Cousins plan to make most of once-in-a-lifetime opportunity
Tyson Bell, Latrell Harris competing for Canada at world field lacrosse championships in Israel
On one hand, nearly three weeks in the Middle East, and the oncein-a-lifetime chance to become immersed in the birthplace of much of history.
On the other, one or at most three nights on the outskirts of Hagersville or in such bustling burgs as Brampton, Burlington, Mimico and Orangeville, and the chance to bask in the glow of neon signs along Junk Food Alley before another post-season becomes history.
The choice between the two isn’t as much of a no-brainer as it might seem on the surface.
While Latrell Harris opted to play for Canada at the World
Field Lacrosse Championship taking place July 12-29 in Netenaya,
Israel, the 20-year-old St. Catharines native nonetheless boarded the plane Monday with some mixed feelings.
He is looking forward to helping Canada defends its world championship and to visiting the Wailing Wall when he’s not playing Canada’s national summer game, there will be a part of him wishing he was back home competing with the St. Catharines Athletics in the opening round of the junior A indoor lacrosse playoffs.
“It is pretty difficult, because this is the first time that we’ve been this good in a while,” the defensive specialist said, “and we have a good vibe and a good kind of pace going on right now with the team.
“Obviously, I was excited coming to Team Canada, but leaving the boys I was like, ‘Agh!’” Harris
said. “The timing is pretty rough.”
He’s ready for it, though.
“The team has my back down here, and I have their back up there,” the Denis Morris Catholic Secondary School graduate said. “I just got to bring it (the gold medal) back for the boys, that’s all they ask for.”
His 23-year-old cousin Tyson Bell, also from St. Catharines and also a Denis Morris alum, will only be missing two games with the Six Nations Chiefs, his Major Series Lacrosse senior team, while he’s away playing in Israel. By happy coincidence, the Chiefs will have a two-week break.
“It kind of worked out nice,” he said.
Bell has played field lacrosse on a regular basis since graduating from Onondaga Community College in Syracuse in 2015. He doesn’t expect the transition to field from box to be entirely seamless.
“It will be a little tricky,” he admitted. “Obviously, there’s a lot more running, and you can’t really cross check in field lacrosse as you can in box lacrosse.
“I think it’s going to be a little different, but once you get out there, you kind of find your way.”
In September Harris will be starting his second year majoring in social science, and his second season playing field lacrosse, at Brock University.
In Israel he doesn’t expect much difficulty adjusting to the larger field after playing the game’s indoor version in the National Lacrosse League with the Toronto Rock and with the A’s in his final year in junior A.
“I’ve played field lacrosse growing up all my life, so it’s not really too big of a difference,” Harris said. “It just means more room to be a better lacrosse player.”
Canada has a target on its back as the reigning champ, but Harris relishes being on the team to beat.
“All teams want to come and play us, so we’re going to have to be on our A game through all the games we play,” he said.
Like his cousin, Bell plans to use Canada’s high expectations at the tournament as motivation.
“It’s kind of nice having that,” he said of the big target on the Canadians’ back. “You want to be the best you can and play against the best players.
“With the talent that we have on our team, I think teams are going to want to beat us.”
Israel is much closer to the equator but Harris doesn’t expect hot weather to be much of a factor.
“We’re kind of used to it from box, right,” he said with a chuckle. “I don’t know if it will be too much of an adjustment, but I’m going to make sure I stay hydrated.”
The last time the cousins played together was 2015 in Bell’s final year with the Athletics.
“This is amazing, we’ve definitely been waiting for this opportunity, and I think we’re ready for it,” Harris said. “It’s about time that we get to play with each other.”
Bell was overcome with emotion after he found out Harris had cracked the lineup and would be travelling to Israel with him.
“I had some tears, I’m not going to lie,” said Bell, who intends to return for a fourth season on the NLL as a defence/transition specialist with the Calgary Roughnecks. “It’s nice to be able to do these accomplishments with my little cousin.
“It’s nice to see him fulfil his dreams as I did growing up.”
At worlds, Canada will be competing in the Blue Group along with Australia, England, Iroquois Nation, Scotland and the U.S.