 players each from across Canada where the coaching staff whittled down the roster to 40 for the trip to Czechoslovakia.
“Luckily, I was chosen out of the 160 from across Canada,” LeClair said. “They will be cutting down to 20.”
The final roster will be selected from players whose teams have been eliminated from the playoffs.
“Either way, I’m hopefully playing lacrosse in August,” he said.
Canada, Iroquois, the United States, Australia and Israel, as well as a sixth participating nation, will compete at the 2019 World Junior Championship in Hamilton.
LeClair said the experience is something he won’t soon forget.
“We did amazing. The competition wasn’t great. It was more of a learning experience for them than anything, just seeing what real Canadian box lacrosse is like,” he said.
Canada squared off in exhibition games versus the Czechs, Switzerland, Germany and Austria and LeClair was naturally proud to wear the colours of his country.
“That was an unbelievable experience. It’s something I’ve never done. I never even played Team Ontario growing up. Doing that for the first time across the world was a great experience.”
LeClair returned to the Spartans last week and made an immediate impact with four goals and six points in a 10-7 win over Guelph.
“That’s usually what I’m looked at to do, put the ball in the net and help other guys get open,” LeClair said.
Spartans coach Chris Spiers said the team is much different when LeClair is in the lineup.
“He’s huge. He’s a big part of our offence,” Spiers said. “He’s a great ball player. We’re lucky we have him here still.
“Offensively he’s calm. Just having him back in the lineup, every time he’s on the floor he’s a threat.”
LeClair has high hopes the Spartans can make a long run in the playoffs.
“We have a lot of young guys but we also have a lot of smart players. We’re looking to make a push to make the playoffs and see where it goes from there,” he said. “It’s just baby steps right now.”
LeClair, who just completed his first season as a sociology major at Brock, also plays for the school’s field lacrosse team.
“I’ve always been on the offensive side of the ball so I’ve leaned a lot from the older guys,” he said. “Playing at Brock, all those guys taught me a lot.”
LeClair picked up an assist Thursday as the Spartans dropped a 10-2 decision at Hamilton to fall to 2-2.
Mitchell Geoffroy and Jacob McMillan scored for the Spartans.
The Spartans are at Windsor Saturday and Elora Sunday.
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