A lifelong dream was realized for one of the most talented lacrosse players to come out of the Foothills.
A lifelong dream was realized for one of the most talented lacrosse players to come out of the Foothills.
DeWinton's Holden Cattoni got his long-awaited taste of professional lacrosse in the National Lacrosse League, suiting up in the Calgary Roughnecks season opening 12-11 loss to the Vancouver Stealth Friday night at the Saddledome.
“It was a thrill,” Cattoni said. “I had a lot of fun with it, then once I got into my regular routine with games I kind of forgot it was my debut and everything, it just felt like another game.
“It was definitely an exciting experience for me and my family.”
With his parents, younger brother Taite, grandparents and family friends in tow, the sharp shooting lefty put on a show in hitting the back of the net in the second quarter on opening night with the Riggers.
“It was an awkward play. I kind of got sucked into a grey area and put it in a good spot and luckily it went in,” Cattoni said. “It's good to get a little confidence and know what it feels like to score and definitely gives you that drive to score more.”
Confidence would be the operative word.
The Riggers first round pick in the 2016 NLL Draft, Cattoni brings high level experience as an NCAA standout with Johns Hopkins University Blue Jays field lacrosse program along with senior experience in Ontario.
“The biggest part of any offensive player is knowing you can go out there and can score goals and contribute offensively,” he said. “I always try to be as confident as can be and never try to get down on myself.
“It's my first season and a lot of things are going to go right and wrong. You just have to stay the course and keep a good effort and keep toeing the line.”
He will have some help from a talented group of offensive dynamos on the Riggers including the likes of Superman Curtis Dickson, veterans Jeff Shattler and Dane Dobbie and sophomore sensation Wesley Berg.
“It makes my life a lot easier, especially being a rookie, having some veterans to help you out and guide you along,” he said. “Especially early in the season when you don't know what to expect. That's one great aspect of our offence.”
Cattoni, who won two provincial championships with the Okotoks Raiders in three seasons before finishing his junior career with the Peterborough Lakers, has formed a bond with the Roughnecks since Okotokian Brad Banister founded the franchise in 2001.
As a youngster, Cattoni was a ballboy for the club alongside future Raiders teammates Mitchell and Raymond Banister.
“I had a personal relationship with a lot of the guys, especially Kaleb Toth and Tracey Keluskey and still have that connection with them today,” Cattoni said. “I was lucky enough to have that personal connection with some of the players which really drew me in even closer with the Roughnecks.
“Being involved as a ballboy, knowing Brad Banister and Ray when we were ballboys made the experience even better. I'm proud to be playing for the Roughnecks.”
For more information on the team go to calgaryroughnecks.com
