Crosstown Mixer With A Special Meaning

The Big Sky Eagles and the Hellgate Knights meet at the new Fort Missoula Multi-Sport complex for the first crosstown prep lacrosse game of the year, and the two teams would meet as one before the opening face off. Thursday nights game had a higher meaning then the normal crosstown tenacity, each team meant to recognize someone who has fallen.

The Eagles recognized the passing of their original coach, Keith Kreiner, and the Knights retired the jersey of former player and fire fighter Trenton Johnson. Before the field was ready for play the Celtic Dragon Pipe Band lead a procession of family members and loved ones on to the mid field circle. Then the two teams, accompanied by the Hellgate girls lacrosse team, gathered in a circle at mid field with Kreiner and Johnsons family. Big Sky Eagle Lacrosse alum and Montana Men’s Lacrosse player Hayden Smith spoke about his former coach, and the Knights retired the jersey of fallen comrade Trenton Liston, forever immortalizing him.

Keith Kreiner was a key component in the foundation and development of the Big Sky Eagle boys lacrosse program. Kreiner became the Eagles first ever head coach, and founded a culture of tradition. The former head coach held a position as an at large board member the state of Montana Lacrosse Association, working to grow the sport in the state of Montana. Kreiner passed away suddenly early this year in February. Eagle Lacrosse Alum Hayden Smith spoke in commemoration of Keith, and presented the family with a plaque in the opening ceremony. Smith talks about the impact Keiden had on Big Sky Lacrosse, “There’s no way the program would be what it is without him. You have to have a coach that does all the financial stuff, and all the little things and Keith did that.”

Trenton Johnson was part of the Hellgate Boy’s Lacrosse program all four years in high school, participating on the state championship teams each year he played. Johnson graduated in 2016, leaving the program and starting the next chapter in his life. During the summer of 2017 Johnson was working the Florence fire near Seeley Lake as a wild land fire fighter when he passed away. Long time teammate and Hellgate graduate Bridger Liston was part of the jersey retirement for Johnson as he would give one of Johnson’s jerseys to Trenton family. Liston remembers Johnson as a teammate, “He was just a goof ball, joking around at practice. It wasn’t in a bad way, he was one of the hardest workers.” Liston went on to say that Johnson made it fun, yet challenging, helping him grow into his own self.

Once the game got under way both teams played with selfless tenacity, trying to make their fallen comrades proud. The Eagles played tough the first quarter, scoring the games first goal off the stick of senior mid fielder Carson Smith. Hellgate fought back and took the lead in the opening minutes  of the second quarter with a flurry of goals. Big Sky could not over come the deficit and the Knights scored an 11 to five win over the Eagles.

One thing is for sure, the lacrosse community in Missoula, along with the state of Montana lost two important parts of it’s family and the lacrosse community came out to show their respect for the two out selfless gentle men.