Sports | DrumhellerMail

New players pick up sticks for lacrosse season

Registration for the fastest game on two feet has surpassed expectations this season. The Badlands Lacrosse Association is gearing up for the upcoming season with the most fresh faces they have seen.
   Lacrosse registration filled most of the teams, save the Midgets. There were enough participants to fill a mini Tyke, Tyke, Novice, Pee Wee, and there has been a lot of interest in a Junior Team. The Novice and Junior teams are bursting, with 21 and 20 players apiece.
   Last year, all of the teams were filled, the difference being this year there are a tonne more kids new to the sport joining up.
   “I think the registrations went well, thanks to the school visits we had from Jesse Fair,” speculated Ren Dumaine, president of the Badlands Lacrosse Association. “Sometimes the registration forms sent to the schools are not enough.”
   The Alberta Lacrosse Association (ALA) hired Fair to travel across the province and give demonstrations to schools in a bid to generate more interest in the sport. To compliment the ALA’s initiative, the Badlands Lacrosse Association made an appearance at the Sports, Recreation, and Arts Expo in the Badlands Community Facility on March 7.
   “The expo was excellent for us, there was a line up at our booth the whole time. Showing everyone the equipment and parents what the kids need,” said Dumaine.
   Compared to hockey, Dumaine argues that lacrosse can be more accessible for parents.
   “Not everyone can skate, hockey is quite expensive, and the hockey season is longer,” said Dumaine. “It’s cost effective for parents to have their kids try lacrosse.”
   For the near future, the association will be gearing up for the upcoming season, but already have a few plans to bring more lacrosse action to Drumheller.
   “Hopefully we can host a few tournaments in Drumheller, in the arena and Community Facility,” said Dumaine. “We can get people interested if they see it played at that level.”
   Dumaine also speculated that, after the season is underway, there may be room to start a recreation league.
   For more information regarding lacrosse, visit www.badlandslacrosse.com.

Midget Raptors reach semifinals in first provincial tournament experience

After winning the zone championship earlier in the month, the Bertram Drilling/Sports Room Midget Raptors were aiming to add another title to their stellar season, that of provincial champions.
   The Raptors travelled to Manning this past weekend and fought hard against some of the best division C teams in the province, but fell short of their goal.
   “They definitely tried, but things didn’t fall in our favour,” said head coach Darren Toffan. “The boys were down. It was a lot of hockey and the ref wasn’t the greatest.”
   The weekend opened with the Raptors facing off against the Kitscoty Pitbulls in round robin play. The Raptors got off to a huge five goal lead early on, but in the third period the Pitbulls fought back and scored four goals. The Raptors won 8-7, but it was too close for comfort.
   The next morning the Raptors were up against the Rimbey Renegades and were defeated in a heated match.
   The Raptors then faced the host team, the Manning Comets. With the home team crowd prevalent in the arena, the pressure was high for the Raptors, but they came through with a win over the Comets.
   After round robin play was over, the Raptors finished first in their pool and headed to the semifinals, their opponent being the Viking Gas Kings.
   After the first period, the Raptors held on to a narrow 2-1 lead. Unfortunately, it didn’t last as the Gas Kings went on the warpath and defeated the Raptors.
   In the end, the Renegades won the provincial championship.
   Despite losing in the semifinals, the weekend had benefits.
   “It was a good experience for the boys. It was their first time at provincials and they got to see what other teams are like,” said Toffan.
   The season isn’t over for the Raptors. This weekend, the Raptors will be battling the Oyen Bees for the title of league champions.
   The first game is in Oyen on Friday at 8 p.m. Game two will be in the Drumheller Memorial Arena on Saturday, at 8 p.m. A third game, if necessary, will be back in Oyen on Sunday, at 3 p.m.
   “We’re evenly matched and, if the boys bring it together, we can definitely beat them,” said Toffan.

Three’s company for triathlon organizer

   Drumheller has hit the fitness map with the introduction of the Dinosaur Valley Half Marathon and the construction of the Badlands Community Facility. One man wants to add another event to the list.
   Morgan Syvertsen, science camp coordinator at the Royal Tyrrell Museum and fitness buff, is organizing the Valley’s first triathlon, which combines running, swimming, and cycling into one race.
   Syvertsen is a regular face at the Aquaplex and has participated in the Dinosaur Valley Half Marathon. Syvertsen has also done triathlons in the past and found quite a few people here in Drumheller who participate as well.
   “It started with people talking. I’ve met several people who have done triathlons and are planning on doing more. Having done them myself, I thought it would be cool to do our own,” said Syvertsen.
   The large number of physically active residents and the facilities that are here add to the appeal of a Drumheller triathlon.
   “From what I’ve been able to determine, there’s a lot of runners in town, a lot of swimmers, and a lot of people out biking. Why not bring everybody together?” said Syvertsen. “We’ve got a great pool and fantastic places to ride and run.”
   Training for a triathlon is intense, but help is available. Training clinics and days are an option to help less experienced triathletes. Also, one of the ideas being tossed around is bringing coaches in from Calgary to run clinics.
   The addition of the triathlon could help bring more people to the Valley, helping the local economy, and could help put Drumheller more firmly on the physical activity map.
   Looking ahead, Syversten hopes the triathlon could become larger. This year the swim will take place in the Aquaplex, but in subsequent years be moved to a nearby lake should the race take off.
   At the moment, the triathlon needs volunteers and participants. Residents can either race individually or as a team and do either sprint or Olympic distances. June 2 has been scheduled for the triathlon.
   Anyone interested can contact Syvertsen at meistermogie@gmail.com.
   “The reason I do triathlons is that it’s so much fun to cross train like this, you don’t get stuck in a rut,” said Syvertsen. “It’s a good way to balance your overall fitness,”

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