Shawn Ingham makes his living keeping the peace as an RCMP officer and has done so ever since he joined the force in 2005.
He brought that same non-violent approach to the lacrosse floor Saturday night in his return to the Prince George Senior Lacrosse Association after nearly four years away from the game.
The young guns who suit up for the Quesnel M. Daniels Consulting Crossfire were not shying away from the rough stuff, trying to come back from a three-goal deficit in a fight-filled third period against Ingham’s Westwood Pub Devils at Rolling Mix Concrete Arena and they probably were unaware Ingham has 13 years behind him trying to corral the bad guys while based in Fort St. John and Prince George.
They hacked and whacked him and tried to pin him against the boards but the 49-year-old veteran kept his cool. In 17 seasons of playing in the senior league as a founding member of the PGSLA with the First Litre Pub Thunder, Ingham established a reputation as one of the most skillful and sportsmanlike players in the league – a gifted scorer, smooth playmaker and shifty runner who can squirm his way out of traffic and find the holes.
He might have lost a step or two and you won’t find Ingham atop the scoring race like he used to be regularly in his athletic prime, but the Devils are glad to have him around to help settle things down in what is often one of the most chaotic of sports.
“Having another veteran that’s been in the league as long as he has always helps with the composure of how the game goes,” said Devils forward Scott Anderson. “For not playing for awhile he didn’t look any worse for wear. He doesn’t have to be flashy, he just gets the job done. He knows the basics of the game and he executes well. He was a top-notch player for so long and he just adds another piece to the puzzle for our team.”
Ingham didn’t notch a point in what ended a 13-6 Devils win but he’s still one of the best passers in the game and his presence on the back end provides a stabilizing force the Devils will need to stay in the hunt for first place.
“Shawn’s an older guy but he’s in good shape and he brings back knowledge of the game and the guys listen to him when he makes points in the dressing room in between periods,” said Devils coach Ken Eyles. “He’s magical with the stick short-man (killing penalties), it’s hard to get the ball off him. He just rolls and rolls and rolls.”
Ingham works out regularly in the RCMP weight room and was satisfied with how well he kept pace with players less than half his age Saturday. He says as long as his busy work schedule will allow it and as long as it doesn’t interfere with his family life, as the father of a four-year-old boy, he’ll be a regular in the Devils lineup this season.
“I don’t feel old – I’m staying in pretty decent shape and I didn’t feel out of place at all. I still have some decent wheels to get back and play D and not get burned and I felt good out there,” said Ingham. “I’ll play wherever they need me. We have a lot of young guys that can really move and I had my time doing that sort of stuff and I’m good with playing defence.
“It kind of starts in transition when you get the ball from a turnover and you have to get the ball out of your zone to the forward guys and let them do the work. Hopefully I’ll get a few more games in before playoffs.”
Ingham likely would have been playing for his former team, which last season was known as the Northland Nissan Assault, but the Assault folded this year due to insufficient numbers and the players were dispersed around the league.
In his work he specializes in crisis negotiating, responding to calls as a mental health officer working alongside a psychiatric nurse. He figures lacrosse will only make him better at his job.
“For us to maintain our physical condition as police officers it only benefits us and the general public,” Ingham said. “You don’t get hurt as much at work chasing criminals who flee from you and the better shape you are the better the chance of helping someone you’re giving CPR or whatever it may be. People are counting on you to do what other people can’t and it takes some physical fitness to do that.”
Adam Wagner led the way for the Devils with four goals and an assist, while Anderson, Luis Enes and Colton Poulin each had two goals. Bryston Waffle and Dusty Cathcart each scored a pair for the Crossfire.
The Devils led 1-0 after one period and 7-4 after 40 minutes. Anderson’s diving goal into the crease from behind the net late in the game to make it 12-6 on a Devils’ power play was a thing of beauty, belying the fact he’s 51 years old.
“This game from a fan’s point of view was awesome. It was a tight game,” said Ingham. “It’s good to have that parity in the league, it makes for good lacrosse and it brings the fans out.”
