Dawson Calfa enjoyed his farewell party so much, he decided to reenact the celebration.
Flashback two years ago, just prior to his family's move to Langley, a nine-year-old Dawson and two-years older brother Daylen helped the Prince George Posse lacrosse team win the A2 peewee championships on their home floor at Kin 1.
A few weeks ago in Coquitlam, Dawson had a chance to relive that championship experience, but with a different team. Now part of the Langley Thunder minor program, Dawson played a starring role in leading the Thunder to a provincial gold.
"I liked the Prince George because it was in my hometown and it was my first one and then we did it again this year," said Dawson. "The first year here I just got to know everyone and the second year we won provincials."
The Thunder defeated Richmond 12-6 in the final, July 10.
But the provincial win did not mark the end of Dawson's lacrosse season, which started way back in January. Today in Vancouver, he and his provincial teammates will board a plane to Toronto to chase down an even bigger prize at the peewee national championship.
"It's a lot of nerves right now, but it will be exciting," said Dawson, who also won a peewee house league hockey regional title this year as a goaltender. "I'm looking forward to playing all the good players from all over the country and seeing different competition. It will be a lot tougher than it was down here."
Dawson competed on his school track team and was nominated for an academic award in the Langley school system. Although he doesn't turn 12 until Aug. 4, this is his third season playing lacrosse at the peewee level. He is obviously reaping the benefits of having played as an underager in Prince George for coach Ken Eyles.
On the provincial team, Dawson is the designated loose-ball chaser and he will be part of the first power-play unit. Although he's not blessed with height, he's got some bulk to him, and according to his father Carlo, possesses a bit of a mean streak.
"My transition skills are pretty good, I have some speed," said Dawson. "My second-oldest brother [Damon] taught us how to play and [Daylen] always taught me his stuff."
Daylen, 14, played for Langley's A1 bantam team this year, which dominated the regular season in the Lower Mainland but fell short of winning a provincial medal. Damon, 22, plays senior ball in the Prince George Senior Lacrosse Association for the BX Bandits.
Team B.C. has its first game in the week-long tournament set for Sunday against Nova Scotia.
"It's usually B.C. and Ontario in the finals, so I hope we can make it that far," Dawson said.
