Unfortunately as the RMLL is gearing up for another year of lacrosse, it will be without eight teams whom had previously been involved..The Junior ‘B’ Tier II division has been hit the hardest, with the Westlock Rock, Wainwright Wolfpack, Vermillion Roar, and West Kootenay Timberwolves all folding prior to the 2022 season..In the Sr. Ladies division the Edmonton Bandits, Red Deer Rage, and Rockyview Attack will also be suspending play..The last team so far to announce their cancellation is the men’s Sr. ‘C’ Okotoks Erratic. That’s a total of eight teams not participating this year, but more could follow before lacrosse season starts up in May. .“Just like a vulnerable business that was wiped out by COVID, vulnerable lacrosse teams were wiped out by covid,” RMLL President Duane Bratt said..Beyond the immediate consequences, the cancelled seasons could have long-term implications on the RMLL and the growth of lacrosse in Alberta. .While the RMLL jumped through hoops to have a fairly regular ‘return to play’ season last year, the minor leagues had a much shorter season. Some smaller programs will be approaching 3 years without lacrosse, and the reality is this will end up affecting the RMLL drastically. .“Those born in 2005 will start junior lacrosse in 2022, but they would have missed the entire 16U play. Players have acquired other interests or simply lost interest in lacrosse, because they haven’t played in two years,” said Bratt..Consequently, these are the circumstances smaller leagues are dealing with across all athletic platforms. Small town programs are crucial to the growth of lacrosse across the province, and it’s heart-rending to think some of the smaller towns and areas that have finally developed their own teams may never get them back. .All in all, let this serve as a reminder that nothing is guaranteed, especially when you’re playing a sport that is growing in the province of Alberta or any athletic community. We’ve seen national tournaments get cancelled, professional games postponed, and now seeing teams fold altogether. For those of us that are still able to put on the pads and go to war with teammates, we should be playing with an extra sense of gratitude this year..Jake Foster is a Calgary born athlete and journalist with a passion for sports and story telling
Unfortunately as the RMLL is gearing up for another year of lacrosse, it will be without eight teams whom had previously been involved..The Junior ‘B’ Tier II division has been hit the hardest, with the Westlock Rock, Wainwright Wolfpack, Vermillion Roar, and West Kootenay Timberwolves all folding prior to the 2022 season..In the Sr. Ladies division the Edmonton Bandits, Red Deer Rage, and Rockyview Attack will also be suspending play..The last team so far to announce their cancellation is the men’s Sr. ‘C’ Okotoks Erratic. That’s a total of eight teams not participating this year, but more could follow before lacrosse season starts up in May. .“Just like a vulnerable business that was wiped out by COVID, vulnerable lacrosse teams were wiped out by covid,” RMLL President Duane Bratt said..Beyond the immediate consequences, the cancelled seasons could have long-term implications on the RMLL and the growth of lacrosse in Alberta. .While the RMLL jumped through hoops to have a fairly regular ‘return to play’ season last year, the minor leagues had a much shorter season. Some smaller programs will be approaching 3 years without lacrosse, and the reality is this will end up affecting the RMLL drastically. .“Those born in 2005 will start junior lacrosse in 2022, but they would have missed the entire 16U play. Players have acquired other interests or simply lost interest in lacrosse, because they haven’t played in two years,” said Bratt..Consequently, these are the circumstances smaller leagues are dealing with across all athletic platforms. Small town programs are crucial to the growth of lacrosse across the province, and it’s heart-rending to think some of the smaller towns and areas that have finally developed their own teams may never get them back. .All in all, let this serve as a reminder that nothing is guaranteed, especially when you’re playing a sport that is growing in the province of Alberta or any athletic community. We’ve seen national tournaments get cancelled, professional games postponed, and now seeing teams fold altogether. For those of us that are still able to put on the pads and go to war with teammates, we should be playing with an extra sense of gratitude this year..Jake Foster is a Calgary born athlete and journalist with a passion for sports and story telling
