It was a golden end to the summer break for Levi Gallant.
Gallant, a 16-year-old goaltender from Langley helped backstop Team BC to the gold medal at the U16 field lacrosse national championships.
The tournament was held over the Labour Day weekend in Longeuil, Que.
In the finals, B.C. defeated one of their chief rivals, Team Ontario, 14-9.
“It felt great to win,” Gallant said.
“We just played so well.”
Gallant shared the goaltending duties through the round robin and semifinal, but got the nod for the championship final.
This is the second straight year he has helped B.C. win gold at nationals.
Team BC was in a pool with Ontario, Alberta and the Iroquois Lacrosse Association.
And it was that latter squad which gave B.C. its biggest scare, taking them into triple overtime before falling 14-13.
Gallant has been playing the sport since he was six, but only took up goaltending about five years ago.
“I like the pressure of being the last line of defence,” he said.
Gallant, who began Grade 11 at Langley Secondary this month, was scheduled to be begin the field lacrosse this season on Sunday (Sept. 15) with the Langley Thunder.
The Thunder play in the Pacific Coast Field Lacrosse League.
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Four other Langley lacrosse players were also at nationals as part of Team BC’s U19 squad.
Connor Abrams, Ryhs Burnell, Chase Fraser and James Rahe helped their team to the silver medal.
That tournament was also in Longeuil, Que. over the Labour Day weekend.