Brett Doig took some lumps as an assistant coach for Team Slovakia at the world indoor lacrosse championship in Prague.
As a new entry at the eight-team world tournament, the Slovakians won just one of five games, and that came in their last game against Ireland.
But for Doig, the best was yet to come when he suited up for the World Lacrosse Festival, playing in the subsidiary tournament for what was dubbed the Mix Team (a collection of players from Canada and Czech Republic). Alongside Scott Morash and goalie Mason Gratto, former teammates of Doig's from the Prince George Senior Lacrosse Association, Doig played a starring role.
The Mix Team beat the Baggataway Braves of Whitby, Ont., 11-10 in the semifinal, then topped LC Slavia Praha 6-5 in the championship game. Doig notched the winning goal in each game.
"We dropped the first two games, putting us in a position where we had to win out to continue playing, and we pulled it off," said Doig, in an email from Prague.
"Mason played great in net all weekend, Scott [Morash] anchored the defence and I got the game winners in the last two contests. It was surreal playing lacrosse over here in one of the most beautiful cities in the world with a group of guys who speak next to no English, and pulling off a win in the final. It's been a wild couple days."
Doig's former BX Pub Bandits teammate, Jeff Moleski of Prince George, helped Canada win its third straight world indoor lacrosse championship Saturday and Doig was in the crowd watching them beat the Iroquois Nationals 13-8 in the final.
"Jeff [played] a ton and as usual, [was] drawing tough assignments on the defensive side," Doig said. "He still managed to snipe a goal in just about every game.
"It was pretty strange coaching against him in Team Slovakia's first game, a 24-1 Canada win. Despite the score, the game was a great learning experience for the Slovakians. [Former Prince George resident] Bradley Vrecko scored our only goal."
Doig's experience as a coach with Team Slovakia was something he will never forget.
"Because of the huge language barrier, my contributions to the team were limited to a encouraging phrase, a pat on the back and a huge smile," Doig wrote. "I was working with the defensive guys and basically swinging a door.
"We got beat by Team England by a wide margin. We couldn't stop Shawn Cable from scoring, then had a tight game with the Aussies, losing 11-7. That placed us in the seventh- and eighth-place, two-game series with Ireland, and we lost the first game 10-5 or so, winning the second 10-7.
"Team Slovakia's first win ever. It was great to see the squad so pumped up."
Cable, also a former Bandit from Prince George, played for England and finished seventh in tournament scoring with 11 goals and 14 assists for 24 points in five games. He had three goals against Doig's team. England lost a quarterfinal playoff 12-7 to the Czech Republic and finished fifth overall.
"It was an awesome experience," said Cable. "The city is amazing and they really embraced the lacrosse. The Czechs have come a long way and even though it was tough losing to them it means the strength of the game is getting better. Nice to see Jeff win."
Doig and Cable, who lives in Calgary. left Prague for Amsterdam and will spend another three weeks touring Europe.
