One of Coquitlam’s biggest minor lacrosse tournaments is back.
And it’s bigger and more diverse than ever.
The Trevor Wingrove Memorial Tournament begins Thursday, with championship games scheduled for Sunday.
The 37th gathering of top minor lacrosse teams from British Columbia, Alberta and USBOXLA had to take a couple of years off because of COVID-19 public health restrictions that virtually shut down competition across the country in 2020 and 2021. The tournament was renamed for former Coquitlam lacrosse star and city manager Trevor Wingrove in 2011 after his passing earlier that year.
This year’s tournament features 28 teams and, for the first time, includes two female divisions — Bantam (ages 13-14) and Midget (ages 15-16).
“We are so pleased to have two female divisions in the tournament for the very first time and hope to build upon this for future years,” said Garrett Ungaro, the president of Coquitlam Minor Lacrosse.
Boys’ divisions include PeeWee (ages 11-12), Bantam (ages 13-14) and Midget (ages 15-16). All games are being played at the Poirier Sports and Leisure Complex and admission is free.
The tournament is an incubator for future stars, said organizers in a press release.
The Vancouver Warriors of the National Lacrosse League have players like Keegan Bal, Reid Bowering and Thomas Semple who played in the tournament for their Coquitlam minor teams, as did Wes Berg of the San Diego Seals, Ben McIntosh of the Philadelphia Wings and the Rochester Knighthawks’ Ryland Rees. Lacrosse legends Paul and Gary Gait also participated in the competition’s earliest years, when it was known as the Dogwood Day Tournament.
A full schedule of games, as well as live results, can be found at the tournament’s website.
