Lacrosse growing again in Swift Current
Lacrosse is currently enjoying another period of growth in Swift Current.
“All of our teams that were at Provincials played in a gold medal game,” explained Swift Current Lacrosse Association President Trenton Froese. “So all three age groups this year had great success in the regular season as well. Coming from that there were some individual standouts as well that starts with the team success and builds from there.”
Three Swift Current Rampage players were selected in the Junior A Bantam Draft held this year for the first time by SWAT. Marshal Clothier was selected 13th, Zach Cloutier went 20th, and Ryder Turko went 22nd. They will have opportunities to participate in some camps and training.
Clothier, Paul Piche, and Isaac Froese are all members of the Bantam Team Saskatchewan, which will attend Nationals on August 8-15. Froese is also a coach with the Bantam team.
“I think it’s going to be good,” said Froese. “We’ve really come together well as a team here, seen some significant growth every weekend. As we have practices it is running a little bit smoother, the team’s gelling together a little bit more. So I think we have pretty high expectations. I think we at least have a team that can compete here against some of the bigger provinces. Obviously you don’t know what you’re getting into until you get there and see what the other teams bring as well. But I feel pretty confident knowing that we’ve got a good group of kids coming together pretty nicely.”
Shane Friesen and Aden Gunn will also represent Saskatchewan at Midget Nationals, which are in Calgary on August 12-19.
The Rampage competed in the South Saskatchewan Lacrosse League for the first time this spring.
“I think overall it was a positive experience,” said Froese. “It certainly wasn’t without its wrinkles. Any time you are starting up a new league there’s gonna be some hiccups along the way as far as scheduling and stuff like that. I would say overall it was a big success. To play against teams that were more familiar to us right here in the province, the travel was a little bit diminished and got the opportunity to be a little closer to home here in Saskatchewan, so it was good.”
Froese said that lacrosse has enjoyed an increased profile in Swift Current.
“This past year was amongst one of our best. Overall registrations were up this year and up significantly. It’s the biggest year, the most registrations we’ve had since I’ve been on the Board the last four years. I think overall in the province it is doing well having the Rush here in Saskatchewan has been a bit of a draw. The rest of the associations are doing well also and are growing. It is definitely a growing sport.”
Froese said that that the on field success of the Rush has certainly helped bolster the profile of lacrosse in the province.
“But the other thing that the Rush do, or lacrosse does in general that is fantastic is they just do a wonderful job of engaging the community. Every game they’ve got one or two teams down on the floor for the national anthem helping to wave the big Canada flag. They’ve got their champion of the game that they sign to a contract before hand. They’ve got a whole bunch of opportunities to get youth involved.”
“They’ve traveled all the way to Swift Current two or three times over the past couple years to hold mini camps for us. They just do a great job of engaging the community. Obviously that’s made a huge impact on some of the growth here in the province.”
The Swift Current Lacrosse Association and the Rampage seem poised for a bright future.
“We are very proud and it’s been awesome to see Swift Current rally behind lacrosse in general. To have some of these individual players have success as well it has been a great year for the association. We look forward to continued growth,” concluded Froese.