WINNIPEG – An underdog broomball team is playing with a purpose at the national championships this weekend.
The Palmerston Posse is fighting for their teammate Troy McLaughlin who passed away in a car accident a few months ago.
“Troy always wanted to go to the nationals and play at the nationals,” said the team’s head coach Archie Wilson. “This is something we’re pretty proud of, to have got there for him and make this something bigger than us.”
Troy’s mother travelled with the team from Palmerston, Ontario to Portage la Prairie, Manitoba so she could watch her son’s friends play.
The team struggled to make it through qualifying and made it all the way to the national final.
“It was important for me to be here… they were hanging his jersey and doing some things that I felt really honoured by,” said Troy’s mom Cindy McLaughlin, who carried the team’s flag onto the ice at the start of the tournament.
All season the team has been wearing a special patch on their backs, hoping to carry Troy with them to the gold medal game.
The championship has given them an opportunity to cherish memories of their lost teammate.
“We’d always be sitting in the change room just hanging out and then Troy would walk in and everyone would start talking and laughing,” said the team’s captain Andrew Hamilton.
But there’s even more that’s driving the team to leave everything on the ice.
“My dad was one of the coaches and he’s passed away three and a half weeks ago, also my mom five years ago so… I took over dad’s spot this year,” said assistant coach Daniel Subject.
Regardless of the result, the team’s championship run has moved everyone involved.
“It just lets us all understand how fragile life is… it’s certainly an inspiration,” said president of Broomball Canada George Brown.
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