From Brisbane to the VHL - Lachlan Summers Biography

[kirbithan 1,574]

 

On a cloudy July morning in Brisbane, Australia, Lachlan Derek Summers was born to a proud mother: Marcie Summers. His father was never in the picture, as his parents were in the process of a divorce when his mother was pregnant with him. She would raise Lachlan and his older sister Taryn on her own, working tirelessly to support them. Lachlan and Taryn are spitting images of their mother, and while Lachlan didn’t necessarily loathe their father, he had no interest in reconnecting with him either.

 

As a child and even now to an extent, Lachlan could be described as a ticking time bomb. He would appear stoic and expressionless to a fault like an android, as few dubbed him, until his emotions would boil up inside him and explode— an exact opposite of his extraverted, bubbly older sister. He had difficulties verbally expressing himself and barely spoke for the first few years of his life. A lack of an outlet was the culprit. His mother encouraged him to try out various sports and hobbies, but nothing seemed to stick until he stumbled across VHL Continental Cup highlights on the internet. Immediately, he was captivated by the sport of ice hockey, and pleaded with his mother to sign him up for a local youth team— the Brisbane Kings— even though it was one of the least popular sports in the country.

 

— 11-year-old Lachlan during his time with the Brisbane Kings

 

When people think of Australia, they don’t regard it as a country that produces hockey phenomena, but Lachlan was hellbent on changing that from a young age and his mom and sister knew they couldn’t sway him from his goals. At the time, he didn’t realize how much his family sacrificed for him— costly hockey equipment, long drives to the rink and back, and more— but as he grew up in a country with only twenty-one hockey rinks in its entirety, it was miraculous that he was able to stick with the sport. With the inspiration of a few Aussies who were able to make it to the VHL before him, Lachlan knew it was possible for him to emulate their success.

 

Initially, he started out as a forward, but was mediocre at the position at best and wasn’t the strongest skater. When his team was short of a goalie, his coach asked for volunteers and Lachlan’s hand rose up into the air without hesitation. After taking a few shots, one hit him directly in the mask and he didn’t even flinch— hence, his coach knew that they had their goaltender. 

 

— The Summers Family

 

What he enjoyed more than being on the ice was, of course, spending time with his mom and sister. Marcie and Taryn meant the world to him. They were the only ones who knew the inner workings of his mind, and were able to draw out more of his personality when Marcie insisted on baking desserts together as a form of family bonding. It eventually became a family tradition, and Lachlan found he had a knack for it, taking the reins during each baking session. They’d spend their Saturdays researching and creating delicious sweets to enjoy as a family, which the Summers siblings always looked forward to. After hockey, Lachlan could definitely have a baking career on his hands.

 

At the age of 15, he received the opportunity to travel abroad to live in Québec for a summer in order to attend a hockey camp for aspiring young players. This would be the first time he’d leave home for an extended period. His host family was that of his eventual future husband, François “Frankie” Ducharme, a winger who was also attending that same camp. 

 

— Frankie Ducharme

 

Even as a teenager, Lachlan couldn’t escape the “android” moniker. As most of the camp attendees had their own respective cliques already, it was more difficult for him to come out of his shell than usual. He felt like an outcast— a kid who didn’t deserve to be regarded at the same level as other “future prodigies” who grew up in conventional hockey countries. Then came a point where dealing with his own feelings and negative thoughts became unbearable, and the sport he fell in love with was starting to feel like a chore as a result. However, Frankie wasn’t deterred by this challenge. He had “a smile that could light up an entire room,” and wouldn’t hesitate to share his sunshine with Lachlan when he needed it most, relaying words of advice and reassurance.

 

They’d spend nearly every day on the ice together practicing drills. Off the ice, they were inseparable, and Lachlan would open up to Frankie more than anyone else. At the conclusion of that summer, it was clear that wouldn’t be the last time they’d see each other, and they’d maintain a healthy long-distance relationship for many years to come.

 

With a renewed sense of purpose and drive, Lachlan spent four years in the Australian Ice Hockey League (AIHL). Although international scouting was virtually nonexistent, he put on a stellar show during his tenure with the Sydney Bears, carrying the team to a championship in his last season after overcoming a devastating knee injury the year prior. His herculean efforts caught the attention of teams in the VHLM who were in need of a promising young goaltender, earning him a contract with the San Diego Marlins.

 

The kid from Brisbane would make the most of this opportunity.

 

“With the 12th pick in the VHL draft, HC Davos Dynamo are proud to select. . . goaltender Lachlan Summers!”

 

Spoiler

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Edited November 29, 2022 by kirbithan