The first-ever junior B lacrosse team draft in Olds was really successful, according to Gary Gaudette, who along with Andy Sweetman manages two lacrosse teams in town.
The draft was held Feb. 9 at Boston Pizza.
"We drafted 20 players. We're allowed 45 guys on our protected list until April 11 and then we have to bring it down to 35," Gaudette told the Albertan.
The draft was for the Mavericks, who move up to tier I from tier II. The Stingers, who don't draft, rise to Tier III from Tier II.
"I think we got some players who will do well for us," Gaudette said. "We actually got players that we wanted, so it was actually a good draft for us. We made a few trades as well, so it went well."
The Mavericks got the first overall pick and took Marshall Bloomfield of Bowden.
"He brings a lot of talent to the team. He played with us – must be second year. We called him up the year before as well, as a midget. He played really well; fit in nicely with the team," Gaudette said. He's a great scorer. So yeah, he was a good fit. Everybody wanted him."
Gaudette noted Bloomfield has also been drafted to the Junior A Mountaineers.
"He's still part of their protected list. He probably won't be playing for them this year, but he can go up and practise with them and stuff like that. Looks like he'll be staying and playing with us for the season," he said.
The season for both teams starts in April.
Gaudette is looking forward to good things from the Stingers.
"I believe they're going to be in the hunt for provincial championships again," he said.
"The Mavericks, they're going to do really well as well. I don't think they're going to be up there, but we're hoping to do about .500. We're going to be very competitive. If we do better than that, then we'll be great."
This year, Gaudette and Sweetman will be co-coaching the Stingers and Colby Bannister, a trainer with the Grizzlys Junior A hockey team, will be coaching the Mavericks.
Gaudette said to his knowledge, this will mark the first time Bannister has coached lacrosse at this level, but he has played the game at a very high level, having played Junior A lacrosse in Edmonton and St. Catherines, Ont.
"He knows the sport; he knows what he's doing. So yeah, we think he's going to be a good fit," Gaudette said.
Gaudette said he and Sweetman figured they needed someone with good credentials to coach the Mavericks because they're competing in a higher tier this year.
"We figured we needed somebody with more experience who has actually played the game at a high level. We figured he'd be a good fit for it," he said.
"Should be a good season," Gaudette added. "I'm looking forward to it; should be a lot of fun."
"I think we got some players who will do well for us," Gaudette said. "We actually got players that we wanted, so it was actually a good draft for us. We made a few trades as well, so it went well."
GARY GAUDETTE
CO-MANAGER
