INNISFAIL – The pre-season spring camp is over and the tryouts wrapped up.
It’s now time to get to the floor with the sticks and begin playing for real.
Innisfail’s Mavericks Lacrosse Club, a junior Tier 1 lacrosse program, opened its 20-game regular season with two home games at the Innisfail Twin Arena on May 2 and 4.
The Innisfail-based team will then go on the road on May 9 to play the Red Deer Rampage.
The Mavericks are once again playing in the Central Division of the 14-team Rocky Mountain Lacrosse League; a circuit for young players between the ages of 16 to 21 that includes 11 Alberta teams, and squads from Saskatoon, Regina and Winnipeg.
“We've got five players that are playing in the U.S. right now in NCAA college,” said Mavericks general manager Brad Bouchard. “They don't come back until after the first week of May, so it's a good opportunity for some of the rookies in the first weekend of games to showcase himself.”
The Mavericks have a big reason to be optimistic this season.
Last year the team captured the Junior Tier 1 Provincial Championship that earned the franchise a spot at the Founders Cup, Canada’s Junior Tier 1 National Championship.
The local lacrosse squad finished in fifth place in the national tournament that was held in Hamilton, Ont. last August and featured the country’s best nine teams.
Bouchard said the Mavericks will start the upcoming season without two key players from 2024 that have aged out.
He conceded it does lead to having to fill two important pieces but added his team’s player development work over the past few years has “definitely” created players that will fill those holes right away.
“This is a really correlating team this year with some really intriguing rookie talent as well,” said Bouchard, adding his opening game roster of 18 runners and two goalies will have up to five rookies.
As for the team’s goal for the upcoming lacrosse season, Bouchard said it is to “win it all” - go to its second consecutive Founders Cup tourney and bring it back home to Innisfail.
But there are others as well.
The team is doing well with securing a loyal and growing fan base, but the sport has significant expenses for the team, players and families.
The team’s executive wants to continue its work of more connection with the corporate side of the community.
“Our focus is to continue developing that and partnering with corporate for advertising and sponsorship and support,” said Bouchard. “A lot of these players are either in high school or got jobs and it's not a cheap sport at this level when you got to travel to three provinces and pay for bussing and hotels.
“It's about trying to keep their fees as minimal as possible. One of the reasons we moved to Innisfail was that it is a good fit so we can keep our fees affordable.
“Plus, the minor lacrosse team there is a pretty strong organization, and we partner with them, help them out and it helps us in the long run.”
In the meantime, admission for local lacrosse fans to Mavericks’ home games is a bargain, said Bouchard.
Admission is free for anyone 16 and under and just $5 for everyone over.
“It’s a massive bargain and such an exciting sport to watch,” said Bouchard.
