Throwback Thursday - Lukas Coote, Once a Champion, always a Champion!

One thing that has been consistent with Lukas Coote is that he wins at all levels, shown here holding the Novice Provincial A Championship trophy as a member of the Whitby Warriors, Lukas has also had success with the Brooklin Merchants in summer lacrosse (Ontario Senior B Champions in 2016), the Durham TurfDogs of the Canadian Lacrosse League (Creator's Cup also in 2016) and here in the Arena Lacrosse League as the only player who has won the ALL Cup in each of the two years of the ALL existence. (ed. note: Ryan McMichael also won twice, once as a player and then as an assistant coach). 

We caught up to Lukas to see what he remembers about winning as a 10 year old and again as the starting goalie of the Whitby Steelhawks, the defending ALL Cup Champions, we open our interview with our signature Throwback Thursday question:

       1. What is your first thought that comes to mind when you see the picture?

Coote: That I have been getting balls thrown at me for a very, long, time.

      2. What memories do you have about winning a Novice A championship with the Whitby Warriors?

Coote: Not much! That was a long time ago! This was only the second year I played goalie and the fact that I had already won 2 OLA championships assured me I was in the right business being between the pipes.

      3. You’ve won in the summer with the 2016 Brooklin Merchants but you have been really successful in the winter on the turf, winning with the Durham TurfDogs of the defunct Canadian Lacrosse League and now back to back in the ALL with the Oshawa Outlaws and the Whitby Steelhawks to make it 3 successful winters in a roll, why do you think you have had lots of success on the turf?

Coote: I love using the plastic sticks compared to the woodie's in the summer. I got a good throwing arm and it really allows me to turn up the transition game for my team. And I really thrive in the bigger nets. 3” doesn’t seem like that much more room, but for shooters these days, its more than enough to put the ball in the net. Basically every shot that hits the post in the summer is a goal in the winter. I don't look at it as making my job harder, but making it more fun. It has pushed me to focus on my athleticism, which you need in order to stop the ball. You have to be agile and in shape to be a top goalie in this league or the NLL.

      4.In 2017 you won the ALL Cup with the Oshawa Outlaws playing behind current NLL goaltender Zach Higgins, then in 2018 you followed that up with an outstanding playoff performance leading the expansion Whitby Steelhawks to the championship, describe the different feeling of being the net when the Steelhawks won then coming off the bench to join in a celebration?

Coote: It's definitely different in the moment. It’s hard to feel the same sense of accomplishment when you sit on the bench or in the stands and don't get to contribute to the championship win. But when the dust settles, you realize you earned that ring with all the hard work you put in through out the season and all the games leading up to the championship that you played in. As for being on the floor for a game like that? There isn't many happier moments in life than celebrating a win at the end of a long fought season.

       5. If I’m an NLL General Manager and I’m looking to win the NLL Cup, I have Lukas Coote on my roster regardless if he’s a starter or practice goalie, would you agree with that assessment?

Coote: 100%. Im ready to make that jump when ever the call comes.

Thanks Lukas for doing this interview, we wish you well in your continued quest for more championships!

(If you have a throwback picture of a current ALL player and a story to go along with it, please reach out to Lance.winn@arenalacrosseleague.com and share with us, we are looking to make this a regular Thursday article throughout the remainder of the 2019 season.)