Willem Whitehead (2nd from right) and teammates sporting their silver medals in lacrosse at the 2023 North American Indigenous Games. (submitted) 

By Jordan Davidson

passionate player

‘I’m really proud of us:’ mid-Island lacrosse player brings home silver from Indigenous Games

Aug 7, 2023 | 9:28 AM

QUALICUM BEACH — A mid-Island Junior B lacrosse player had an experience of a lifetime representing the province as one of the top U19 lacrosse players in the country.

The Oceanside Shark’s own Willem Whitehead was in Halifax last month playing for the U19 Team BC Lacrosse at the 2023 North American Indigenous Games (NAIG), which took place from July 15-23.

They faced Team Ontario on July 22 in the gold medal game, where despite a strong performance, they came home with the silver medals.

“That game went really good, it was back and forth, there was a lot of ups and downs, we had a few injured players and unfortunately we didn’t come out with gold,” said Whitehead. “But from what I’ve heard it’s the best that this team BC has ever placed in the national Aboriginal games, so I’m really proud of us.”

Whitehead actually first made the team in 2019, but the pandemic denied him a chance to play.

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He was thrilled to finally be able to take part in the NAIG this year.

“It was crazy. There was thousands of athletes there competing from all over North America, Canada, everywhere, and the lacrosse was crazy intense. The players were all really elite players and it was really great playing against some competition like that. It was just a surreal experience being around all of those amazing athletes.”

Whitehead began playing lacrosse when he was 13 when he needed a spring sport to keep him busy when hockey season was over. (submitted)

Whitehead, 18, recently graduated from Kwalikum Secondary School, grew up in Qualicum Bay, and was given another chance to try out for the team last summer, where he was first selected as an alternate player before being called up.

He was one of a few Island players who made the team.

“There were three other guys from Victoria and one guy from Nanaimo. It was pretty great to have them. I played with those Victoria guys, I play against them all the time so it was great to be able to finally be on a team with them.”

He also spends time as a referee in the Oceanside Minor Lacrosse Association, as well as a coach for the Bantam team.

Whitehead plans to move to Nanaimo in the fall where he will be undertaking a four-year psychology degree at VIU, while also planning to keep his lacrosse career alive by trying out for the Timberman.

“Hopefully, I get to move up to a higher level next year. I started coaching this year and I wanna keep coaching as well because I really enjoyed that, I really enjoy being around the game all the time.”

The NAIG is in its 10th year and brings together more than 5,000 athletes from 756 Indigenous Nations across North America.

(submitted)

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