Familiar boxla boss back

Text By Greg Sakaki - Nanaimo News Bulletin
Published: January 15, 2010 3:00 PM
Updated: January 15, 2010 8:24 PM

The DBL Timbermen are bringing back their former president to try to bring them a Presidents Cup.

Nanaimo’s West Coast Senior Lacrosse Association team announced this week that Pat O’Dwyer was elected president at the senior B club’s recent annual general meeting.

The veteran sniper served as president during the 2007 and 2008 seasons, overseeing squads that started hot but didn’t experience playoff success.

O’Dwyer takes over the club’s top position from Travis Preston, who retired from the team and resigned as president at the end of last year’s playoff run.

“I was prompted and encouraged by people representing the team,” said O’Dwyer. “My family was a little apprehensive but I have a very direct passion for lacrosse.”

He said the 2010 season will pose new challenges with the loss of the team’s usual gaming grant.

O’Dwyer hopes sponsorships and creative marketing will help to offset that blow.

“I just want to make sure our stands are full for every game,” he said. “There’s always the hard-nosed lacrosse fan in the community. We’d like to open the doors to the other people that maybe have never experienced the game of lacrosse before, or people that have got away from lacrosse games over the years.”

In addition to his front-office duties, O’Dwyer, who will be 45 years old this season, plans to report to camp and try to keep his roster spot.