NEWS RELEASE

From Canadian men’s field lacrosse team.

April 14, 2010

     OTTAWA  _    There were spirited attacks and some staunch defence on Parliament Hill on Wednesday afternoon, and the action wasn’t all taking place in the House of Commons.

     Peewee players from the Gloucester Griffins Lacrosse Association played a game on the lawn. The Honourable Peter Milliken, Speaker of the House, participated in a ceremonial faceoff and watched the 11- and 12-year-olds play before question period.

     ``Playing Canada’s national summer sport on Parliament Hill is a real thrill for my son,’’ said Gloucester parent and coach Jay Fox.

     The late Prime Minister Lester B. Pearson would have loved the site as he played lacrosse in his youth.

     The idea for the game came about during a recent reception by MPs for players and executives of Canada’s team for the world field lacrosse championship in Manchester, England, in July.

     ``At last month’s reception in Ottawa, I realized that many MPs hadn’t seen a lacrosse game in a long time,’’ explained Team Canada executive director Dean French. ``This lacrosse game on Parliament Hill is an opportunity to promote our national summer sport.

     ``Team Canada and the Canadian Lacrosse Association plan to make this an annual event on Parliament Hill.’’

     French meets with Minister of Sport Gary Lunn on Thursday to discuss details of the world tournament.

     The national men’s team has made a commitment to connect with minor lacrosse organizations. A youth clinic was held in Toronto last October that was held after national team tryouts concluded.

     ``I couldn’t believe that following the tryouts head coach Dave Huntley and his players stayed to run that clinic,’’ said Fox, who had two sons receiving instructions from some of the best players in the world.

Team Canada media contact: Neil Stevens at loose47@live.com