Fathers and daughters often share a special bond. In the realm of sports, it’s not the least bit unusual for dad to serve as coach, passing along his knowledge from years gone by to the apple of his eye.

And while Steve and Lauren Langille share a competitive nature that has, not surprisingly, drawn them both to different sporting venues, there will be one extra distinction that connects the two by the end of this week.

Not only will both father and daughter enjoy a claim to fame as Ontario Summer Games participants, but both will have enjoyed the experience at home, in front of family and friends.

Although no Sudbury team has advanced to the Summer Games in either (boys) box lacrosse or (women’s) field lacrosse, the sport will enjoy local representation.

A senior at Lockerby Composite, Lauren is also the netminder for the Orillia Kings U-19 squad, one of four teams that will compete at the Hillcrest Complex in Walden on Wednesday and Thursday.

We knew there was a chance (to get to the Summer Games)

Lauren Langille,
Lockerby Composite student and netminder for the Orillia Kings U-19 lacrosse squad

A six-year veteran of the box lacrosse scene in Sudbury, Lauren attended a field lacrosse camp in Brampton three years ago and was promptly scooped up by one of the Orillia coaches, an instructor at the camp.

While her local background with the indoor game included plenty of time spent donning the goaltending gear, Lauren originally took a different path with the outdoor game. After two years of playing out with the “C” team, the Sudbury native made the switch to goalie for the “A” squad in the spring.The group was looking for someone with experience at the position.

“I always liked being a goalie in all sports, but lacrosse is the only sport that my parents let me play in net,” Lauren said, with a smile. Needless to say, suiting up with a team located three hours away requires commitment.

Early morning weekend trips, a pair of games and a return trek to Sudbury: this has been the schedule through much of June and July. Still, Lauren says she knew there was potential for a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow.

“We knew there was a chance (to get to the Summer Games). But there are six teams — only four qualify — and we were at the bottom at the beginning, since we were a new team,” she explained.

In fact, only a surprising 10-6 upset of the league-leading Orangeville Northmen in their final regular season game, allowed Orillia to leap frog the fourth place Oshawa Blue Knights by a single point, punching their ticket to the Summer Games.

The memories are not quite so vivid for Steve, a by-product of trying to recall the events that would see him taking to the Laurentian track more than a quarter century ago.

A middle distance runner through highschool, Steve was first drawn to track and field a year before heading to Lasalle Secondary.

“In Grade 8 they started having distance races. At the younger ages, everything was sprints and I didn’t have the speed for that,” said the long-time Sudburian.

Steve was one of a large group of young athletes who were fortunate enough to hook up with Northland Athletic Club founder Terry McKinty, also a teacher and track coach at the home of the Lancers.

“The coaching was really good,” Steve said.

“Terry (McKinty) was very charismatic, and it really helps when you have someone encouraging you.”

Blessed with a large group of very competitive runners, the environment was ripe with excellence.

“NAC was a big, big club back then – one of the biggest in Ontario.” As he finished his secondary schooling in the spring of 1983, Steve could see the stars beginning to align.

Competing at OFSAA, he ran a career-best time of 8:39 in the 3,000 metre run that helped him earn a spot to compete in the Summer Games competition that was slated for September of 1983.

Although he doesn’t remember exactly how he came to qualifying for the Ontario Summer Games, Steve does have some recollection of the competition itself.

“The only reason I remember the Games was because I was injured at the time,” Steve said with a laugh. Worse still, the injury was sustained while he was assisting volunteers in setting up for the big event, working on the corner pegs of a large canopy tent, when someone dropped the frame on his back.

The pomp and circumstance of the Sudbury festivities blended, over time, with another high-level competition the community hosted a short while later.

“I was involved with the World Juniors around the same time (1987) and I was one of the flag bearers or something,” Steve said.

He said he’s hopeful his daughter will “bond with the girls, because that’s what I remember about my involvement in track – the fun I had with all of the different people.”

As for Lauren, at least for the time being, it’s a pretty safe bet the memories of the Games will remain entrenched. “It’s really exciting,” said the younger of two children in the family.

“All of my friends and family can come and watch. They hear all about it, but they never get the chance to actually see me play.”