For the first time in a long time, the Lacoka Lacrosse program has developed a bantam female team.
The girls will play the 2016 season in the Edmonton lacrosse league, says Lacoka president Mike Wood. While numbers are looking good, similar to last season, the league executive is pleased with this new development.
“The biggest thing is our girls … that’s the most exciting part of the association this year,” said Wood.
Not to take away from the other teams in the league who usually place well in league and provincials, the feeling is bringing a female lacrosse team opens up the doors to new horizons for players.
Wood says in the United States colleges and universities are reaching out to lacrosse leagues across North America with scholarship options to field lacrosse. Experience in box lacrosse, what is played in Lacoka’s program, is considered an asset.
Growth potential in the field and female lacrosse leagues is quite high and Wood is excited to see how this can benefit players. “We’re fielding three or four emails per month from the United States looking for female lacrosse players.”
With warmer weather, the field lacrosse program is relatively large in the United States and Wood says box players in the female program, bring a more aggressive approach to the sport.
As for the rest of the teams, league has just started as players prepare themselves for the July 10 provincials weekend.
“Lacoka always is at the top of the league,” said Wood.
The peewee program has grown to three teams this year and the coaches are passionate about developing players by working to continue the mini tyke and tyke programs.
All league games will be held in Ponoka this year while Lacombe’s Barnett arena goes through some improvements.