The most decorated program in Canadian University Field Lacrosse Association (CUFLA) history, the Brock Badgers are currently experiencing a Baggataway Cup drought. The Badgers have been crowned National Champions 18 times, but they have yet to bring the hardware home to St. Catharines, ON since 2009.
Head Coach Justin Kennedy and his squad have high expectations after training camp just over the past two weeks.
“Our expectations are to learn and to win,” said Kennedy. “Camp was fast and uptempo. With a short season we have to get right into systems and teaching. The players responded.”
Despite a disappointing finish, losing to the University of Guelph Gryphons, the eventual 2013 Baggataway Cup Champions in the semi finals last season, there were many bright spots to carry over into the 2014 season.
Veteran Kyle Davis had a breakout season with the Badgers, leading the league in points with 62 (34 G, 28 A), a career high for the Caldeon, ON native. The fifth-year senior will look to build off his impressive season and retain his CUFLA scoring title, but more importantly Davis is determined to win a championship.
“Davis is a hungry athlete,” said Kennedy. “He is on board for whatever will win him a championship. He will take advantage of every opportunity.”
Alongside Davis will be sophomore Brandon Slade, who is coming off an impressive rookie campaign.
“Slade is a warrior and leads by example,” said Kennedy. “He loves lacrosse and loves to work hard for the people around him.”
In his first year of play, the Orangeville,ON product netted 28 goals and 28 assists for 56 points, good enough for second among all CUFLA scorers. The lefty attackman was crowned CUFLA Rookie of the Year and named First Team East Division All Canadian.
It won’t just be Slade and Davis carrying the load as the Badgers have some major depth at offense.
“Talented players like Davis and Slade call for a lot of defensive attention, which means there is other guys on the field who should be taking advantage,” said veteran midfielder Gage Board. “With returning guys like Greg Davidson, Brandon Staal, Mark Debrone, Travis Arch and Mark Vradenburg we will be sure to capitalize.”
Davidson has netted 89 goals, 31 assists for an impressive 120 points in just 33 games played with the Badgers. Arch, Debrone, Staal and Board all registered 20 plus points in 2013 with the Badgers.
A major loss for the Badgers last season was in between the pipes in veteran captain Ian Duffy. The Ajax, ON native was one of the elite goaltenders in CUFLA last season, recording a 6.21 goals against average en route to posting a stellar 8-1 record. Duffy was also an integral vocal leader on the field as a defensive quarterback and a positive presence in the Brock locker room.
The Badgers currently have a heated battle in camp for the soul possession of the starting job between the pipes.
“Ryan Jones is currently battling for a number one spot with a freshman named Justin Avbar along with another potential prospect,” said Kennedy.
Jones, a Newmarket, ON native appeared in three games as a freshmen, grabbing two wins while posting a 6.80 goals against average. The freshmen Avbar is from Orangeville, ON.
Other incoming players include Parker Bail, Drew Barfoot and Josh Kelly. Bail is a defender from the Evolve Elite program who spent his summer playing for the Newmarket Saints Jr. B. Barfoot, a senior midfielder who transfered from Wilfred Laurier University has netted 40 goals, 23 assists for 63 points in 42 games with the Golden Hawks. Kelly, hails from Delta, BC and is coming off a season with the Langley Thunder of the British Colombia Jr. A Lacrosse League.
Only three players graduated from the program in 2013 with Duffy, and faceoff specialists Kyle Kropman and Jake Lambert ending their collegiate careers with the Badgers. With a large turnover in talent and experience, Coach Kennedy will lean on four players to become veteran leaders this season. Davidson, Davis, and Quinn Stuart will help lead the Badgers on and off the field as they each have played at least three years in red, blue and white.
“We have a deep lineup of returning guys with a chip on their shoulder from past seasons,” said Board. “I believe that will fuel us as leaders to set good examples for the rest of the team on and off the field.”
The saying “Cup Comes Home” has been a motto passed down from era to era in Brock Lacrosse history, but the Baggataway Cup hasn’t made St. Catharines its home in a half decade.
“For many of us this is our last year and still don’t have a ring so we understand there is no time to waste,” said Board.
Coach Kennedy and the Badgers are fueled with a potent offense, strong veteran leadership and the hunger to bring the Badgers back to CUFLA supremacy.
“We have a lot of returning guys that understand the winning history behind the program and are willing to do whatever it takes to bring the cup home,” said Board. “Everybody on the team has to buy in and come together as a unit, play a full 80 minutes and execute our systems flawlessly to make sure we are the best team in CUFLA. The skill around the league has grown immensely over the past five years and we have learnt that, but that is no excuse; it just means we have to focus and put in the extra effort to bring our game to the next level. Through commitment and hard work the Baggataway Cup will surely be coming home to St. Catharines come November.”
The Badgers quest to their 19th Baggataway Cup in program history begins September 7 in Waterloo as the Golden Hawks of Laurier University host Brock University.
