Ducharme makes provincial lacrosse team

Owen Ducharme’s lacrosse dreams are starting to take shape.

Ducharme is big on the sport, a big team guy, and now is getting a big opportunity he plans to make the most out of.

He’s cracked Manitoba’s under-17 provincial field lacrosse team, the outdoor version of the game in which he doesn’t have as much experience, nor at the position he’s been assigned to.

While he’s normally a goalie for his Wranglers U17 box lacrosse team, he’ll be playing defence, also known as d-pole for their longer sticks and the fact they only play in the defensive end.

While players race the length of the floor in box lacrosse, defensive players stay in their own end and only help guard the net, which is well-suited to Ducharme.

“I prefer to deny a goal than to try and create one,” said Ducharme. “I’ve always had that mix of being a goalie and a defensive player. I like reading the game and taking away scoring chances.”

It’s a role Ducharme takes great pride in, saying the opportunity to be the last line of defence and reading the game to deny opponents are his favourite parts of the game.

In box lacrosse he’s known for how calm he stays under pressure as a goalie, preferring to stay focused on the opponent attack and taking away opportunities.

This summer’s assignment will be much the same, albeit with more emphasis on the cardio than he might be used to.

“A lot of running,” Ducharme said of this summer’s training plans. “As a goalie, there’s not much running at all, so that’s one thing I’m working on.”

It’s evident whichever version of the game he plays, he simply tries to be the best version of himself and the best teammate possible.

“I try to be as coachable as possible and just stay dedicated. That’s a huge thing for me. There’s so much running involved and I can always keep working on my hand-eye coordination, so I’ll just keep training as much as I can,” Ducharme said.

The increase in groundwork won’t be a problem, as the Crocus Plains student is wrapping up Grade 10, and already hoping to sprint into more opportunities in the sport.

Ducharme grew up playing hockey but was recruited to take up lacrosse by teammate Cash Zdan’s dad Marty, who was instrumental in getting the Wrangler lacrosse program started in Brandon.

Ducharme was fully on board by the time he hit Grade 8. The Wranglers program was still growing, just like his love of the game and he hasn’t looked back since.

The sport will take him to Winnipeg multiple times this summer for training with the provincial team before his first-ever trip to Halifax for Nationals.

He leaves August 28 with Team Manitoba who will be in tough – Team Ontario and British Columbia having won every men’s U17 nationals since the division started in 2005.

“It will be intense and a lot of fun,” said Ducharme. “I mean that’s one of the main things with any sport. You need to enjoy it and have fun.”

Only time will tell where the sport takes him from here, but you can be he’ll do exactly that.

» mpackwood@brandonsun.com