It was an historic night at the Ladner Leisure Centre on Wednesday as the Delta Islanders Junior Lacrosse Club paid tribute to the game’s original roots with its inaugural Indigenous Peoples Day game.
The Islanders Junior “B” Tier One and Junior “A” squads marked the occasion by wearing special third jerseys designed by Tsawwassen First Nation artist Karl Morgan as he worked with TFN’s original lacrosse logo, created more than 80 years ago.
Proceeds from the jerseys that were auctioned off post-event, along with a 50/50 draw, T-shirt and food sales, were given to the Orange Shirt Society, Moose Hide Campaign and the Residential School Survivors Society.
Framed jerseys were also presented to Morgan, the Tsawwassen First Nation and Islanders Junior “B” Tier One head coach Nathan Wilson, who led a pre-game ceremony and helped initiate the special night more than a year ago.
On the floor, the Junior As improved their playoff chances by holding off the New West Salmonbellies with an 8-7 victory.
Delta is now two points clear of New West for the sixth and final playoff spot with four games remaining, including Saturday’s home floor date with Burnaby at 7 p.m.
The Junior “B” Tier One squad dropped a 7-4 decision to New West.
