TRURO, N.S. – A trio of Truro Bearcats will suit up for the Halifax Thunderbirds junior lacrosse team for an event next week in Oakville, Ont.
Mason McNeil, Travis McAndrew and Kadin Gloade of the Bearcats bantam team will compete at the seventh annual Junior National Lacrosse League Tournament Aug. 22 to 25.
Youth teams from all over Canada and the U.S. will participate in peewee, bantam and midget age groups. Players, coaches and staff from the NLL will take part in the weekend, which will kick off with an opening skills clinic on Aug. 22. The clinic will be hosted by the Toronto Rock and run by players Challen Rogers and Nick Rose.
“I’m thrilled with the growth of the Junior NLL Tournament, which has coincided with the growth of the NLL,” said Rock owner Jamie Dawick. “We are looking forward to hosting some of the best youth box lacrosse players from across Canada and the U.S. and three great days of competition and camaraderie.”
McNeil is from Crowes Mills, while McAndrew hails from Brookfield and Gloade is a resident of Millbrook. They were chosen to play for the Junior Thunderbirds after their names were submitted to the team by a Nova Scotia lacrosse ambassador.
The trio helped lead the Bearcats to a Scotia Minor Lacrosse League bantam title this summer. In Oakville, they will take their game to a whole new level, as the Junior Thunderbirds play five preliminary round games against Georgia Swarm, San Diego Seals, Saskatchewan Rush, Rochester Knighthawks and Buffalo Bandits.
The tournament and skills camp, along with other weekend events, will take place at the Toronto Rock Athletic Centre and Glen Abbey Community Centre.
The Halifax Thunderbirds will join the NLL this coming season. The new season begins in December.
