Reg Thompson Announces Retirement as Saints President

Reg Thompson is retiring as President of the Port Coquitlam Saints after a 24-year run that began when the BC Junior A Lacrosse League expanded to the city in 1995. A group of Port Coquitlam Saints Minor executive members will fill the role Reg leaves behind. 

Reg would go on to run the team with his wife Chris, the two doing everything from recruiting players to washing the jerseys after the game. He may be leaving his position, but Thompson says he will still be excited to watch the Saints compete from a different point of view. 

"I'll be 77 next year, I don't like doing it the way I used to," Thompson said. "I don't like getting there three hours before now, I would rather stroll in right at game time.

"All of the memories have been special, I've enjoyed them all. Players to us as kids and when they were finished they came out as men. Lots have gone on to have success in business, trades, and lacrosse. We have three or four trainers that have gone on to be doctors."

Reg isn't going too far, but he will still be giving back to the game he's long been involved in. With his legacy comes the legacy of one of the iconic Port Coquitlam Saint logo, and that will now be used on all Poco minor jerseys, shorts and other gear to make it what he calls it "all one flavour."

Replacing Reg is an unenviable task - he admits it's not easy to run the day-in-day-out operations of the team, but he has confidence in who is taking over. He will also be staying on as an advisor to the new executive group. 

"The transition will take some time getting used to, I'll be sticking around so they don't go at it the wrong way."

BCJALL President Karl Christiansen calls Reg one of the most respected people in all of BC lacrosse. He says the dedication he has given the club and the game of lacrosse is immeasurable. 

"I've known Reg Thompson for over 40 years. As a kid growing up in Port Coquitlam, Reg always wanted a place for us to play from Mini-Tyke right through. His 24 years with the Port Coquitlam Junior A team just shows his dedication to ensure kids in Port Coquitlam a place to play beyond Minor," Christiansen said. "Reg will continue to come to games in the BCJALL, he's a lifetime member and I look forward to seeing him at games as a fan cheering on the Saints as they march into 2019." 

The BCJALL wishes Reg all the best in the future and good luck to the incoming executive.