SUMMERSIDE, P.E.I. — It’s safe to say James Voye has carried on his father’s passion for rugby at Three Oaks Senior High School.
The 40-year-old son of Deborah and the late David Voye is the face of the senior AAA boys’ program at the Summerside school.
“The amount of time James puts into the program here is very, very significant,” said Three Oaks athletic director Joel Arsenault. “Coupled with that, is the fact his dad was the driving force behind rugby and such a big part of developing the program.
“To see that carried on by James, it’s a big part of the fabric of our spring sports here at Three Oaks.”
The Summerside school is hosting the 23rd annual David Voye Memorial rugby tournament this weekend.
“It’s special that it’s been able to carry on this long,” said James. “You never know how long it will last.
“The school has done a really good job of promoting it and pushing it. I have to say hats off to Joel for being that driving force behind it to make sure it stays alive.”
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David Voye was behind the formation of the rugby program and coached the senior AAA boys. He died suddenly in the fall of 1996. The Voye tournament started in 1997 and the younger Voye played on the team that won the inaugural championship.
“That was a special moment for myself and the guys on the team,” said James, who played front row and hooker and chuckled when asked what positions he played.
“It’s funny the guys were trying to figure out the other day what position I played,” he added. “I was never a back. No one ever gave me a thought of being a back. That’s OK, I enjoy the smashing and banging that involves being a forward.”
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Coaching influences
James, a 1997 graduate of Three Oaks, credited the influences of his father and retired Three Oaks athletic director Garth Turtle with inspiring him to pursue coaching.
“I saw the benefit of what they got from it and what the kids were getting from it,” said James. “It’s something I had a knack for, I guess, and I really enjoy it.
“Rugby has been in my life since a young age and when I got to the age when I could finally play and give back that’s what I went to.”
James has adopted similar coaching philosophies of his father.
“I only had the pleasure of having him for one year as a coach,” said James. “Over the years you talked to former players of his and it’s the respect factor his players had for him.
“That’s what I really drive home with my players. If they respect me, I respect them and if you can find a common ground there you will tend to get a little more out of those kids.
“The thing I picked up the most from my father was the dedication and respect the players gave to him because of what he gave to them.”
It’s been a successful formula. James has coached the Axemen to nine of the last 11 P.E.I. School Athletic Association Senior AAA Boys Rugby League championships. They won bronze the other two years.
“We’ve been in the medal hunt every year since 2008,” said James. “As much as that run feels good, the kids see the history there and that helps drive the program as well.”
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Caleb Dawson, who plays standoff with the 2019 Axemen, praised his coach’s knowledge and motivation skills.
“He really knows how to get the team prepared for games,” said Dawson. “Every year there are always new players who know nothing about (rugby), but he knows how to get their mindset on the game and ready to play.”
A big part of that success is a commitment to constantly improve. That often means practising outdoors in rain, snow, wind and cool temperatures.
“There is no stopping us, although some days the kids wish we would,” offered James. “We played a game at Rothesay recently and it was a torrential downpour and it was the most fun the kids had all weekend because it was sloppy and the conditions were soaking wet.
“It’s funny that is what they remember about all the games.”
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