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Cyr hits field hard for Team B.C.

Liam Cyr of Vernon turned some heads and made the Team B.C. Under 15 field lacrosse nationals roster
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Vernon’s Liam Cyr, left, of Team B.C. checks an Alberta player in preliminary round action at the national U15 field lacrosse finals in Saskatoon. Team B.C. won the gold medal, beating Ontario 11-9 in overtime. (Photo submitted)

Go all out in sport and someone usually notices. Liam Cyr of Vernon turned some heads and made the Team B.C. Under 15 field lacrosse roster for the nationals.

The provincial side knocked off Ontario 11-9 in overtime at Umea Park earlier this month in Saskatoon. B.C. went 4-0 in preliminary play.

“It was back and forth; they had a two- or three-goal lead and then we came back,” said Cyr, 15. “I was one of three midfielders. I usually play on the wing but I was all over. My strengths are my playmaking and ball handling and I have a good outside shot.”

B.C. head coach Ian Radonich and his staff identified Cyr’s determination and smarts in tryouts, held in Kelowna and Vancouver with 300 players attending the three-day Coastal camp where the top-30 were identified before a 22-man roster was chosen.

“Liam Cyr was a player who came to us as quite a raw player and greatly developed his lacrosse IQ over our August training sessions,” said Radonich. “We were confident in Liam’s ability to read the defence and make good decisions based on those. Liam was an extremely hard worker who wasn’t afraid to get in for any loose balls and play strong fundamental defence. We look forward to his continued development and having him back with the team in Baltimore, Maryland.”

Cyr, Joshua Yachney of Kelowna and Rhys MacDonald of Penticton were the only Okanagan products on Team B.C.

Cyr, a 5-foot-10, 160-pounder, is stoked about the November field lacrosse at the University of Maryland., home of the NCAA Division 1 Terrapins.

“It’s a scouting tournament. It’s pretty tough to get scouted in B.C. so I’m hoping to get noticed, to show my talent. Lots of Canadians kids do get schooling paid for on field lacrosse scholarships and that’s what I’m hoping for.”

The soft-spoken Grade 10 VSS student who went to elementary school at Hillview, Silver Star and BX, has played field lacrosse for four years and started box lacrosse as a first-year Novice. He played Midget A2 for Casey Sherriff this season, the team going winless at provincials.

Cyr used to be a linebacker/safety in minor football before committing full-time to lacrosse. He also enjoys dirt biking, fishing and hiking with friends. He and some buddies recently constructed a dam at BX Creek.

Liam’s grandfather, John (Wire) Price, won the B.C. Junior Hockey League scoring title on a record-setting line alongside Ernie Gare and Wayne Dye with the 1971-72 Vernon Essos.

“I like the spacing of field lacrosse. I like to have more room. I feel faster and more confident out there.”

He pretty much nailed what the coaches liked about his style at tryouts.

“The coaches liked that I went hard for all the loose balls and I think they liked my attitude. My attacking and my outside shot were my strengths at the tryouts.”

For local field lacrosse practice times, call Kari Gares at 558-8091.