Paul getting his Day
One-time St. Catharines Athletic Paul Day going into Ontario Lacrosse Hall of Fame as builder
Paul Day is quick to point out that his first “real” coaching opportunity came in St. Catharines.
A little more than 24 years later the Peterborough native is set to be inducted into the Ontario Lacrosse Hall of Fame’s builder category.
“I was surprised,” admitted Day who still holds down a number of lacrosse positions, including coach with the St. Catharines Athletics Paperweight team where is six year-old son Mac is learning the game.
“I kind of think I’m still in the prime of my career,” said the 49-year-old who is a sergeant with the Niagara Regional Police Service.
Day joined the St. Catharines Athletics junior A team in 1993 while he was still playing. In fact, he hung us his lacrosse stick in 1997 after playing for the then Niagara Falls Gamblers of Major Series Lacrosse.
“Niagara (St. Catharines) gave me my first coaching job. I think I was only 24 years old when I started coaching the Athletics,” Day said.
“Brian Allen, Buff (Bob) McCready and Bob Luey - all hall of famers in their own right, and all
We’ve had a pretty good generation of lacrosse, and everyone has grown the game which is pretty important.” Paul Day
from Niagara — gave me my first coaching job,” he said. “Every bench in the NLL (National Lacrosse League) I’ve either coached or worked with featured someone from St. Catharines.
“We’ve had a pretty good generation of lacrosse, and everyone has grown the game which is pretty important.
“Seeing guys every week in St. Catharines coaching, that I had the opportunity to coach, like Patty McCready, Bob Fisher, Robbie Taylor and Mike Accursi, is pretty awesome.”
Day proudly reflects on his brother and parents first introducing the game of lacrosse to him. His father, Phil, is amazingly still officiating field lacrosse at the ripe old age of 79.
“Growing up in Peterborough we would ride our bikes to the outdoor bowl and play lacrosse pretty much all day,” he said. “Jamie Batley is going in the player’s category (this year) and he’s someone I’ve played with since I was 10 years old. I think that’s pretty cool.”
“(Peterborough) was a great place to grow up and play the game.”
Day is the current general manager of the Major Series Lacrosse Peterborough Lakers, and also played the game in Vancouver and Buffalo, and has since coached in Rochester where he’s won four National Lacrosse League championships, and three World Championships with Team Canada.
He’s also recently began working in partnership on instruction with lacrosse organizations in California on growing the box game there.
“I’ve gotten to play or work in a lot of great places and learn from a lot of great people,” Day said.
“Really that’s the key, the people I got to learn from over the years. That is the reason I’m going into the hall.”
And when Day is enshrined on Nov. 11 his parents, wife Angela, son Mac and stepdaughter Abby will all be in attendance.
“It will be a cool night. Surreal. Lots still to reflect on. I’m excited and honoured.”