(Photo by Sam McCleery) caption: TRUE COURAGE: Former University of Virginia and Canadian national team goalie Chris Sanderson guards the crease in a game last year at the Vail Shootout. Sanderson, who founded the Pennington-based True North Lacrosse company, is currently battling brain cancer. This Saturday, a group of his supporters, the “Friends of 17,” is holding a True North reunion at the Hopewell Valley High School lacrosse fields. The event will include a skills clinic for younger players starting at 3 p.m. followed by an alumni game for players of high school age and then will wrap up with a family-style cookout.

Lacrosse Community Sticking Together; Holding June 27 Event for Ailing Sanderson

Bill Alden

Chris Sanderson has given a lot to the game of lacrosse.

A native of Orangeville, Ontario, Sanderson came stateside in the late 1990s and starred as a goalie for the University of Virginia men’s lacrosse team.

He helped the Cavaliers make two NCAA Final Fours and then played three times for Canada in three World Championship tournaments.

In 2001, Sanderson joined the Philadelphia Wings of the National Lacrosse League where he played and then became a coach for the franchise.

Putting down roots in the Pennington area, Sanderson helped grow the game in Central Jersey, starting True North Lacrosse, a company that runs youth lacrosse camps, clinics, and travel teams.

As director and head coach of the programs, Sanderson has impacted more than 800 players of all ages and abilities, including such Princeton-based players as Garrett Jensen, Brooks Herr, Colin Markison, and Ian Snyder.

“I wanted to create an environment for players to learn the game, achieve some success, and apply what they have learned to life outside the game,” said Sanderson, in a statement on the True North website.

This past December, though, life took a nasty turn for Sanderson, now 35, as he was diagnosed with a malignant brain tumor.

He had brain surgery and then returned home to Pennington to be with his wife, Brogann, and his two young daughters, Stevie and Clementine.

Sanderson completed radiation treatment in February and is currently on an aggressive therapy plan that includes several cycles of chemotherapy as well as other experimental medications.

In Sanderson’s time of need, the lacrosse community has stepped up to give back to him. A group called the “Friends of 17” was formed to help the family in its fight against Sanderson’s illness.

This Saturday, the group is holding a True North reunion at the Hopewell Valley High School lacrosse fields. The event will include a skills clinic for younger players starting at 3 p.m. followed by an alumni game for players of high school age and then will wrap up with a family-style cookout.

Those interested in participating or making a contribution can contact the group by e-mail at friendsof17@gmail.com.

The fervor of the group’s efforts is not surprising considering Sanderson’s influence on the players he has coached.

“Since I met Chris my view of lacrosse and life has changed dramatically,” said Tyler Brewster, a former Hopewell Valley star and True North alum who currently plays for the Bowdoin College men’s lax team.

“The passion and respect that Chris brings to all his players goes beyond stick skills and game strategies. Every time he grabs a whistle, he passes on more lessons on how to love the game and how much fun life can be.”

And this Saturday, the lacrosse community will get a chance to reciprocate some of that love of the game and life to Sanderson.

Return to Previous Sports Story | Return to Top | Go to Calendar