New and seasoned lacrosse players from Innisfail will hit the floor beginning April 2 at the Bowden Igloo. This year, with 90 registrants, the Innisfail Minor Lacrosse Association has enough players to enter a team in every division.
“It's a super inclusive sport,” said scheduler Marlane Quinton. “If you can run you can play. Most kids can run.”
The Eye Opener tournament is the first big faceoff of the year and will take place in Red Deer from April 12-14.
The association is boosting its mentorship program this year, trying to engage older players to help coach the less experienced players.
“We really want to try to develop our players to be the best they can be,” she said. “There is a lot of give back in that community.”
This is the first year Elek Himer, 13, will help out with the Innisfail Minor Lacrosse Association as a volunteer and mentor.
“I just want to kind of give back to Innisfail,” he said. “They helped me with the basics.”
Himer says he's looked up to lacrosse players like Calgary Roughnecks captain Andrew McBride who has come to Innisfail several times for skills camps and now wants to set a positive example for the newer players himself.
“I want to be a leader out there,” he said. “I just want to teach the little kids.”
The youth from Innisfail was recently selected as just one of three import players the Red Deer Bantam A team is allowed to accept this year.
Lacrosse is a game that can be enjoyed by almost anyone, but for Himer the sport's rich history is particularly meaningful.
“It's the creator's game,” said Himer. “The old people played it since pretty much the beginning of time.”
He says he's always been taught to respect the creator and the gifts he gives.
“The lacrosse gifts are running, speed, strength, agility and size,” he said. “I've been fortunate enough to have those gifts throughout my career.”
While playing field lacrosse with the Okotoks Mustangs, Himer has travelled to Phoenix, San Diego and Las Vegas and he's been to nationals twice with Team Alberta.
“It's not what I like about it,” he said. “It's what I can do with it.”
Himer enjoys the mental and physical aspects of lacrosse and wants to focus on getting faster with each game and practice.
“For me it just clears my mind,” he said. “It's a fast-paced game.”
Innisfail lacrosse players will have a chance to do that when their practices begin in Bowden until the Innisfail Twin Arena is available once the ice is taken out after Hockey Alberta provincials. The minor lacrosse association had hoped to use one of the public school gyms as an interim facility as in previous years, but were shut down in their attempts to book the facility by the school board which cited concerns of facility damage.
Innisfail will host its own tournament called Spirit of the Sticks tournament in June. Organizers expect the event will bring in around 40 teams and 600 athletes.
The lacrosse association is still accepting registration in some divisions. Interested players can find out more at www.innisfaillacrosse.com.
