INNISFAIL – The Servus Credit Union Innisfail Peewee B2 Black Phantoms were recently crowned league champions and finished strong at the provincial championships in Calgary.
The provincial tournament took place from July 10 to 14.
"We had some obstacles but we still played really well and we ended up tied for second in the round robin,” said Jon Weddell, assistant coach. “It was really close. We ended up 2-2 on the tournament," he added, noting wins against Calgary and Flagstaff and losses against Lakeland and Grande Prairie.
“It was a four-way tie for second (place) out of a seven team pool (in C division) so it was a very tight competition,” said Weddell, noting four teams from Innsifail went to the provincial championships, including a novice team, two peewee teams (B1 Orange and B2 Black) and a midget team.
Two of those teams had strong finishes at provincials while two teams medalled, including the Novice Phantoms, who won gold and the provincial championship and the Peewee B1 Orange Phantoms, who won a silver medal in the C division on Sunday, July 14.
"It was a big, big accomplishment for them,” said Weddell of the Peewee B2 Orange Phantoms' success.
“Overall, of the four teams that went we had two teams that just missed the final by a hair and we had a team that won gold with the novice and a silver with the orange peewees.
"It was a pretty successful weekend for Innisfail Minor Lacrosse," he added.
Weddell said that despite their finish at provincials, the Peewee B2 Black Phantoms were thrilled to have the successful season they did.
That included being undefeated in the regular season and downing the Blackfalds Warriors 5-2 in the gold medal game at the Central Alberta Lacrosse League (CALL) championships in Stettler at the end of June.
“We beat a very tough Blackfalds team in the final,” said Len Istace, head coach, noting the win was a full team effort with hard work and smart play.
It was the perfect ending to an outstanding season, he noted.
“We went undefeated (in league play) this season. It was a great year for those kids,” said Istace, adding there were two peewee B teams this year, inlcuding the Peewee B1 Orange Phantoms and Peewee B2 Black Phantoms.
This season's Peewee B2 Black Phantoms had 13 runners and one goaltender on the team.
“Six of those 14 kids had never played organized lacrosse before the beginning of this year,” said Weddell.
It was also a record-breaking season for the association with a total of eight teams from mini-tyke to midget with 116 registered players.
“This is the most kids Innisfail Minor Lacrosse has ever registered and it’s the most teams that Innisfail Minor Lacrosse has ever declared across the association,” Weddell concluded.
