Lacrosse season is quickly coming to an end for the Innisfail Minor Lacrosse Association (IMLA) except for the midget Phantoms, also known as X-treme Energy.
The midget X-treme Energy team, coached by J.T. Thompson, played two gruelling days of lacrosse on June 22 and 23 in Red Deer at the Central Alberta zone playoffs to emerge as gold medal champions over the Olds Stingers.
“Playoffs were held in Red Deer on the weekend of the 22nd,” said Marlane Quinton, vice-president of the IMLA. “Every team played double knockout, which is a tough format to come out of if you have a tough draw for the first game. With the exception of the midgets, whose players are aged 15 to16, our other teams did not finish in the medals and qualify for provincials.”
Despite not making medals, Quinton was pleased with the efforts of all teams.
“Some of our teams accomplished an amazing amount of growth and skill development,” said Quinton. “The main goal of our group is to have our players develop a love for the game and move up after they finish with us. I think we have been able to instill that.”
Thompson's midget team had a tough playoff run.
Playing the Kneehill Bulldogs first, they prevailed 7-6 in a close match that saw the winning goal scored with only seven seconds left by the Innisfail squad.
As the Stingers had previously defeated the Innisfail team, they had to play two games despite the fact the Phantoms had already played four games in the tournament.
In the first game of the double knockout matches, the Innisfail squad took the Stingers 7-6 in an overtime game that tested both teams.
The second game was not quite as close, 10 - 6 for the Phantoms. The win gave the Innisfail team the gold medal home and notched their ticket to the provincials for the weekend of July 4 to 6 in and around Edmonton.
With the midget team still celebrating its victory, the IMLA held its annual year-end windup party at Centennial Park on June 24 amidst a rain-soaked evening attended by more than 100 players and families.
Awards and medals for Most Improved Player, Most Valuable Offensive man and Most Valuable Defensive man were presented to players from the mini-tykes to the midget team, with coaches saluting highlights from their seasons.
“Our players are ready to move up to the next level of competition,” said Dean Strauss, coach of the mini-tykes as he presented medals to his players. “It was a good season.”
Information on the IMLA can be found on its website at www.innisfaillacrosse.com
