Tucker Williams Wins Canadian Lacrosse Gold with Team Ontario

By Jeff Gard/Today’s Northumberland

Goaltender Tucker Williams of Baltimore helped backstop Team Ontario to a gold medal win at the national box lacrosse championships last week in Langley, B.C.

Williams, who is just 11 years old, was one of just three minor players on the 12-and-under provincial team that captured the E.G. Dopp Trophy.

“Very happy that I was able to be on the team as a minor and actually win gold,” said Williams, who plays locally for the Northumberland Minor Lacrosse Association’s U13 Nemesis.

Team Ontario went a perfect 7-0 from Tuesday through Saturday. Williams, who had four shutouts, was part of a goalie tandem that allowed just four goals during the seven games. He noted the toughest test his team faced was against BC, though Ontario did win all three games against the host provincial club.

An 8-5 win over BC in the championship game clinched the gold medal for Ontario after previously defeating the same club 7-3 and 8-0. Other big wins during the week were two 14-1 victories over Saskatchewan and lopsided shutouts of 16-0 and 18-0 over Manitoba.

Williams, who was named MVP of Ontario’s second-to-last game of the tournament against BC, said “skill and teamwork” were the keys to success for his club, which had about seven practices leading up to the event.

“Everybody knew where to pass the ball and we were just amazing on offence and defence,” he said.

Kyle Laverty, who is also the head coach of Northumberland’s U11 Nemesis team, was a coach with the Ontario 12U squad that Williams competed on.

“He’s an amazing coach with lots of experience,” Williams said of Laverty. “He played professional for the NLL and (MSL) for the Peterborough Lakers so there’s lots to learn from him and it’s just amazing.”

Williams has been playing lacrosse for about six years. He became a goaltender in house league when the older group didn’t have someone to tend the net and just stuck with it as he found enjoyment in the sport.

“I love how it’s a team sport and wherever you go you make friends and it’s super nice to win and have fun,” Williams said.

In addition to playing box lacrosse for Northumberland, Williams also plays field lacrosse in the fall for the Clarington Gaels, even winning a provincial championship with the club three years ago.

Williams won’t soon forget winning gold at the national championship tournament.

“I think it’s going to be one of the best experiences ever in my whole lifetime,” he said. “I am very proud of what my team did and I could not have done it without them.”