Displaced junior lacrosse team gets ready to start season on the road
How the junior B Sun Devils lacrosse team adapts to change will be a major factor in how they fare early on.
With their usual home at the Kinplex under renovations until at least May, plus lots of new faces both on the bench and behind it, this weekend’s season opener in Lethbridge will be a test on several levels.
“So far we’re just working it out,” said third-year player Damon Phillips. “Conditioning, wiping off the dust, get our passes going...”
Doing all of that in unfamiliar locales is challenging too. On Thursday they were at the Family Leisure Centre, where the boards are not built for big hits and the turf might be great for making cuts, but not at all similar to the concrete their games will take place on. Other practices have taken place at the Moose Arena, which has standard, hockey-style boards but much more slippery concrete than even the Kinplex. Their first few home games will be at the Moose but hopefully transition back to the Kinplex once it’s available mid-season.
“I do like the Kinplex a lot, it’ll be a little different in Lethbridge because we’ve been practising on turf the majority of the time,” said Phillips.
Phillips is among a handful of veterans back after the Devils, typically a powerhouse in the Rocky Mountain Lacrosse League, were ousted in the second round of playoffs in 2016 after a 9-7 regular season.
New is head coach Chris Loran, assistants Ken Simpson and Scott Wilson. Loran knows many of the younger players having coached them along with his son since they started in the sport. He’s grown as well as they have and hopes the progression will only continue.
“As far as success, I want to be better every time out,” said Loran. “It’s going to be an eye-opener this weekend against Lethbridge.”
The one benefit from not having the Kinplex was extra floor time at the FLC. On the other hand, Loran noted several players are coming home from post-secondary schools just in time for the regular season, having not practiced together as of yet.
The home opener will be April 22, 6:30 p.m at the Moose against High River, with an April 23 game against Strathmore starting at 5:15 p.m. food or cash donations to the food bank will get you in to either for free; normal prices are $3 for adults, $2 for students and free for students wearing Sun Devils apparel.