A player who was once a bright light in the Victoria Shamrocks lacrosse organization will be remembered again at this Friday’s (April 10) John Crowther Memorial charity game at The Q Centre.
Having not been played under this name for some years now, the game will see members of the intermediate and junior A Shamrocks teams against a collection of retired players including Lewis Ratcliffe, Grant Pepper, Darcy Berthiaume and other former stars.
“This is an initiative of the Shamrock alumni,” says junior Shamrocks general manager Rod Wood of the resurrection of the Crowther game. “They formed a formal society last year and are trying to bring back some of the old tradition and give something back to the community at the same time.”
At the time of his death at age 22 in 1984, Vic High alumni Crowther had been a standout junior player and appeared to be one of the heirs to the mantle of Shamrock greats like Bob Cool and Kevin Alexander.
This season, the late boxla star’s nephew, Lucas Crowther, is a rookie with the Shamrocks juniors. He and cousin Mason McNeil (a Juan de Fuca pee wee player), along with 96-year-old Betty Crowther, John’s mother, will take part in opening faceoff ceremonies on Friday.
As a show of respect, junior Shamrock Cole Pickup – also a Victoria Grizzlies hockey player – has given Lucas his uncle’s old number 22 for this season.
Proceeds from the game will benefit the junior Shamrocks and the club’s alumni association. Past years have seen money from charity games go toward scholarships and helping pay registration fees for youth players whose families could not afford it.
The game, set to start at 7 p.m., offers minor lacrosse players a good chance to see their heroes in action, Wood says. As a way to help grow the game, he adds, children 12 and under will be admitted free. All other tickets will be sold on a walk-up basis only for $10.
Visit victoriashamrocks.com for more information.
editor@goldstreamgazette.com