There are a few changes for lacrosse players in Olds as they gear up for a new season, which starts the weekend of April 26.
This year, a senior C Stingers team will play, in addition to the Mavericks, who moved up to tier I from tier II last year and the Stingers, who rose from tier III to tier II.
The tier I Mavericks and tier II Stingers are both for players age 16 to 21. The senior C Stingers are for players age 22 and up.
Also, the teams are housed under one newly created organization, the Mountain View Lacrosse Association.
The Mavericks' regular season ends on the July 15 weekend. The tier II Stingers' regular season ends in mid June and the senior C regular season ends on July 7. Playoffs follow after that.
"Actually the tier I team could go to nationals if we do well enough for that. So it would be the middle of July for that. Two weeks of playoffs, then a week for provincials, then the winner of provincials goes to nationals, which this year is in Winnipeg, and that's in the middle of August," coach Andy Sweetman says.
"Some of these guys have been on the floor since early March and they could not quit playing again till almost the end of August, if we do well enough for the tier I team."
Sweetman says the tier I team experienced some growing pains last season.
"We played tier II so long with that team that we were stuck in a tier II mentality," he says. "So what happened to us last year is we were very competitive period one and period two. And period three we were always within a goal ahead or tied going into the third period.
"We played 18 or 20 games last year -- 20 games I think. Sixteen of those games we were within a goal — tied or ahead — going into the third period and we lost the majority of them because we just ran out of steam.
"That's where we've got to figure that out this year and get up to that level. I think now most of these guys -- we lost five guys last year because they aged out. But I think the majority of the group know what they have to do this year.
"So this year we're anticipating playoffs for sure. Last year we were hoping to be competitive; be around the .500 mark. We were a little under the .500 mark but we were still competitive, so we're happy with that."
The tier II Stingers made playoffs last season, but lost in the first round to High River, the team that finished second overall.
"This year we're expecting about the same," Sweetman says.
"The Stingers this year are going to (have) a few more first-year kids on it than last year. We had quite a few veterans on the team last year who helped guide the way. We've lost a couple of those guys. Some guys aren't coming back for work issues, some guys just aren't coming back.
"So we're going to have a younger team, which could mean both things. They will do really well and they'll just gel together and play really good lacrosse. Or B, they'll just squeak into the playoffs.
"We're lucky in Olds that most of our kids are fairly well qualified. Their skill levels are really good. So even if they're not super high-level lacrosse players, they can still get by and make the team look good, especially in our league. There are a couple of weaker teams in the league."
Colby Bannister coached the tier I Mavericks last year and will do so again this year.
Laine Foshaug of Didsbury coached the Stingers last year and will do so again — as well as play for the senior C Stingers from time to time.
"We found a couple of guys to help him out this year as well," Sweetman says.
The senior C team will be kind of coached by committee.
"It's probably going to be me plus a couple of other guys," Sweetman says. "The senior C league allows you to have a player-coach. So you don't have to actually have somebody on the bench the whole time, as long as somebody on the floor has their certification to coach."
"I'm really excited for the season to start," says Mountain View Lacrosse Association manager Gary Gaudette.
"Having two junior teams and a senior team in a small community such as Olds is something that the organization should be proud of.
"We are always trying to find ways of keeping people involved in this amazing sport and the latest is our acceptance of the senior team into the Rocky Mountain Lacrosse League.
"Andy and I have both been involved in lacrosse together within Olds for about 12 years and we have watched the organization grow from 55 players to between 150 and 160."
