In the 1960s and 1970s, Dundas Street in Wallaceburg was a neighborhood full of kids who loved sports. A hockey, baseball, football or lacrosse game was a daily event, depending on the season. Lance Phenix, a gifted natural athlete excelled at those sports and a few others as well. The fourth of eight children born to Arlyn and Darrel Phenix, he lived in a busy household with 5 boys and 2 girls all playing minor lacrosse.

Lance was good at most sports, but it was the game of lacrosse that he excelled. A fierce competitor and gifted goal scorer who inspired sportsmanship, he led by example and encouraged his teammates and siblings. In 1973. he was instrumental in helping his Midget Lacrosse team to the Ontario D Title. In 1975, he would compete with his Junior team at the Ontario Summer Games, winning the League Championship that year. He continued his Junior career in 1976 and 1977 with the Wallaceburg Satans before heading to Point Edward where he helped the Pacers win back-to-back Founders Cup Championships in 1978 and 1979. He would then go on to become an Honours Graduate in Sports Administration at Durham College.

Sadly, on March 27th 1980, he was taken from us far too soon in an automobile accident at the age of 21.

His coach with the Pacers, Wayne Melanson, had this to say about him. “He was a super kid with lots of

talent and desire to compete. He played through injuries and always wanted to play for a winner”.