Lakeland Lacrosse hopes to begin practices soon

Lakeland Heat Lacrosse is hoping to fire up this week.

After the local lacrosse association couldn’t hold a season last year due to public health restrictions, there is optimism to have something for the players to do this time around.

“We’re hoping maybe to start next week with practices of eight kids. The league was projected to start May 1 anyways…maybe we can still start May 1 or May 15,” said president Mike Groves Friday on the start of minor lacrosse leagues.

“We definitely want to have a season versus not, just because lacrosse is kind of a secondary sport.”

Provincials is a no-go for 2021, with Lakeland Lacrosse gearing up to host U6-U17 levels of provincial competition now in 2022, said Groves.

Junior B lacrosse is also in limbo, since many of the players are over 18-years-old, and the government rules currently do not allow for adult sports. The season start date is tentatively April 24.

As the extended hockey season wraps up, more playing surfaces will become available. Ice will be coming out of one of the two rinks in the Energy Centre and Field House renovations will allow for practices for both Cold Lake and Bonnyville.

The North Arena will not be used this year because of ongoing renovations to the facility, but it’s an optimistic trend for lacrosse in the future.

“We will be getting it [North Arena] in 2022 which is exciting,” said Groves.

Depending on guidelines, if the season is forced to start later, there will be discussion on extending the season into July and perhaps matching up against teams in southern Alberta.

“We’re just trying to be optimistic and look at different avenues of where the league is and where we’re going to be and what we can do to maintain lacrosse and in both Lakeland and Wheatland leagues,” said Groves.

Lakeland Lacrosse is in talks with AHS on what the rules will be when they forge ahead with practices.

Registrations remain open at Wheatland Lacrosse’s website.