It has been a seamless transition from the ice to the arena floor this season for Kyle Dawson.
Two days after being ousted from the Sutherland Cup semi-finals with the London Nationals, the 20-year-old Florence resident traded his hockey stick for a lacrosse stick and suited up with the Wallaceburg Red Devils Junior ‘B’ Lacrosse team.
Dawson scored 4 goals in his season debut on Sunday against Windsor and he topped it on Thursday night against Point Edward, scoring 6 goals and adding 1 assist, in a 15-7 Red Devils win over the Pacers.
“It doesn’t take too much,” Dawson said, about the transition from hockey to lacrosse.
“I’ve stayed well conditioned with hockey. It is a little bit tiring, you can’t really coast around in lacrosse, you’ve got to be running all over. So it is a little bit more tiring, but it’s not too bad.”
Dawson told the Sydenham Current that Point Edward was spreading out, which opened up the middle for him on offence on Thursday.
“I knew my pick game would work and I’ve shot on Noble (Jacobs) all my life. He stopped me the first couple, he had my number, but once I got a few on him the flood gates opened… was just finding my holes and picking them.”
Brotherly love in goal
Jacobs, the former Red Devils goalie, was picked up by Point Edward before the start of the season. He made 53 saves on his former teammates, while surrendering the 15 goals. The Walpole Island resident is also spending some time playing at the Junior ‘A’ level with Brantford.
Jacobs’ younger brother Lucas made his season debut with the Red Devils on Thursday, stopping 10 shots and allowing 3 goals in 20 minutes of action in the third period.
Wallaceburg’s starting goalie Brayden Bell made 21 saves and allowed 4 goals in 40 minutes of action in the first and second periods.
Bell’s younger brother Keegan was in the arena on Thursday night, as he is the back-up goalie for the Pacers.
Offence was clicking
Dawson led Wallaceburg with 7 points on Thursday, 6 goals and 1 assist.
“We have a really skilled team on paper,” Dawson said.
“We still have to work hard though… that’s the main thing. Hard work wins championships, it’s not going to be skill alone. You can look so good on paper, but that doesn’t win anything. We’ve had a couple good practices. Tonight was a step in the right direction getting the win.”
Sidney Powless also had a 7-point night, scoring 4 goals and adding 3 helpers.
MacCoy Abrams had a 6-point evening, scoring 4 goals and adding 2 assists.
Vern Hill scored twice and Tanner Cole added 1 goal for Wallaceburg. Tyler Brown had 4 assists for Wallaceburg, while Riley Roe chipped in with 3 helpers.
Next up
Wallaceburg is now 2-1-0 on the season, good for a tie for first with Windsor in the Far West Division of the Ontario Junior ‘B’ Lacrosse League.
A total of 376 people packed into Wallaceburg Memorial Arena for Thursday night’s game.
The Red Devils will be back in action on Sunday afternoon, as they welcome the Hamilton Bengals to town.
Game time is set for 3 p.m.
Here are some photos from Thursday night:
– Photo credit: Aaron Hall
