It's a relatively dark, damp Saturday night after spending the better part of the afternoon in the rocker watching my beloved Gaels win their 2021 OUA semifinal match vs Ottawa ... What the heck is a Gee Gee, anyway ... and although I deeply enjoyed the Big Yellow Guys continuing their undefeated ways, I would be lying if I didn't admit that there was a something missing. That something would be the ability to cheer on the Georgian College Grizzlies Men's Rugby team as they faced St Lawrence College in the OCAA Championship. I was missing it because the STL folk couldn't figure out how to stream the game for anyone outside of the Kingston area to support the wonderful young men that were representing their colleges with blood, sweat, and for the losing team, tears.
You might have read that and wondered, "Why would P be so hot 'n bothered by a college rugby game not being streamed?" What many may have forgotten is that I was blessed by the welcoming arms of the athletic staff at Georgian, not the least of which would be head coach John Daggett, for 11 years prior to the move to Guelph this past June; 7 of those were with the rugby program and 4 were with the basketball program. During my involvement with "GC State", I learned an immeasurable number of things about some great young men, some fantastic middle aged fellows, and even a little about myself along the way. While a most definitely bleed Red, Black, and White ... Go Central ... a significant portion of my being leans toward the Blue, Black and White, and in particular, to the Men's Rugby program.
The following paragraphs will be a gushing appreciation of the incredible people that I have come to know through my involvement, in chronological order with respect to the GC program.
I first met Jeff Harris, the GC Varsity Coordinator, when I was applying to the vacant Men's Basketball Head Coach position, and in his role, he was leading the interview team. After successfully winning the job, I would come to know that Jeff is not only extremely competent in his role, but a tremendously knowledgeable, supportive, friendly and genuine man. After a short hiatus from GC, he welcomed my return with a huge hello, a firm handshake and a big smile. Over my 11 years involved with GC, I consider Jeff to be a good friend.
John Daggett, if you've never had the pleasure, is a limited edition when it comes to the list of people you definitely want to meet! Rarely in my life have I met a more warm, more genuine, more giving, more honest, and more intelligent person, and I consider myself fortunate indeed to be able to call him a friend. "Dagg" as most refer to him, has been the Head Coach of the GC Men's Rugby program for 10 years ... I think ... and has been the singular driving force behind the transformation from also ran to perennial favourite, from peculiar oddity to respected powerhouse, from erratic curiousity to consistent frontrunner. Going solely on personal memory, John's leadership has resulted in 9 OCAA medals, 7 of those in each of the last 8 seasons that the OCAA held competitions ... thanks a lot Covid ... earning a berth to the last 3 championship games. During this time, John has impacted the lives of a host of young souls who were looking to continue their love of our beloved game by not only offering a top notch program, but also establishing a personal connection with the overwhelming majority. John is a most engaging personality, quick with his acerbic wit, warm and personable in conversation, brutally honest and accurate in evaluation, and the first in line to give the shirt off his back. Constantly striving to know more, teach more, lead more and give more, he is one of the most respected in the game, known nationally in reputation. If that's not enough, as first co-op coordinator and now co-op manager for GC, he has established himself as one of the most respected components of Canada's leading career placement colleges.
This is a man that you definitely want to meet!
The success of GC State, as it is affectionately coined, may have been led by Dagg, but it has not happened without quality assistance from others "cut from the same cloth" to fill in the necessary extras. One of the longest standing assistants is a still relatively young Josh "JayMo" Morgan who made the transition from player to coach following a stellar playing career that involved much success at first Barrie Central, then Barrie RFC, and the Guelph Gryphons prior to donning the blue and black of GC. Josh is a rugby enigma that I first met when he played for me at Central. Although physically gifted and tremendously talented, he burst into the limelight in his senior high school years, first as a "Super-Sub" then a team leader, on route to a few OFSAA medals, following it up with a storied career as a Gryphon, before adopting a player-coach role at GC, early in my involvement. Josh is the personification of the saying, "He wears his heart on his sleeve" and has been a beacon of positive energy around JC Massie Field for 7 or 8 eight years. Not all that different from Dagg ... high praise ... he is beloved by many for his ability to foster engaging friendships while still maintaining the player-coach dynamic, and his "Let's go scrum engine!" cheers are legendary in both volume and sincerity. I'm indeed privileged to have his friendship.
He is also a guy you want to meet!
Paul Lemmon, Mike Sabourin, and Mike Alcombrack have all hitched their carts to the GC team over the last few years, first as friends of the program through the college's interwoven relationship with the Barrie RFC, then as passionate and knowledgeable assistants who have helped shape the GC program into the Juggernaut it has become.
Paul Lemmon and I go waaaaaay back! As a standout BRFC player, he took me under his wing when I was still a young man, and shared his winning ways. A man of few words, his quietness belies the smouldering competitiveness that lies just below the surface, and is easily one of the most intelligent people I have a personal connection to. Preferring to work in the background, Lem is quick to interject a brilliant insight or three into any discussion. Once you get past the quiet outer shell, you quickly learn that his smile is quick, his wit is sharp, his warmth is wide and his compassion is endless. I greatly value his continuing friendship!
Mike Sabourin, if he doesn't mind my honesty, has quickly fashioned himself to be an outstanding young coach through a constant quest to learn as much as he can in the shortest length of time. While he has rapidly built himself into an extremely knowledgeable and competent coach, it is his innate ability to create quick, deep connections with players that endears him to the program. He has been integral in support of players who needed that extra little bit to navigate the pitfalls of college life. I am confident in saying that he is directly responsible for the successful careers of a host of young men who have represented GC as either go-to's or supporters. I am touched that he values our friendship as much as I do.
I have know Mike Alcombrack for a number of years, dating back to the 90's when he was a standout multi-sport athlete at Barrie North, but we have cemented our friendship over the recent few years, sharing space at Barrie North when I transitioned after the closing of Central, as we jointly steered the Viking's rugby ship toward it's first OFSAA Consolation Championship. As a integral component of the rising success of the Barrie RFC, "Alky" has been a present personality at GC training sessions as he and his Sr men's team offered advice and tutelage to the GC forwards. Moving sideways from player to coach, he officially joined the GC coaching staff this season. Not surprisingly different from the others I've described above, Mike's engaging, passionate, compassionate nature has been a welcomed addition to an already All Star cast. Add all that to the fact that he considers me a friend and I'm most honoured.
Like Dagg and JayMo, these are 3 guys you absolutely want to meet!
There are a handful of players from the 2021 team that have likely played their last games for GC, and while I know a few fairly well through the time I coached them, there are 3 that I will center out because there's a strong likelihood that our off-pitch friendship will continue going forward.
The "youngest" of those relationships is with BNC grad Duncan Montague. An extremely likeable, passionate, and engaging young man, I quickly gravitated toward Dunc while coaching him for the 3 years I coached rugby at North, culminating in the 2019 OFSAA Consolation Championship. Having the opportunity to continue our journey through the lens of college rugby was an added bonus. His commitment, passion, leadership and spirit certainly helped with the quest for the 2021 season. Thanks Dunc!
I feel that I was blessed with the opportunity to develop a relationship with Donovan Jacko. Coming to GC following a university experience in Windsor that included a football career, "Donny" was a mature presence ... he recently just turned 30! ... that loaned a stability to the GC program, especially in the backs, as a host of "young bucks" came and went during his accolade-filled years. His quiet, calm demeanour belies the ferocity with which he plays the game, but it is his consistency that separates him from many, leading to many OCAA All Star nominations. A consummate family man whose wife and darling daughters are ever present on the sidelines, Donny has now set the standard by which all others after will be measured. You're one of a kind Donny!
My longest relationship is with Matt "TeamStar" Triemstra whom I first met when he was a Gr 9 skinny, lanky younger brother of his sister Brittany who played basketball for me at Central. That started a 7 year friendship that survived the closing of Central, the transition to North, and the graduation to GC State as he grew and matured into a tremendously affable and talented young man. TeamStar and I have shared A LOT of success over the years in a variety of sports, but I will forever love the easy smile and quick "Hey P" he offers every time we meet. It's rare these days to share such a lengthy journey with an athlete and I certainly hold ours dearly in my memories. Thanks a million Matty!
Following the theme of this post, these are 3 incredible young men that you definitely want to meet!
So, to go back to the question of why I was miffed that I couldn't watch the game, it's because I share a kindred spirit with so many involved that, other than Dagg and JayMo, haven't hoisted the championship trophy with, but that has not tarnished the experience in any way, shape or form.
Blessed with a HUGE win, folks, I truly am blessed.
Congratulations to the entire team for another outstanding season!
Oh, another medal!
Too much awesomeness!
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