INNISFAIL – When Griffin Hall entered the gymnasium at St. Marguerite Bourgeoys Catholic School he was immediately struck by the scores of kids frolicking back and forth with their lacrosse sticks.
Hall is a professional lacrosse player with the Calgary Roughnecks of the National Lacrosse League and came to Innisfail with teammate Bennett Smith on Jan. 15 to support the Innisfail Minor Lacrosse Association’s (IMLA) annual Try-It Night for its upcoming season that mark’s its 25th anniversary.
“They (IMLA) were saying last year there was 35 kids total, and I just had a peek in there and I think there's about 60, and that's just the younger age group,” said Hall. “Just from last year that's insane growth.”
Hall said it was important for him and Smith to be at the event to share their knowledge of the game, and inspire the next generation of lacrosse players.
“It's an awesome sport, and in some of the smaller communities it's not quite as big as it could be,” he said. “We all love it, so we're just trying to grow the game.”
Both Hall and Smith donned their Roughnecks jerseys to meet the excited kids who were clearly overjoyed to meet professional lacrosse players.
“Every day I pick up a stick I feel lucky to play lacrosse as a career. I was surrounded by some great people,” said Smith. “Griffin and I are here today to give back, grow the game, and share some experiences.”
The Try-It Night, arranged by Patrick Teskey, IMLA’s director of public relations and fundraising, and with help from volunteers, was designed to attract current and potential young Phantoms players for the IMLA’s six divisions from U7 to U17.
In the 2023/24 season the IMLA had 10 teams in the six divisions and a total of 155 registered players.
“We're very excited about our 25th anniversary. Our club has really grown over the years. I've obviously been around for a long time in the club, and it's nice to see we now have multiple teams in some of the divisions and a really solid core group of great members and volunteers,” said IMLA president Kari Flaws, whose family of five boys are all lacrosse players.
“This is just a Try-It Night for new kids and other kids that have already been involved in the program,” she added. “The Roughnecks are coming tonight to try and get awareness in the community that we're here.”
She said the upcoming IMLA season will start with practices in March with regular league games in the Central Alberta Lacrosse League beginning in April.
Along with the regular season the IMLA will be hosting two events in 2025; The Terror of the Tykes Festival from May 9 to 1, and the Gauntlet at the Grove Tournament from May 30 to June 1.
The IMLA also attempts to fit in two road trips for teams in each division to attend out-of-town tournaments.
The typical IMLA season is completed by the end of June.
“This is a good time for everybody to come and give it a whirl, and they can get their equipment, get all scheduled, get arranged, and start the season off on the right foot,” said Flaws, adding interested young players could register on Jan. 15 for the upcoming season.
She said lacrosse, Canada's national summer sport since 1994, is rapidly growing in the town and region in part because the regular season is held in the nicer spring and summer months where travel is easier.
Flaws added the fees and equipment requirements are lower than in other team sports.
“The goal our board has this year is to try and grow the club and grow the sport for families and kids to be happy playing lacrosse and ultimately have fun but in a fashion where we're successful at the same time,” said Flaws. “Hopefully everybody leaves with a good feeling at the end of the season.”
