A rivalry appears to be brewing between the Red Deer Rampage and Olds Mavericks.
The Rampage topped the Mavericks 16-8 in the second game of the Rocky Mountain Lacrosse League Junior B Tier I season.
When the two squads met Sunday at the Kinex it was a battle from the start.
Red Deer, one of the top teams in the Junior B ranks last year, pulled away in the third period and improved their record to 3-1 on the season with the 16-7 victory.
“It was a fun game especially with them in their first year,” said Rampage Matt Giele, a 20-year veteran.
“Both teams want to win that kind of game. In our home barn. They especially want to push us.”
The Rampage powered through to the win with a flurry of goals in the final frame, scoring three times in less than two minutes after the Mavericks cut the deficit to 7-6 early in the period.
Rampage head coach Trey Christensen said his team is going after the ball and not waitign for the ball to come to them.
“That’s how we should be playing for a full sixty,” he said.
Both Elijah Johanson and Connor Shantz had hat tricks for Red Deer. Ben Arifin, Logan Clarkson and Kaden Christensen each added a pair of goals, while Giele, Logan Elliot, Riley Woytas and Sheridan Cook added singles.
For Olds, Kyle Galisky had a hat trick and Matthew Gaudette added a pair. Caden Switzer and Marshall Bloomfield also scored for the Mavericks.
This year is the first season for Olds in the RMLL Junior B Tier I ranks. Although they’ve yet to pick up a win this season in five games, they hung tough for two periods.
“We came out flying and with a good game plan and they did what they were told to do,” said Mavericks head coach Colby Bannister.
“Just like every other game simple breakdowns catch up to us. Baby steps, we’re moving up to the Tier I league and as soon as we can get through the baby steps we’ll be a great team. It’s not going to be as easy as they thought it was going to be. Transition is the biggest thing. They aren’t used to that step up, transition game. It’s catching us a lot.”
Christensen said he’s already seen a big jump from game two for the Mavericks and expects they’ll keep improving as the season wears on.
“They’re taking their bumps and bruises now, but they’re a lot better than the last time we played them. They’re steadily improving,” he said.
The next home game for the Rampage is May 27 at the Kinex. Olds will be back at the Sportsplex on May 31.
Email sports tips to Byron Hackett
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