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Cowichan Valley athletes aim for international glory with Australian lacrosse team

Tyson Black and Colin Jeffrey are on long list for 2019 Worlds
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Tyson Black competes with the Cowichan Valley Thunder during the junior B2 provincial championships in Colwood this past summer. (Citizen file)

Two athletes from the Cowichan Valley are connecting with their Australian roots in a bid to play for that nation in the 2019 World Indoor Lacrosse Championships.

Tyson Black and Colin Jeffrey are both on the long list for the Australian national team that will play at the Worlds in Langley next fall.

Black’s dad, Traves, is originally from Australia, while Jeffrey’s grandfather, Bill, was also born there. Bill met his wife during a vacation to Canada in the late 50s, and never looked back. Colin’s dad’s younger brother reciprocated by marrying an Australian woman and now lives in Melbourne.

Black captained the junior B2 Cowichan Thunder to the provincial championship this past summer, while Jeffrey, a goalie, backstopped the junior A Nanaimo Timbermen. Both Jeffrey and Black reached out to the Australian team about possibly playing. The 2019 Worlds would be the first international experience for either of the Cowichan products.

“It’s a little bit different from what I’m used to,” Black said. “It should be interesting.”

Both Cowichan players are excited about the prospect of sharing a floor with some of the sport’s biggest names.

“It will be very cool,” Jeffrey said. “Especially playing against and with some of the best players in the world.”

Australia has been among the better teams at the Worlds since the first tournament in 2003, although they haven’t managed a podium finish. The team finished eighth at the last Worlds in 2015, sixth in 2011 and 2007, and fifth in 2003. Canada has won all four gold medals, the Iroquois have won all four silvers, and the U.S. has won all four bronzes.

In December, Jeffrey and Black will attend a training camp in Langley with other North American hopefuls. There are still five goalies hoping to make the final roster, but Jeffrey might have an advantage over the others in that he is used to guarding a bigger net.

“The only nets they have in Australia are the ones we use in minor,” Jeffrey said.

Black is gifted offensively, but his biggest asset to the Australian team might be his versatility; he is willing and able to play on offence, defence or transition. Transition, in particular, is probably an area of need for the Australians.

“Whatever part of the floor they want me to, I’ll go and play on it,” Black said. “From talking to them, it sounds like a pretty good chance all the Canadians will make the team, but you never know; I could have a bad day, I could have a good day. I’m hoping to make the best of it.”

Jeffrey and Black are just far enough apart in age to have rarely played together, although Jeffrey was called up from midget to Black’s junior B team for a few games a couple of years ago. Jeffrey did grow up playing lacrosse and soccer with Black’s younger brother, Brody, who decided not to try out for Team Australia this time around.

“I think after seeing the Worlds in 2019, he’ll want to try for it next time,” Black said.



Kevin Rothbauer

About the Author: Kevin Rothbauer

Kevin Rothbauer is the sports reporter for the Cowichan Valley Citizen
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