Troy Shantz
Nolan Cadieux is a youth of few words who prefers to let his play on the lacrosse floor do his talking.
And the Northern Collegiate 9th grader spoke volumes this season by leading the Point Edward Pacers major bantam squad to an 18-10-2 record and earning the league’s top prize — Zone 7 Player of the year.
"He always worked hard, was humble and showed his leadership qualities,” Pacer’s coach Tom Wright said of Cadieux’s nomination.
“As a player these qualities are hard to come by and are not measured in goals or loose balls. I believe, if any Bantam Team was able to pick up a single player, that player hands down would be Nolan."
The Pacers are one of several lacrosse programs in Zone 7 of the Ontario Lacrosse Association (OLA), which covers London, Strathroy Wallaceburg and Windsor-Essex.
Cadieux, 14, had 49 goals and 35 assists to led the Pacers to the A Provincial finals for the second time in two years - a feat not matched by the club in decades.
The achievement ranked the Pacers among the OLA's top 16 teams.
Cadieux wore the captain’s “C” last season. That meant extra duties such as leading the team through drills and ensuring each member was included in social outings, he said.
Motivation and conditioning were essential because the Pacer’s 15-member bench often faced squads of 18-20 runners.
“Sometimes we only had 10 guys… you’d get on the bench and get right back on (the floor),” he said. “No time to be tired.”
When Cadieux isn’t playing for the Pacers he’s on the ice with the Jr. Sting, or lending his field lacrosse skills to the True Lacrosse club in Michigan, representing the True Michigan State and True National team.
He would like to land a lacrosse scholarship to a U.S. University and play Division 1. And, of course, a professional career is appealing, he said.
“If I could I’d play professionally. That’d be cool.”