You can lax if you want to, you can leave your friends behind

November 23rd, 2008 by Lauren Ward

2008 Australian National Team

While the National Lacrosse League is the pinnacle of professional lacrosse and its players are undoubtedly grateful to be here, there can be no denying that life as a pro laxer requires a lot of sacrifice. Handing every weekend over to a sport, flying across the continent, feeling a pinch on family time, and crossing fingers and hoping the boss is a lacrosse fan who won’t mind when you need to leave early. Almost everyone in the league is in that same boat, so it would take something pretty drastic for one of these players to stand out from the rest in terms of how far he’ll go to chase his dream. Lacrosse fans, meet Keith Nyberg.

Nyberg originally signed with the Calgary Roughnecks prior to the 2008 season, but when the season was briefly cancelled he was forced to forego his plans of an NLL tryout. Because he lives in Australia. One year later his dream hasn’t died so he’s reported to the Roughnecks training camp at Spay Lakes Sawmills Family Sports Centre in Cochrane. Well Keith, as they say in Australia: good luck.

In other news:

In addition to busting his butt on the floor, Nyberg along with Jeff Shattler will be shaving his head in support of the Epilepsy Association of Calgary: calgaryroughnecks.com
Not everyone can handle the lacrosse lifestyle. That’s why Mississauga Jr. A Tomahawks alumnus and Knighthawks draft pick Matt Moulson opted for professional hockey, right? Rochester D&C
Coming in from Connecticut, one more goodbye to Tom Borelli: Connecticut Post

Ward began covering lacrosse for The Lacrosse Journal in 2005 and became its editor-in-chief a year later. Email her at lauren.ward@nllinsider.com.

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