SUBMITTED PHOTO Janick Lacroix poses between coaches Kerry Fahlman (left) and Gino Nardari at the Mike Kucik Memorial in Ponteix, Sask. Saturday, Oct. 5, 2019.
Janick Lacroix started his boxing season at the place where he grew up in the sport.
This was no ordinary card.
The transplanted Hatter was back in Ponteix, Sask. Saturday night for the Mike Kucik Memorial card. Lacroix moved to the Gas City three years ago after Kucik – his boxing coach – was shot and killed in an apparent murder-suicide.
Kucik coached the Grasslands Boxing Club for 50 years and the community came together to honour him. Lacroix was an obvious choice for the main event, having won a national title in 2018 and followed that up with silvers at both nationals and the Canada Winter Games this past year.
The Grade 12 Hat High student didn’t disappoint according to Medicine Hat Boxing Club coach Kerry Fahlman, earning a unanimous decision over Lloydminster’s Emile Smith in a 75 kilogram open division bout that was hailed as the best fight of the night.
Fellow Hatter Tristan Deveau took a loss to Lacombe product William O’Keefe in a senior 75 kg matchup.
