The Red Deer Renegades had a successful opening weekend to the Rocky Mountain Lacrosse League (RMLL) season.
In Junior B Tier II action, Red Deer opened their season on Friday night with a 10-7 victory over the St. Albert Crude at the G.H. Dawe Community Centre.
They wrapped up the weekend with an exclamation point on Saturday evening when they edged the Lloydminster Xtreme 7-6 in overtime.
With the game tied 4-4 in the third period, the two teams went goal for goal before ending the frame all square at six. In overtime, Red Deer’s Tanner Kotowich ripped a shot past the Xtreme’s goaltender to carry the team to victory.
Head coach Mike Clark said it was Kotowich’s first goal since he last played a few years ago. To say the goal was huge for him would be an understatement.
“It’s very exciting for him,” Clark said. “I think he shouldn’t have shot it but it went in so he gets a pass.”
Clark added that the Renegades played better as the game went on. Just two games in they’re still working on playing better as a team.
Red Deer had seven players age out after last season and has welcomed 12 new faces to the squad.
“We have a lot of new kids on the team. We lost quite a few who aged out and went up to Tier I so we’ve had to replace a lot. The boys are coming along really well,” he said.
“Today (Saturday) was better than yesterday. Teamwise, yesterday was really sloppy trying to get our feet under us and all. The boys are coming along just the way we want them to. It’s still early.”
This year the Renegades have high expectations. They hope to finish at least in the top four in the standings but are gunning for a spot in the top two.
Finishing in the top two would secure a first-round bye in the playoffs, which begin in mid-July. However, all that matters is getting a spot in the postseason and provincials.
Just last season the Renegades fell to the Crude in round one of the playoffs in Game 2 of the best-of-three series.
“It’s not even the same team we had. We have kind of a fresh start here with a lot of new guys, a lot of rookies. We have a lot of potential.”
In Junior B Tier I action, the Red Deer Rampage started the year on a positive note with a 9-6 victory over the Calgary Chill.
Jack Walton, Dallon McAllister and Traford Couchman each scored a pair of goals for Red Deer, while Tayvian Pike, Isaac Tisdale and Ryan Antonishyn each added one.