I guess the best way to start this is to do a little intro on who I am!
My names Colin Boucher, known as Bouch to most; I’m from a little town in the great white north, Huntsville, Ontario. According to national geographic, Huntsville was listed as the #1 vacation place in the world, in 2011. So that’s fun! The winters get long, cold and thick with snow tho… which makes it the best time to play lacrosse!
There hasn’t really been many well-known athletes (in recent years) to come from the area, so this has been quite an experience for me so far! Huntsville has produced its fair share of pro lacrosse players though. Most recently was Rob Kirkby with Calgary, but the history is rich back to the Jack Bionda days through the 60’s and 70’s. I have received a lot of support from friends, family and strangers. It has been a bit overwhelming dealing with the same conversations over and over, but hard to really complain about it haha. I can’t leave out some of the other local talent that has come for the forefront this past year! We have a pro MMA fighter, a guy joining the PGA Tour and a slopestyle medal hopeful in Sochi 2014! (Dara Howell for Gold!) So things are looking up for local athletesand hopefully our local minor lacrosse program!
As far as my career goes, I’ve been playing for 21 years. I spent my minor years playing locally till I was 16, then 5 years Jr A for the Rama Kings, and since then I have moved around a bit. In the last 2 years I have played in games with The Dublin Riggers (AHM Tournament in Czech Republic) Huntsville SR.B, St.Catharines Sr.B, Brampton MSL, Six Nations MSL, Barrie Blizzard and Durham Turfdogs of CLAX, but playing with the Buffalo Bandits will not only be a dream come true, it’ll prove that hard work and dedication (and maybe some persistence) does pay off!
I had my work cut out for me with the Buffalo tryouts right from the get go. I had previously tried out for two NLL teams in the past; the Rock which was being coached by Troy Cordingly, and the Bandits. So third times the charm right?
My experience at the camp so far has been pretty unbelievable. First Niagara center is an amazing facility, and has such a good atmosphere to play in even when the buildings empty, I can’t even imagine full! When I showed up to the try day of camp, (after a quick 4 hour drive from my hometown) it was a bit of a reunion! Saw guys from my St.Catharine’s Sr.B team and Six Nations MSL team. It was a good feeling to see and play alongside guys I had battled and won Canadian Championships with this summer. I then got introduced to the rest of the guys I had known from checking and slashing previous seasons, all of which are awesome guys.
First weekend of camp was tiring! I’ve always noticed I can work out and push myself as much as I want in the gym, but no workout will ever compare to the first week of lacrosse practices. Took me about 2 days for my tin man style walk to finally subside, and get back to walking normal. The practices have been tough, fast paced and well organized, if these are any indication of how the season will go, I couldn’t have picked a better organization to come to! This coming weekend has been what I’ve been waiting for this whole camp. I’ve never known myself to be much of a “practice” player. I’ve always done better in game situations. I have two changes this weekend to prove that and I can’t be more excited. Last game I played in was the biggest game of my life winning the Mann Cup. I can only hope I will jump right back into the style of lacrosse I was playing then. Troy is running a tight ship and I can only hope I’ll be here for this turnaround season!
I couldn’t be any more excited to get this season going, for it to be Dec.28th and have the Wings in town! My family will be coming down for the game, but not too sure where my old man’s loyalty lies. He had a huge impact on my lacrosse life, as a child and still now, but he’s a wings alum from 75 and still has his jersey in the basement. I don’t know whether he’ll show up wearing his old Boucher Wings jersey, or a new Bandits one!
Cheers for now,
@bouch_74
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