Phillylacrosse.com, Posted 12/10/09
Almost a year has passed since Chris Sanderson had a brain tumor removed and was told by doctors he could live only 9-to-12 more months.
Since then, many positive things have happened to the Philadelphia Wings assistant
coach and standout Canadian goaltender.
Sanderson is still one of 30 players trying to land a spot on the Canadian National field lacrosse team as it gears for the FIL championships next summer in Manchester, England. He coached with the Wings last year and has shown to be healthy while trying out for Team Canada, where he also has been promised a spot as an assistant coach. And on Nov. 14 Sanderson was inducted into the Canadian Lacrosse Hall of Fame at Firefighter’s Club in Burnaby, British Columbia.
Sanderson, 34, has been playing at the level that helped him lead Team Canada to a stunning 15-10 upset of the US in the 2006 world championships. If he continues to remain healthy, he believes he should be the goalie when Canada tries to defend its world crown in England.
“If the games were today, and I’m feeling the way I feel today, I could play,” Sanderson said in a team release to NLL Insider. “That’s what we’re all hoping for.
“My condition can change quickly. The staff and management are all aware of that. As long as I can continue on the path I’m on now, I’ll be a player.”
Sanderson’s Hall of Fame induction biography: He started his career as a box lacrosse player in Orangeville, Ontario. A box lacrosse goaltender by trade, Sanderson learned the field lacrosse goaltender position on his own. He was recruited by the University of Virginia where he played from 1995-98 and lead the Cavaliers to two NCAA Final Four Tournaments. Sanderson was the starting goaltender for the 1998, 2002 and 2006 Team Canada Senior Men’s Field Lacrosse teams winning silver in 1998 and 2002. Sanderson, a two-time International Lacrosse Federation All-World Goaltender in 1998 and 2006, backstopped the 2006 Team Canada squad to its first World title since 1978 defeating the USA 15-10. He has the destinction as the only goalie in World Games history to hold Team USA to 10 goals in a game. His 14 wins and 5 losses rank as the best record of any goalie in the history of the World Games.
