TRURO, N.S. – It seems fitting that Joseph Asselstine and Calem McAndrew will showcase their lacrosse talents at the national level together.
The Colchester County teens have been teammates and friends for a long time – even attending the same daycare as kids – and will now wear the blue and white together as members of the Nova Scotia team competing at the Canadian midget box lacrosse championship Aug. 12 to 18 in Calgary, Alta.
“It’s really cool,” said Asselstine, 15, of Valley. “We’ve been friends for a while, just playing lacrosse and we have great chemistry together. It’s been kind of cool growing up together and playing lacrosse, making the provincial team together and going to nationals to represent the province.”
Asselstine and McAndrew have played lacrosse on the same Truro team for about seven years, including last season with the Truro Bearcats midget squad. They were selected to the 20-man Nova Scotia roster after attending open tryouts about a month ago in Halifax.
“I was very excited,” Asselstine said of making the team. “Just proud to represent Truro.
“We’ve got a great coaching staff, so it’s pretty easy to learn from everyone; we’re playing with a lot of great players and it makes you elevate your game to a higher level, and it’s just a really good experience.”
The Nova Scotia side is comprised of mainly players from HRM, however, Asselstine, who plays defence, and McAndrew, a transition player, have had no problem fitting in with their new teammates.
“They really welcomed us in,” said McAndrew, 16, from Brookfield. “The first couple of practices it was kind of awkward just not really knowing each other, but we’re really good friends now; I’m close with quite a few of the guys and we all really get along.”
The Bluenosers attended a tune-up tournament in Nepean, Ont., last weekend, going undefeated in four games against Ontario club teams.
Nova Scotia coach K.J. MacNeil said Asselstine and McAndrew each bring a different set of skills to the team, and both will be called upon to play big roles at the national championship.
“Joey’s a very coachable kid, he’s there to learn. He’s got a big body and he knows how to use it; he pushes kids out of the way, he blocks shots, all the stuff you want from a big man, he’s there for you. He’s a good kid in the room and just a real good addition to the team.
“Calem is the ultimate gamer; he’s an unbelievably hard worker. He was probably one of the best, if not the best, playing in the tournament (in Nepean) for us. He did everything the coaches asked of him, scored a few goals, and I’m confident with that guy in any area of the floor.”
The seven-team national tournament will include traditional powerhouses Ontario, B.C., Iroquois and reigning champion Alberta. The tournament format is round-robin with the top four teams advancing to the Tier 1 final, while the bottom three will play for the Tier 2 title.
Nova Scotia won the Tier 2 final at last year’s event in Halifax and looks to improve upon that standing this time around.
“Our motto so far has been, ‘let’s just go show everyone what Nova Scotia’s about,’” said McAndrew. “Because everyone, including the coaching staff and all the players, feel that we are one of the best teams to come out of Nova Scotia for midget in the past couple of years.”
Jordan Whitford, who played for the Mi’kmaq Warriors junior squad this season before he was traded to the Halifax Hurricanes for their playoff run, is also a member of the provincial midget team.
