When asked to describe the perfect season his club's U18 roster put together in its very first year, Axemen rugby coach Stephen List called it "an incredible achievement, really."
More than 25 teenage athletes from Whistler, Squamish, Pemberton and the Sunshine Coast defeated all comers during their maiden outing last fall, which included six divisional games and two playoff matchups within BC Rugby's U18 Gold division.
The Axemen downed the Brit Lions 33-12 in their league semifinal at Squamish's Brennan Park. Then they put a bow on their gem of a campaign with a 31-15 championship victory over Bayside Sharks RFC, also on home turf.
They were led by head coach Cathal Donnelly, with List providing additional support on the training side.
"There's a huge amount of commitment and dedication needed for that [kind of season], with away games on Sunday down in Langley," said List. "Just to compete and get all league fixtures completed is, I think, an achievement in itself. To then go above and beyond and win the final … I'm extremely proud of everyone involved."
Despite its name, Gold is actually the second-highest tier of U18 play offered by BC Rugby. Blue represents the top level, and it's a place the Axemen could possibly reach with a few more years of development and experience.
Speaking of development, that's something Donnelly has proven to be adept at. He's a man of few words, but an excellent organizer.
"Cathal provided a lot of clarity to the guys," said List. "Some hadn't played much rugby before, so he provided a really clear [map] of how to be successful in the game and I think that was key. He let guys have a little bit of freedom in how they played so they enjoyed it as best as possible … and he's done all the work no one sees."
'They just kept on getting better'
Since their beginning, the Axemen have prioritized fostering the growth of Sea to Sky rugby above every other goal. Their women's branch , and the club dropped from Division 1 last year to better accommodate its members.
One of the most important aims is to construct a healthy pipeline of
List and his associates are frequently found at local schools like Whistler Secondary School (WSS), Myrtle Phillip, Spring Creek, Signal Hill Elementary, Brackendale and Howe Sound Secondary. The Axemen Connect to Club program has reached more than 1,000 students to date.
"[WSS] has had competitive sevens and 15-a-side teams, and the Axemen U18s essentially came from enough of those guys wanting to play more rugby," List explained. "We went: 'Let's make it happen and get them into a league.' Ended up working quite well."
The young men quickly began to learn one another's strengths and personalities despite the fact that they hail from all across the Sea to Sky corridor. Undefeated seasons do not come easy, and they faced tough tests during certain away games in Langley and Surrey.
However, once the Axemen grew in maturity and discipline, the rest of the Gold league began to take notice.
"They really stepped up to the occasion," remarked List. "No one expected much from the Axemen because they were the new team in the league. By the time we got to the playoffs, everyone had played each other. They knew the Axemen would be strong [and there was] a little more pressure.
"If you win the league, you get your playoff games at home. Our U18s were cheered on by quite a big crowd … and the guys seemed to thrive on that. They just kept on getting better as the season went on."
Going forward the Axemen will continue to build their developmental pathway, ensuring an unbroken flow from the U10 level up to senior men's rugby. Programs for teenage girls are also on the to-do list.
