Michelle Bowyer's Legacy - Athlete and Coach - Class of 2020 Canadian Lacrosse Hall of Fame

Storm Selects Lacrosse was fortunate to team up with Canadian Women in Sport and host a webinar on July 22, 2020 with BC's first female athlete to be inducted into the Canadian Lacrosse Hall of Fame 2020. From that conversation, Michelle shared an insight that spans generations and will ultimately frame and open doors for future box lacrosse and field lacrosse players to learn of the history of the sport from one woman's perspective.

Michelle Bowyer's passion for the game gave her the confidence to set goals and afforded her success both as an athlete and in life.

Michelle is a leader by example who started playing at age 13 with Port Coquitlam Minor Lacrosse in 1972.

Port Coquitlam Bantams 1972

She went onto play Box Lacrosse for Burnaby's Kirby's Klippettes.

Kirby's Klippettes

It was followed by learning to play women's field lacrosse in 1980. She went onto play with BC Selects who proceeded to win 10 consecutive National Championships from 1982 to 1993 and is the only female team to be inducted into the Canadian Lacrosse Hall of Fame in 2014. Some of the players from the BC Selects team are Kaleen Bowyer (Michelle's sister), Jan Holt-Ballard, Trish Nicholson, Vicky Brkich, Karen Blake, Janice Malcolm, Stacey Smith, Leonie Plunkett, Carol Taylor, Karoline Karpun, Colleen Treloar, Tami Tommila, Jewel Hunter, to name a few.

BC Selects Women's Field Lacrosse Team

2014 BC Selects Team Inducted into the CLHOF

BC Selects Team 1988

Michelle went to play for Team Canada at the first ever World Championships held in England in 1982. She returned with a bronze medal for that inaugural tournament. She also played for Team Canada in 1986 in Philadelphia and in 1989 in Perth, Australia.

Team Canada 1982 bronze medal

Michelle also coached for Team Canada in 1993 and 1997 and was recognized for her commitment to the sport by the International Federation of Women's Lacrosse Associations.

In her words, "I never would have thought in a million years I would be inducted (into the Canadian Lacrosse Hall of Fame) for just having fun".

We are so glad Michelle took the time to share her story and to have Coaches and Athletes from BC, Saskatchewan, and Ontario be a part of the legacy she has created through her love of the game.

Special acknowledgements to those who supported this endeavor and there many:

Coach Savanna Smith, Coach Alivia Ungaro, Coach Naomi Walser, Coach Annakah Ratt, Callie Foreman, Shonly Wallace, Shayla Wallace, Jenna Archachan, Tyree Archachan, Lauren Leong, Cordelia Eno, Melody Isnana-Hotain, Alex Robertson, Mattea and Owynn Shima, Emmery Borg, Cloe Rupert, Latika Alexander and Reese Jones. There were others who participated directly in the webinar who framed a story of love and passion for a game that connects us all.

It is safe to say, Michelle's story chronicles the growth of the fastest growing sport in the country and we can not wait to see what the next 50 years holds in store for females in the sport of box and field lacrosse.

"Thank you Michelle".