Renault's hockey skills carry
over nicely to the lacrosse field

BY ED WRIGHT
March 30, 2010, 3:55 p.m.

  Are there two sports that complement each other more than hockey and lacrosse?

  It's highly doubtful.

  The two games' similarities are a bonus for Plymouth senior Ryan Renault who picked up lacrosse as a freshman in high school following a lifetime of excelling on hockey rinks.

  Renault took a few moments during a recent practice to discuss his multi-sport high school career with PlymouthCantonSports.com's Ed Wright.

  ED WRIGHT: How and when did you get into lacrosse?

  RYAN RENAULT: I started playing my freshman year at Plymouth. I had played hockey for a long time and I was interested in playing lacrosse, so I played on the JV team my freshman year for the PCS unified team. Once the unified team separated my sophomore year, I played for Plymouth.

  EW: What do you like about lacrosse?

  RR: It's very similar to hockey. There's a lot of hitting, a lot of skill involved and a lot of speed. It's just a fun sport to play.

  EW: How did playing hockey growing up help you adapt to lacrosse?

  RR: I can factor a lot of the success I've had in lacrosse to hockey. There are a lot of hockey players and football players out here because they like to hit like I do.

  EW: What was the toughest part of the sport to pick up when you first start playing?

  RR: Probably handling the ball. You have to be able to use both hands pretty accurately. The speed of the sport was tough to get used to, too, getting used to all the running that's involved. There's a lot of work involved, but it's fun.

  EW: How would you describe your game?

  RR: I play attack, which is like a forward. I can only stay on the offensive end of the field, so I shoot a lot, pass and try to make some plays out there.

  EW: How fast is your shot?

  RR: The fastest I got up to at Mission Lacrosse was 93 (miles per hour).

  EW: What's considered an average speed for a shot?

  RR: Most guys are probably around the low-80s.

  EW: What do you like about this year's team?

  RR: It's definitely fun coming to practice. Coach (Brian) Walsh is pretty laid back. He lets us have fun, but we still work hard for him. We're a pretty young team, so we're going to have to work very hard to be successful.

  EW: What plans do you have after high school?

  RR: I'm pretty sure I'm going to go to Central Michigan University and I'd like to play either club lacrosse or hockey there. There's still a chance I could have an opportunity to play junior hockey, so I'm going to weigh all my options when the time comes.

  Ed Wright can be reached at (734) 453-1980 or info@plymouthcantonsports.com.