This was the year Ben Lawrence was going to break out.
He was going to be a game-changer with the Calgary Colts junior football team.
But the train didn’t leave the station, the Cochrane High School alumnus instead taking a cab to hospital. Lawrence had surgery on his right shoulder nine days ago and will undergo surgery on the left next month.
The 5-foot-6, 170-pound running back/slot back took the 2013 Prairie Football Conference season off to have his ailing shoulders repaired, with time for recovery and rehab.
“This was supposed be, what I’d hoped to be, my breakthrough year to really show my talent at the junior level,” Lawrence said. “But, unfortunately, injuries happen. The whole reason for me getting the surgery done on both my shoulders is to be able to come back next year.”
As hard as it was to take a knee this season, it was Lawrence’s only choice.
His time on the gridiron has taken a serious toll on the 20-year-old former Cochrane Cobra, making surgery necessary.
“My right shoulder has been dislocated eight times and my left shoulder has been dislocated twice,” Lawrence said. “I had no cartilage left in either shoulder. It’s all from football. Just, being like, reaching back for high catches and . . . I’m just a little guy out there, right? I tend to get squished a lot and arms get tangled.”
The procedure, arthroscopic shoulder stabilization, will repair the torn cartilage in both shoulders. And while he hasn’t been hanging around the locker room too much, Lawrence has maintained contact with Colts coaches and players.
“I want to make sure I’m still part of the team in the best way I can,” he said.
He’s hoping to take part in non-contact drills with the team at some point, but he’ll have to wait to get his arm out of its sling first.
All in an effort to be fully healed and ready to go for kickoff 2014.
“Hopefully, you’ll be looking at a guy with healthy shoulders, that’s for sure,” Lawrence cracked. “Hopefully someone who took the time to study the playbook and become smarter in the game.
“I just love playing football and want to play football as long as I can.”
Hopefully, his surgically-repaired shoulders get the memo.
