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38 Sports Oakville Beaver SPORTS EDITOR: JON KUIPERIJ Phone 905-845-3824 (ext. 432) Fax 905-337-5571 email sports@oakvillebeaver.com · THURSDAY, APRIL 15, 2010 Dawson and former lacrosse coach team up again Rob MacDougall painting raising money to send Canadian team to world tourney MacDougall said the maple leaf canvas posed unique challenges, including leaves curling once paintAs a kid, Dan Dawson and his ing began and an uneven surface teammates would receive a couple created by the overlapping leaves of prints from their coach. The and their stems. players' job was to sell the prints to The Canadian Lacrosse raise money for their Oakville Association, which commissioned minor lacrosse team, the project, is selling helping them pay for "Working on this, prints for $500 to raise tournaments and I wanted to have money to offset the equipment. cost of the trip for the a common thread Even at a young age, players and its staff. Dawson was impressed that would mean Each print comes with with the art work they something to a real maple leaf were selling. It wasn't everybody. The embedded and painted until several years later fact that it's the colours of the that he realized that it Union Jack, representpainted on a was his coach, Rob ing the site of this MacDougall, who was Canadian symbol year's championship in creating the prints he gives it that." Manchester, England. was selling to relatives "Working on this, I RIZIERO VERTOLLI / OAKVILLE BEAVER n Rob MacDougall and neighbours. wanted to have a com- TOGETHER AGAIN: National Lacrosse League star Dan Dawson (left) and former coach Rob MacDougall have More than 20 years mon thread that would teamed up again in an effort to help Canada win the 2010 world lacrosse championship. Dawson will suit up for Team later, the coach and player are mean something to everybody," Canada, while MacDougall has created a unique painting to raise money and offset the cost of the trip for players and staff. teaming up again. One is doing his MacDougall said. "The fact that it's part to help Canada's national painted on a Canadian symbol gives in the U.S., my heart is back home. into one of the country's elite play- for a long time, is involved with lacrosse team get to the world it that." This is my favourite thing to do. ers. this." championships, the other will do Now, having his former coach Dawson, who helped the Toronto Among the players MacDougall Representing Canada is something everything in his power to bring the is helping with the project is to cherish and any time someone assisting in the team's effort to Nationals win the Major Lacrosse world title home. Dawson, who he first coached in asks about my favourite lacrosse repeat as world champions holds League title in their inaugural seaMacDougall has created a Oakville tyke house league. The 29- experience, it's Team Canada ahead special meaning for Dawson. son last summer, and the rest of the unique painting to commemorate year-old Dawson, who now plays for of anything else." "His passion, not only for Canadian squad will open the world the 2010 world lacrosse champi- the Boston Blazers of the National Each of the players on the lacrosse but for being Canadian, championships July 15. onships. The work, which features a Lacrosse League, will be represent- national team has been asked to means a lot," the 2009 NLL most Anyone interested in ordering Canadian player cutting upfield ing Canada for the third time. find a sponsor and Dawson is valuable player said. prints can contact MacDougall with his stick outstretched to pro"So much of his work is based through his website www.robmac"I'm a very proud Canadian," receiving backing from Oakville tect the ball, was painted on a can- Dawson said. "Even though I've Minor Lacrosse Association, where around pride in his country. I'm dougall.com or the Team Canada vas of preserved maple leaves. spent the last seven years primarily he learned the game and developed honoured that Rob, a good friend 2010 office at 905-845-5110. By Herb Garbutt OAKVILLE BEAVER STAFF