A Mother's Day Connection

At Lacrosse Canada, we appreciate the efforts and sacrifices so many mothers make for the sport, and recognize that without those hardworking and caring moms, the sport would not be where it is today.

Mothers form a big part of the Lacrosse Canada community, including their roles and countless hours spent driving to practice and tournaments, as well as their roles as coaches, referees, board members, officials, volunteers and players. 

This Mother’s Day, we celebrate all the moms who are part of the Lacrosse Canada community. Including the efforts and relationship of Amber with her mother, Jennie Grais. Amber and Jennie spend their time together as mother and daughter playing lacrosse with or against each other.

Amber's journey into lacrosse began at a young age, influenced by her older brother's involvement in the sport. "I grew up with a stick in my hand because my older brother played lacrosse, it was just natural for me to start playing because I was always at the rink with my brother." This early exposure to the game laid the foundation for a lifelong love for it.

Fast forward to the Nanaimo Senior Ladies home opener this year, Amber and Jennie were brought face to face on the lacrosse field for the first time. "We took a face-off against each other, which I won," recalls Amber. "And I came down to play offense, and my mum picked me up as a check. That was really fun." 

For Jennie, after her kids aged out of the sport, she found herself missing it. "After spending around 17 years taking my kids to their games and to the lacrosse box to throw the ball around, I found I was missing the game," Jennie shares. Learning about Senior Ladies box lacrosse, she realized that she didn't need prior experience to join. "I thought I would never get to see her play again, never mind play with her," Jennie reflects on the joy of sharing the lacrosse field with her daughter.

Lacrosse has become a shared activity that strengthens their mother-daughter bond. "With life, it's easy to get into a routine of going to work, and getting caught up with your everyday stuff, and [lacrosse] has given us a chance to hang out together and do something we like," explains Amber. "We get to spend time together without any distractions from life." For Jennie, lacrosse provides a unique opportunity to connect with her daughter on a deeper level. "When we throw the ball around, we just talk like friends, not like mother and daughter," she reflects. "It is nice to have her present at the moment."

Reflecting on their journey together, Jennie expresses the valuable lessons her daughter has taught her. "She teaches me about positioning, she teaches me patience with myself, she teaches me to let go of mistakes and to shake it off," she shares. "She has taught me that I can just go out there and have fun, and it's okay if I make a mistake." For Amber, this experience has taught her that “you are never too old to have fun and try something new.”

As they continue through their journey with the sport together, Amber and Jennie embody the spirit of support, camaraderie, and familial love that defines the sport of lacrosse. This Mother's Day, their story serves as a reminder of the power of sport to bring people together across generations and strengthen bonds.

For more information, please contact:

Kealan Pilon
Communications Coordinator
Lacrosse Canada
Email: kealan@lacrosse.ca