The clock is ticking on the hometown career of one of the greatest talents ever to come out of the Delta Lacrosse Association.
Sometime later this month, Logan Schuss will play his final game at the Ladner Leisure Centre. The Delta Islanders standout hopes his junior "A" playing days extend to August but lacrosse teams must vacate the local arena by Aug. 1 to make way for the coming hockey season.
Schuss' stick wizardry has been on display since he took to the floor as a toddler between periods when his father was still playing senior lacrosse with the Ladner Pioneers.
He grew up in the Delta minor system and earned a full-ride field lacrosse scholarship to Ohio State University where he recently wrapped up another spectacular season, earning offensive player-of-the-year and All-Big-10 academic honours.
When he completes his senior year next spring, he won't be rushing home to play for his hometown team yet again. It will be for somewhere in the Western Lacrosse Association as he's expected to be the top pick in the 2013 junior draft.
He will then focus on the National Lacrosse League, where he again is considered a top prospect.
"I think it really hit me when I came home and realized I wouldn't be playing with some of my closest friends anymore," said Schuss of his graduated teammates. "Playing in my hometown, I have many good memories in this building and we're trying to build some more."
The Islanders finished with their best record (14-5-2) in franchise history, good enough for second place in the final standings and an opening round bye in the playoffs.
Delta will face New Westminster or Victoria when the semi-finals get underway next week.
All Schuss has done since his return to the lineup is pile up 65 points in nine games, leading his team to a 71-1 record.
He produced a career high and franchise record five goals and 10 assists in last Sunday's 21-8 regular season finale win at Nanaimo. He finished sixth in league scoring despite missing over half the season.
This year's roster is a mixture of young and veteran talent with players like Mike Mallory, Cody Hawkins and Schuss leading by example for an impressive group of rookies.
"It's good to see some young fresh blood coming into the system but we have some good leaders here too," continued Schuss. "We have to pass the torch onto these guys."
Prior to his return from school, there were rumblings Schuss wanted to close out his junior career with the best opportunity to play in the Minto Cup national championships and that would be with the defending league champion and first place Coquitlam Adanacs. He has been good friends of top Adanac sniper Robert Church since the two played together on Team B.C. back at the Bantam level.
However, the Islanders got off to a better than expected start to the season and walking away from a team that he played a large part turning into a contender over the past five seasons didn't seem right.
"It was something I thought about to myself but it just wouldn't be the same playing there," said Schuss. "Playing in my hometown in front of all my family and friends just means more to me."
