Tag: okotoks western wheel

Western Wheel: History on the table at return to Minto

Lacrosse:

Okotoks Raiders embark on national journey for fifth time

Cole Sheen and the Okotoks Raiders took on the New Westminster Salmonbellies at the 2013 Minto Cup. Wheel File Photo
Cole Sheen and the Okotoks Raiders took on the New Westminster Salmonbellies at the 2013 Minto Cup.
Wheel File Photo

 

 

 

The wait is finally over.

For the first time in four years the Okotoks Raiders are going back to the holy grail of Junior A Lacrosse – the Minto Cup – for the fifth time in the distinguished history of the franchise.

Just getting to nationals is no easy feat.

The Alberta championship has switched sides annually between the Calgary Mountaineers and Okotoks Raiders over the past six years. The latter punched its ticket to the 2017 Minto with a five game series victory capping a dominant season in the Rocky Mountain Lacrosse League.

Okotoks last competed for the Minto in 2013 in British Columbia, finishing winless against Coquitlam, New Westminster, and Whitby.

“I got to play in one game and the calibre of lacrosse out there is incredible and it’s always been my goal to get back there,” said Raiders alternate captain Kade McCormick on the Minto. “It’s revolved around that. I’ve loved lacrosse all my life, played it all my life and I value junior more than any age group.

“I’ve always seen the Minto Cup as the biggest cup in lacrosse and always wanted to compete there.”

Kade was a keen observer at the 2011 Minto Cup at Okotoks’ Pason Centennial Arena watching as older brother Carson and the Raiders duked it out with Whitby, Coquitlam and Edmonton.

Okotoks Raiders alternate captain Dylan Kinnear competes at the Western Final versus the Coquitlam Adanacs in 2015. Wheel File Photo
Okotoks Raiders alternate captain Dylan Kinnear competes at the Western Final versus the Coquitlam Adanacs in 2015.
Wheel File Photo

The 2011 tournament produced a number of athletes who went on to star professionally in the National Lacrosse League including Saskatchewan Rush stars Mark Matthews and Curtis Knight along with DeWinton’s Holden Cattoni, fresh off at a terrific rookie campaign with the Calgary Roughnecks.

“Getting to watch Mark Matthews and some of the biggest names in lacrosse play, watching my brother compete as a young guy and just seeing what kind of lacrosse young guys can do and the speed and intensity and the grind it sparked my interest for sure,” McCormick said.

Politics between provincial governing bodies left Alberta out in the cold for a two-year run. In 2014 and 2015, the Alberta champion was forced to play the powerhouse B.C. champions, which both years was the dynastic Coquitlam Adanacs.

Calgary managed a win in the best-of-five series in 2014 and Okotoks put up a good fight in 2015, but neither team could bust through the door to the national final.

The Mountaineers changed all that last summer by picking up wins over Delta and Orangeville at the 2016 Minto, the first victories by Alberta teams over B.C. or Ontario opposition at the championships since 1979.

“All the credit in the world to the Mounties for going in there and winning the two games they did last year and playing that two-three game,” Getz added. “It makes us more respected, makes us be able to bring in more guys like Orley (Kevin Orleman) and Liam Patten. When they know we’re competitive they’re more willing to play for us. That goes a long way.”

The Minto Cup dates back to 1901 and was previously used to determine champs in the senior and professional level. Since 1937 the prestigious trophy has been awarded to the junior champions.

Alberta has never produced a national champion in Junior A lacrosse. Yet the gap between provinces looks to have been narrowed over the past half decade and it’s hard to argue with the results.

“The year before I thought we had a great show against Coquitlam and I think Alberta has been on the rise for last five years,” McCormick said. “Big hopes for us.”

Okotoks’ hopes will rest on a strong start against both perennial favourites and a relative unknown on the national scene at the 2017 Minto, held Aug. 17-27 in Brampton, Ont.

The Mimico Mountaineers, in just their third season at the Junior A level, qualified for their first trip to the Minto since 1970.

Ontario’s other representatives are far less of a surprise. The Six Nations Arrows shoot for their fifth national championship and third in the last four years.

Out of B.C., the Coquitlam Adanacs are back to defend their national title. The purple-and-yellow clad squad is a virtual lock to compete in the championship game having played for the gold medal tilt in six of the past seven years.

“Alberta lacrosse has come a long ways and we’re hanging right there with the big dogs now,” Getz said. “It’s time for us to go out there and really put our foot down and make strides forward here and go win the thing.”

Western Wheel: Focused Raiders take back Alberta Title

Lacrosse:

Okotoks outlasts Calgary for Junior A championship

By Remy Greer

Okotoks Raider Kade McCormick evades a Calgary Mountaineer during Game 5 of the Alberta Junior A championship, Aug. 2 at Max Bell Centre. Okotoks won 9-6 to take the series in five games. Remy Greer/OWW
Okotoks Raider Kade McCormick evades a Calgary Mountaineer during Game 5 of the Alberta Junior A championship, Aug. 2 at Max Bell Centre. Okotoks won 9-6 to take the series in five games.
Remy Greer/OWW

 

 

From tragedy to triumph.

Priorities, motivation and focus — the Okotoks Jr. A Raiders played for a bigger purpose in a tragic year which saw the passing of team founder David Fehr and teammate Jordan McKinnon and completed the first step in their mission in capturing the Alberta Junior A title in five games over the Calgary Mountaineers.

“It was a tough loss losing him and Jordan McKinnon, but that motivated the guys further. I’ve never been part of a more motivated team than this one right here.”

The results back up the sentiment.

Okotoks lost just once in the 20-game regular season and took out the defending champion Mountaineers in the best-of-seven set in five games.

“I’ve got new brothers on the team every year,” said Getz, a fifth-year Raider. “And when you’ve got guys that close it makes it easy to go to bat every night for them.”

The Raiders capped the championship in a 9-6 triumph Aug. 2 at the Max Bell Centre.

“It means everything,” said McCormick, an alternate captain on the team. “There is nowhere I would rather be in my lacrosse career right now than with the Raiders after five years.

“I got to play with my brother (Carson), got to win one with him and it means everything to win this year and get another chance at the Minto.”

The equals parts curious and illuminatory trend of alternating titles has continued. The cross-town rivals have met in six-straight league finals with both teams alternating championships.

No one has been able to repeat in Alberta since Okotoks accomplished the feat in 2010-2011.

“It’s keeping that ultimate goal in mind and knowing that we can’t move on without finishing what’s right in front of us,” McCormick said. “Give them all the credit in the world, great team, they’ve always been, and it’s always close.”

“Every year I think one team is going to dominate the next year and I’m always wrong. I don’t know what it is.”

For the fifth year players on the team it’s a long awaited return to the Mecca of Junior A lacrosse, held Aug. 17-29 in Brampton, Ont.

Okotoks has not competed in the Minto Cup national championship since 2013.

The Raiders will battle the Six Nations Arrows, Mimico Mountaineers and the British Columbia champion Coquitlam Adanacs for the right to lift the trophy.

“It’s the talk every year. It’s Minto Cup or bust, we haven’t been able to do that yet,” Getz said. “I have this feeling we’re not done yet. Other years I was a younger player and we won (Alberta) and we’re drinking beers after and we think it’s done.

“This year I’m battling for every single time I get to play lacrosse. You’re not satisfied.”

For more information on the team go to raiderslacrosse.ca

Western Wheel: Late bloomer lands on Raiders

Lacrosse: Luke Welton drafted by Okotoks Jr. A club

READ Okotoks Western Wheel online posted Wednesday, February 15, 2017 06:00 am Click here

By: Remy Greer

Okotokian Luke Welton, the Okotoks Jr. A Raiders third round draft pick, stands at the Crescent Point Field House. Brent Calver/OWW

Okotokian Luke Welton, the Okotoks Jr. A Raiders third round draft pick, stands at the Crescent Point Field House.
Brent Calver/OWW

What a difference a few years make.

Just a couple seasons removed from taking a hiatus from the sport Luke Welton has found himself selected by the powerhouse Okotoks Jr. A Raiders after being scooped up in the third round of the Rocky Mountain Lacrosse League Midget Player Draft on Thursday.

“I’ve been playing for 10 years and only been good for two,” Welton, a Grade 11 student at Holy Trinity Academy, said with a laugh. “I took a year off assessing priorities, figuring out what I wanted to do in progressing in sport. I made the Alberta Summer Games in 2014 for Zone 2, that’s where I realized I could actually become something, where I could grow my skills.

“Once that happened it kind of took off.”

Welton’s ascension in the sport coincided with a move to Okotoks.

After playing a season at the Midget B level, he played A ball for first time as a member of the HOKS – a regional team encompassing Okotoks, High River and Rocky View – where his dad Dave coached. The Hawks won their league banner and Welton went on to represent Team Alberta at the Midget Box Lacrosse Championships in 2016.

As a multi-sport athlete, hitting the gridiron over the past two seasons with the HTA Knights as a safety and slotback was also a boon to his box lacrosse and vice versa.

“Football is so much more structured, so much more system run,” he said. “With football, I was always training, always practicing and I really built my work ethic up so I could transfer that in to lacrosse.”

When a future in lacrosse began to blossom, Junior A was always the destination.

“This has pretty much been my goal. I was never really that good and then I thought I’m going to get serious, grind my butt off,” he said. “Then hopefully make something happen. I’ve been working super hard, taking all my opportunities and trying to make the best of what I get.

“It paid off and it’s so satisfying.”

The Okotokian joins the most successful program in the short history of the Jr. A division.

The Raiders, five-time provincial champions and finalists for eight years running, are annual favourites for the league crown alongside the arch rival Calgary Mountaineers.

“I’m super hyped on the coaching staff,” he said. “It’s one of those programs you look at and say ‘I want to be a part of that.’ Excellent ball players, just something I’ve always looked up to and thought ‘I wish I could play like that.’”

Welton showcased his hard-hitting, physical style at a Raiders open-floor time and during the draft combine at the Saddledome the week prior to selection night.

He had a good feeling he might be wearing Raiders red down the road.

“I went out to one of the Raiders floor times and had a really good tryout and just got a good vibe. I had good talks with the coaches, everything went perfect,” Welton said. “I had a good combine.

“Even though there’s a lot at stake, you’re out there with your friends, out there playing and trying to encompass the whole vibe of the sport.”

The Raiders have been tracking the young athlete for some time.

His strengths should fill some of the team’s deficiencies on the back-end.

“It really stood out that Luke wasn’t afraid of contact, he wasn’t going to shy away from the physical play,” said Raiders head coach/GM Andrew McBride. “That’s something we’ve been lacking. We try to go skill and implement that, but the physicality Luke Welton is going to bring to our lineup for years to come is going to be imposing.”

Work commitments prevented Welton from getting the good news in person at the live draft.

It wasn’t long before he got the message again and again on the mobile.

“I had to work, it was a little bit of a bummer, but you’ve got to add that mystery,” Welton said. “I got a text from my dad … then they just rolled in, all my friends, coaches, everybody.”

Also receiving congratulations is a former and future teammate. High River’s Brendyn Kendall, a goaltender with the HOKS and Team Alberta, was taken in the seventh round by the Raiders.

“He’s a really committed lacrosse goalie,” McBride said. “He plays his angles very well, does a lot of great things in between the pipes. He reacts in a smart manner, we’re impressed with the poise he showed with some of our shooters when he came out.

“It’s a position that’s probably the hardest in lacrosse and whenever you can add some pieces in goaltending it’s going to bode well for our future.”

Rounding out the local contingent, Foothills product Jared Ferris was selected in the seventh round by the Mountaineers.

He joins established defenders in Okotoks’ Ryan McLean and DeWinton’s Tom Fream on the roster.

For the full list of draft results go to rockymountainlax.com

Raiders rush

Registration is underway for the Okotoks Raiders Lacrosse Association for the rapidly approaching minor box lacrosse season.

The Raiders are offering a $100 discount on registration fees for first-time registrants until Feb. 28.

For more information go to okotokslacrosse.com.