VanDamme, Brown Share Griffin of the Year Honours
Emily Vandamme at the Kraft Celebration Tour
It was a rollercoaster year for the Wallaceburg Griffins culminating with the Wallaceburg Lacrosse organization’s annual award banquet this weekend.
Taking home top honours on the night were Drake Brown and Emily VanDamme who share the Griffin of the Year award. Brown played for the Griffins intermediate team and also affiliated up to the Wallaceburg Jr. B Red Devils playing 13 regular season games and in all of the Red Devils 3 playoff games. VanDamme, who plays for the Griffins bantam boy’s program, won a Canadian National Championship leading Team Ontario to gold. VanDamme, a goaltender, was named MVP of the final.
The Novice 1 Griffins, who were Wallaceburg’s first ‘A’ ranked team provincially in more than 20 years, were named Team of the Year. Their coach, Jamie Knight was given Coach of the Year honours.
Kyle Dawson was awarded the Phenix Award for love and dedication to lacrosse.
Other award winners included Todd Knight (Joanne Smith Memorial), Kerry Daugherty (O’Neil Memorial), and Mike Persyn (Norm Cole Award).
MVP’s for each age group/team were Hunter Shepley (Tyke I), Brooke Bechard (Tyke II), Cole MacKinnon and Tanner Cole (Novice 1), Caleb McDowell (Novice II), Ryan Noel (Peewee), Cory Lucier and Emily VanDamme (Bantam), Mitch VanDamme (Midget), Colin Harvey (Intermediate), and Corrie Routley (Girls).
Phenix Medals were awarded to Taylor Mader and Connor Debot (Tyke), Evan Dumais and Landon Allaer (Novice), Cullen Bowless (Peewee), Kyle Dawson (Bantam), Josh Paul (Midget), Trevor McLaughlin (Intermediate), and Cassidy Classens (Girls).
Most Improved awards were handed out to Brady Bustin and Emiigwed Shognosh-Diaz (Tyke), Riley Roe and Bryson Langs (Novice), Sydney Soney (Peewee), Quinn Howlett (Bantam), Spencer Roe (Midget), Corey Mel (Intermediate), and Lindsay Tucker (Girls).
Although the traditional season for Wallaceburg Minor Lacrosse is over, the organization will run Fall Ball Field Lacrosse beginning in September.