Two local lacrosse players helped push Team Alberta to gold status in the recent Box Lacrosse Nationals.
Karlee Feragen and Brooklyn Raine marked the victory last month, and it was all the sweeter as Team Alberta landed gold last year as well.
This year's event, the U22 Junior Women's Box Lacrosse Nationals, was held Aug. 10-17 in Regina.
"It was a bit different than last year. In 2023, there were about 12 girls who had tried out, and the rest were recruited. This year, it was completely the opposite - more than 30 girls tried out from all over the province," said Feragen, who is from Ponoka. Ages on the the team ranged from 16 to 21.
Coaching staff has remained for same for Team Alberta for the past two years as well, including Robin Finley, Cory Redwood, and Blaine Raine.
It all makes for a steady and winning formula, she noted, adding a bolstered skill level also helped to vaunt the team to success.
"Last year, we won through heart and grit, and I would say it was the same thing this year, except we have some girls who are playing on Team Canada and the World Championships later this year.
"We also ended up going four to zero in the round robin, so that was pretty unheard of at this level of lacrosse."
They went on to bulldoze the competition and ultimately snapped up the gold. Overall, by the end of the event, they ended up six-zero.
"Every year is different. It gets more competitive," she said of what continues to make lacrosse her number one sport. She's been honing her skills in lacrosse for about 10 years now.
"There is a lot of drive with lacrosse, and a lot of commitment. And there are a lot more opportunities than people might think," she said, adding she has friends in the U.S. who are excelling in field lacrosse (the sport's outdoor version).
"I've also met some of my best friends through sport, and a lot of them through lacrosse. That's the biggest part for me - I just enjoy the people. Obviously I love playing it, but getting to play with my best friends is the biggest thing for me," she explained.
"I grew up playing boys' lacrosse, through elementary school," she recalled. "My friend's dad had introduced me to it. I basically just fell in love with it, and have never stopped.
"I've also played hocked for 14 years now, too. Throughout the winter, I am always playing hockey and coaching it as well. And then I switch over to lacrosse. That has always been my duo - hockey and lacrosse."
As to female participation in the sport, things have moved forward by leaps and bounds over the past several years.
There are numerous leagues for girls, including The Ruckus - a team based based here in Central Alberta.
Meanwhile, the sport continues to gain popularity overall internationally, too. Feragen said in the U.S., field lacrosse is the big focus - not box lacrosse (the sport's indoor version).
Here at home, there is certainly a historical richness to the sport as well According to Lacrosse Canada, the sport of Lacrosse is an intrinsic part of Canadian culture, tradition and heritage.
"The recognition of Lacrosse as the national game for Canada in 1859 was a positive statement of the contributions of the sport to this nation's development."
