By my count, it’s been almost 300 days since the Owen Sound van Dolder Home Team Woodsmen played a home game in Senior Lacrosse.
When last seen in the city, on August 14th of last year, the Woodsmen dropped the Norwood Nitro 13-5 to claim the 2009 Ontario Senior Lacrosse title.
The Woodsmen would then make it back to back Presidents Cups, winning the Canadian Championship at Six Nations.
The 2010 regular season started on the road for the Woodsmen with 3 consecutive road games; 2 wins at Center Wellington and a tie at Brooklin, and now Owen Sound finally comes home.
The defending National Champions go against the Nitro again tonight, 287 days after Owen Sound last played at the Harry Lumley-Bayshore, going against the very same opponent they swept to win the 2009 Ontario title.
Yes, there are alterations with the Woodsmen organization, both on the floor and in terms of their management and coaching structure.
But the biggest change may come in terms of competition.
The two wins by Owen Sound were by 1 goal, the tie with Brooklin leaves both teams deadlocked atop the standings at 5 points, and glancing at the standings, only the expansion Huntsville Hawks have yet to garner a point.
It’s been a long time between home games for the President’s Cup Champion van Dolder Home Team Woodsmen, but the start of an 8 game home schedule begins tonight with much competitive promise.
Game time for the Woodies & Nitro is 8:30.
See you there.
I’m Fred Wallace