Wallaceburg’s Tanner Cole Cracks Team Ontario
Tanner Cole is the latest Wallaceburg Lacrosse product to step into the national spotlight.
The 14-year-old Griffins stand-out has been named to the Team Ontario bantam team and will head to Saskatchewan for tournament action in July.
Cole’s game has improved drastically in recent years, leading the Bantam Griffins this season with 54 points in 14 games, including 32 goals and 22 assists. Tanner was instrumental for the Griffins, who took home silver medals in the prestigious Brampton “McCauley” tournament in early June.
Cole has had a passion for lacrosse for as long as he can remember, crediting his father, Brad for an early start at just two and a half years old.
“I’ve always loved everything about it,” said Tanner. “The game, the friends we make, the love of the game and how fun it is. Everything.”
Tanner began noticing his exemplary skill-set two years ago after being cut from Team Ontario by the very same coaches who have now awarded him with a roster spot.
“We (the Griffins) won the provincial ‘B’ division and I was much more focused,” said Cole. “I ended up cut from team Ontario that year and I just wanted to be better and prove I deserved to be on that team.” Cole and his team mates pushed through the remainder of that season and won the PeeWee provincial ‘B’ championship.
When asked of the retribution in making this year’s provincial roster, playing for the same coaches who cut him two years ago, Cole simply smiles.
“It was a really exciting moment,” he recalled. “Permanent smile that day.”
Cole, who plans to try out for the Wallaceburg Red Devils as an affiliate player next season, credits the local lacrosse scene for his love of the game and the success he’s found thus far.
“Lacrosse is a big part of (Wallaceburg). I look at Jordan Durston and Joel Shepley. They both won a Minto Cup last year. I want to be like them. Be as good as them and play on that level.”
The provincial tryouts were held inside the Toronto Rock athletic complex, a facility Cole aims to one day see again.
“I want to go to the highest level,” he said. “Junior A or the NLL. That would be amazing.”
Tanner and Team Ontario open up play in Saskatoon on July 21st. Until then, team practices are in not-so-near-by Oakville.
To get Tanner to Saskatchewan, the Cole family is currently fundraising, selling “Barrell of Fun” raffle tickets for $5 each. Tickets are available at 99.1 CKXS, Dr. Jeffrey Fox Chiropractic on James Street in Wallaceburg and at the Wallaceburg Memorial Arena.