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SPORTS He‘s got the Wright stuff A late comer to lacrosse, Mason now an offensive standout with Jr. B Bulldogs By Steve LeBlanc CANADIAN CHAMPION STAFF Mason Wright has made countless trips to Georgetown‘s Moldâ€"Masters Sportsplex â€" a spark of incentive greeting him each time. "Seeing those championship banners and thinking about everything this club‘s acâ€" complished, it really motives me," said the 20â€"yearâ€"old Miltonian. That‘s more than evident, based on this seaâ€" son‘s output. Dealt to the Halton Hills Jr. B Bulldogs from the Hamilton Bengals near the end of last year â€" during which a brief but meaningful move ov _ *o transition play helped sharpen him ‘me Aatally‘ â€" Wright is now tied for 12th in league scoring. Buoyed by a fiveâ€"goal, twoâ€"assist season opener in Brampton, he‘s gone on to have 10 other games with fourâ€"orâ€"more points and sits second in team scoring with 27 goals and 48 assists. "I was so excited for this season to start, and that first game really motivated me for the rest of the year," noted the 6â€"footâ€"1, 210â€"pounder, who enjoyed a seasonâ€"high nine points (1g, 8a) against Mississauga May 23 and has at least one point in every game for the South East Divisionâ€"leading Bulldogs, who as of press time (with three games reâ€" maining in regular season) were 12â€"4â€"1 and still battling for first in the conference. A quick scan of Wright‘s 2017 numbers and one might be surprised to learn he didn‘t start playing until long after many who reach the junior ranks. And even then he wasn‘t exactly an immediâ€" ate success. Far from it. "I was probably the worst player out there," he recalled of his minor midget season at age 13 â€" after failing to make his hometown Mavericks the first time out. "I was so behind everyone else." But a lessâ€"thanâ€"stellar start was hardly disâ€" couraging. Wright quickly made a yearâ€"round commitâ€" ment to lacrosse â€" training and practising every chance he had â€" and progress soon followed. So when Bulldogs coach Blaine McCauley had the chance to acquire him last summer, there wasn‘t any hesitation. "Mason‘s got a lot of skill and character, all the qualities a coach looks for. He puts the team first, not his personal goals." With all roads to the conference championâ€" ship seemingly running through the Green Gaels, Wright sees some cause for optimism after Saturday‘s 14â€"7 loss â€" at least compared TOZ ‘st aurtr Aepsuny}1 | §¢ Mason Wright lets go of a shot in action with the * Halton Hills Jr. B Bulldogs. to their 12â€"4 defeat to them earlier this seaâ€" son. "It was definitely a better game," said the ofâ€" fensive sparkplug, who‘s now playing with 8 former teammate Josh Bryers, picked up alongside fellow Hamilton Bengal Liam Nesâ€" bitt for the playoffs. "We‘ve developed since that first game and if we play the way we‘re capable of hopefully we can get the better of them." woa UOIIEHGD'SU"W | NOIdWVHI NYVIGVNYI NOLTW | pepsi MOHAWK RACETRACK. JUNE 17 ©10 IIDMISSM"I @ ON SALE NOW! ticketmaster® AVW© $# #NACUP Know When To Take The Reins â€" ResponsibleGambiing.org TM Trademarks of Woodbine Entertainment Group [ ‘Iv“ 148 > + > w« 4 + For event details go to MohawkRacetrack.com ) &