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Dane Dobbie, Proud Product of the BCJLA

December 30, 2007

Dane Dobbie excited crowds in the BCJALL for 3 seasons with the Burnaby Lakers, It's no surprise he's making an immediate impact at the pro lacrosse level with the NLL's Calgary Roughnecks. The 5'9" 175 pounder was picked 4th overall in September's NLL Draft and was already in the lineup for Calgary's season opener against the Colorado Mammoth, Dec. 29, in front of 17 811 fans in Denver.

Dobbie made the move out west to the BCJALL as a 19 year old from Elora, Ontario and found himself on a Burnaby Lakers squad that was coming off of a Minto Cup Win in 2004, and had just lost most of it's core players to graduation. The expectations were not very high for this young Lakers team but Dobbie’s 91 points (48G, 43A) in 20 regular season games, and 27 points (14G, 13A) in just 6 playoff games were enough to help the Laker’s to their second National Championship in as many years.

Over the next 2 seasons, due to injury and other commitments, Dobbie only played a combined 19 regular season games. His production and points per game though, did not fall off a bit. In ’06 and ’07 combined he put up 73 points (27G, 46A). But the sign of a great player and a true leader is what they can do in the playoffs, and the post season is where Dobbie really got to shine. In ’06 he scored 23 points in 7 games, and in ’07 scored 31 points in 7 games. His Laker’s won the BCJALL Championship in all 3 seasons he was there, thus earning them a birth to the Minto Cup where they won in ’05 and lost in the finals in ’07.

All numbers aside, ask any player in the BCJALL over the past few seasons “Who is the toughest guy to play against?” or “Who is the most hated player in the league?” and the answer would undoubtedly turn out “Dane Dobbie.” Sure there are dirtier players and players that talk more smack, but no player gets under your skin like Dobbie. It’s safe to say he’s probably drawn a penalty from almost every player in the league. And after you slash him and go to the box, he’ll score on the power play and nonchalantly strut back the bench.

No question Dobbie is going to have to tweak his game to adapt to the pro level. Teammates with names like Ratcliff, Toth, Ranger and Keluskey can easily handle the bulk of the scoring. And getting under the skin of a grizzled veteran in the NLL is slightly harder then getting under the skin of a teenager in Junior…not mention a bit more dangerous if it does end up happening. The key to Dobbie’s success in his first couple years in the NLL in going to have to be what has got him this far already, and that is out smarting his opponents. Few players in the game have better lacrosse smarts. December 29th 2007 marked Dane Dobbie’s first ever game in the National Lacrosse League.

At 7:54 of the first quarter he was already on the score sheet assisting a Lewis Ratcliff goal to put his Roughnecks up 3 – 0. And at 8:46 of the 3rd quarter he scored his first National Lacrosse League goal. A power play marker assisted by Ratcliff that made it 7 – 3, a great way to start a pro career.

Saturday January 12th the Portland Lumberjax will take on the New York Titans in a game that features 2 more debuts for graduated BCJALL stars. Portland’s ex-Poco Saint Tyler Codron faces off against New York’s ex-Surrey Stickman Jordan Hall. All together 5 of the 14 players drafted in the 1st round of this year’s entry draft have played in the BCJALL. With all the young talent currently in the league, look for this number to increase in the coming years, as the BCJALL becomes the premier league for junior lacrosse players. Who will go in next year’s draft? Alex Gajic, Jarrett Davis, Alex Turner? The season is just around the corner, and I can’t wait to find out.