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National silver lining for Heat player

Penticton Minor Lacrosse player Finn Halladay helped Team B.C. earn silver at the peewee national championship
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FINN HALLADAY of the Penticton Minor Lacrosse Association earned a silver medal with Team B.C. during the Canadian Peewee Box Lacrosse championship in Whitby

Winning a Canadian box lacrosse championship slipped by Finn Halladay and Team B.C.

The peewee squad lost to Ontario 11-2 in the Warriors Pee Wee Boys Canadian Lacrosse championship on Aug. 9.

B.C. reached the final in Whitby, Ont. after exacting revenge on Team Alberta 5-2. In the round robin, Alberta handed B.C. a 6-2 loss leaving Halladay’s team with five wins and two losses. B.C.’s other round robin loss came to Ontario 9-3.

“They were a very skilled team. A couple of kids are from Toronto that were very good,” said Halladay.

Team B.C.’s championship game loss followed their best performance against Alberta and Halladay said they “lost track of thought” in the final. He also sensed his team getting a bit “cocky” after big wins (17-1 against Saskatchewan, 17-2 against Nova Scotia and 14-1 against New Brunswick). Halladay said, “It kind of was an upset for us” losing to Ontario, who played a physical style.

Halladay, the only Okanagan player on B.C., was still happy to return home with a medal in his nationals debut. He was second in team scoring with nine goals and 15 points.

Team B.C. coach Daren Fridge initially planned to use Halladay in a defensive role and in short man situations.

“He did so well in the games,” said Fridge, a scout with the Saskatchewan Rush National Lacrosse League team. “The best quality he’s got is his ability to take the ball to the net. Because of his size (five-foot-six, 128 pounds) and determination, he’s not afraid to cut to the middle. He’s not afraid to go hard to the net.”

Fridge said Halladay has learned from his father Del, who is a former professional player.

“He’s going to continue to get better. He’s got a great attitude about things. He’s always positive,” Fridge added.

Halladay, 12, said even if Team B.C. had come last, it showed how much they improved. Halladay said his assistant coach, Curt Malawsky, who coaches the Calgary Roughnecks in the National Lacrosse League, told the team that losing can actually be better in some cases because you learn more.