A third gathering, and perhaps most indelible of the early experiences, was the practice at Harvard stadium. In the warm afternoon sun, the teams had the enviable opportunity to play on the stadium field, hours before the MLL All-Stars took on Team USA—the nation's top lacrosse players who were also a few weeks away from flying to Denver.
After a tremendously productive practice where the teams learned their clearing, riding, and fast-break schemes, the Colonials gathered in the tailgating lot outside the Harvard track to receive their first piece of equipment: their patriotic-colored Cascade R helmet. For some, this may have been the highlight of the entire evening.
The quickly-bonding players took in the All-Star game from the sideline seats. At the break between third and fourth quarters, they were all invited onto the field to be recognized and well-wished on their travels.
With three practices in the books—all totaling about 270 minutes—it was time to send the Colonials to camp. The camp was held the week before the tournament. The experience was designed to replicate that of Team USA, also heading to Denver. The players would train together, eat meals together, dorm together, bond, and prepare for the strenuous challenges of tournament play.
The Trilogy Camp at Deerfield was designed for individuals. Boys of varying ages from all over the Northeast congregated on the quintessentially New England campus of Deerfield Academy—dewy-eyed and nervous. Slowly, one-by-one, the members of the Mass Bay Colonials trickled in to the iceless hockey rink for registration.
There they were met by one familiar face; Picard, their 32-year old general manager, warmly greeted each Colonial family with shooter shirts and uniforms. For the few absent from the MLL All-Star Game at Harvard, he outfitted the last remaining helmetless players and wished everyone a wonderful week. The next time he would see his team, they'd all be on Mountain Time.
Once perfect strangers, now familiar faces, the navy clad troop of individuals took their first steps together as a team into the threadbare halls of the McAllister dormitory. In five short, but action-packed days, members of the Mass Bay Colonials bolstered their personal arsenal while learning to play together as a squad.
It was hot. It was far-from home. For many, it was their first time away from their parents. To add to the challenges, there was a target on their backs. Grouped together for certain drills and games, the atmosphere at camp quickly turned cut-throat and everyone wanted a piece of the top-billed cast.
Able to stave off all remnants of competition, the quickly-bonding team learned how to dismantle an opponent as a unit. It may never be known how late they stayed up, how much sleep they actually accrued, and the content of the inside jokes that amassed in the cafeteria. But one thing has made been vividly clear: the boys became brothers and this brotherhood was ready for a fight.
"Go West, Young Man"
Colorado in July is delightful. Known for its 300 days of sunshine each year, Denver especially boasts beautiful summers with a daily average temperature of 74.2° F in July. Because it is located at the foot of the Rocky Mountains and inland on the High Plains, the Mile-High City is prone to sudden and severe changes in weather. Thunderstorms appear almost daily each afternoon in the northwest.
The team trickled in, one-by-one, on a balmy Saturday morning. Both a United flight and a JetBlue flight carrying nearly 50% of the teams combined were delayed in Boston. But the flights still arrived in the early afternoon making for a mostly relaxing "move-in" day at the Denver Renaissance.
Planted smack in the middle of a dense commercial district 20 minutes northwest of downtown Denver, The Renaissance Denver Hotel would house 116 Colonials, coaches, and relatives for five unforgettable days.
The Scoop / Winter '15 9
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