Natasha Baldin/B次元官网网址 Staff

Three lacrosse players from Greater Victoria have been named to the provincial U19 team set to compete at the North American Indigenous Games, taking place in Halifax from July 15 to 23.

Andrew Sam, 17, from Saanich Express, along with Westshore Bears teammates Ty Reeve, 19, and Markus Atleo-George, 19, said finding out they would be representing Team B.C. was a surreal experience.

B次元官网网址淩eading the email really put a smile on my face B次元官网网址� an ear-to-ear type of smile,B次元官网网址� Sam said.

With the tournament quickly approaching, nerves, excitement and anticipation are in the air. Lacrosse has been an important part of all three playersB次元官网网址� lives since they were young, and travelling to Eastern Canada to play will be a new experience for them all.

B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 really looking forward to being able to travel that far for the game that I love,B次元官网网址� said Atleo-George, an offensive player and member of Songhees First Nation.

The North American Indigenous Games take place every four years and bring together more than 5,000 athletes from more than 756 Indigenous Nations across the continent. Lacrosse will be one of 16 sports at the games.

The games will also feature a cultural village as well as opening and closing ceremonies. The three players all agreed meeting Indigenous people from across the continent with a similar passion for lacrosse and learning more about their culture will be highlights.

B次元官网网址淚 grew up around (the culture), but thereB次元官网网址檚 always something new to learn,B次元官网网址� said Reeve, a goaltender and member of M茅tis from the Red River First Nation.

B次元官网网址淚 canB次元官网网址檛 wait for the whole experience and meeting all of these Indigenous people,B次元官网网址� Sam added, a defenceman and member of the Tseycum and Songhees First Nations.

Players named to the team come from all over the province, spanning all the way from Prince George, Vancouver, White Rock and the Island.

Despite coming from different parts of B.C., most of the players arenB次元官网网址檛 strangers and have competed against each other in tournaments growing up. But for many, this will be their first time as teammates.

B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檝e got some pretty good guys on the team,B次元官网网址� Atleo-George said. B次元官网网址淚 think itB次元官网网址檒l take a game or two to get that chemistry, but itB次元官网网址檒l be a lot of fun.B次元官网网址�

Sam and Reeve agreed Team Ontario will likely be their biggest competition, but they are hopeful they can compete, and even win.

B次元官网网址淎t this point, all I can do is play hard, be the best I can be and wear the province on my chest while IB次元官网网址檓 doing it,B次元官网网址� Reeve said.

Team B.CB次元官网网址檚 first game will be on July 17 at 4:30 a.m. PST against Team Ontario. The full schedule and results can be found here.

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