Head coach Harold Albrecht knows the Red Deer Rage is one of the top senior women’s lacrosse teams in the province, and if they lose a few games he’s not worried this early in the Rocky Mountain Lacrosse League season.
Albrecht has six new players on his 21-player roster and he’s making sure they get a change to play in all situations.
“We could go with our veteran players more, but we’re not going to do that. The new players need a chance to play in every situation so that by the end of the season they’re comfortable no matter when we use them,” explained Albrecht. “We’re a bit slow off the mark as we allow the new girls a chance to catch up, but they have to learn and that’s happening quickly. They all love the game and are working hard.
“Last season we didn’t have as big a roster and we played the vets more, but by the end of the season they’ll all be veterans.”
Albrecht likes what he sees from the new players and the way they fit in with the veterans.
“It’s a very tight group, they help each other out no matter what they’re doing,” said Albrecht. “That helps a lot when they’re playing the game.”
Albrecht has been with the main core of the team for close to eight years, since they got into junior.
“It’s a good group of girls, who know each other and really they run the team. . . . they self manage it.”
Janelle Sullivan is the manager and works a lot with Leah Boucher, who isn’t playing this year because of an ankle injury, Sam Lissack and Deanna Hume.
Janelle, along with sister Janessa Sullivan, Katie and Kyla Court, Hayley deBeaudrap, Hume, Lissack, Courtney Mastel, and Amanda Waters have been together for several years.
Several of the players — Tahliah Deans, Paige Farries, Torie Goings and Katie Court could still be playing junior.
“The thing is we don’t have enough players for a junior team, nor enough to run a good senior team without the juniors, so the easiest way was to combine them into a senior team,” explained Albrecht. “I know some figure the juniors should have their own team, but really the way the league is set up the junior teams play the senior teams anyway, so it’s not that big of a deal.”
Marlo Davis, Heather Hume, Sam Sperber, Michelle Kristian, Chantal MacIsaac, Jasmine Pelham, Lisa Robinson, Vanda Schesnuk and Lisa Suarez round out the roster. Davis is out with a broken collarbone and Suarez has an ankle injury.
Katie Court is the only goaltender on the roster, and she’s one of the best in the league.
“She’s very good and she loves the position,” said Albrecht, whose squad has a 2-2 record after Saturday’s 6-4 loss to the Calgary Cougars.
They also lost 6-5 in overtime to the Cougars.
The Edmonton Bandits are the only other senior team in the league so they play an interlocking schedule against the six junior teams.
l In junior B tier II boys’ action Sunday, the Red Deer Sword Transport Revenge downed the homestanding Calgary Rockies 9-7.
Taylor Campbell and Karsten Banack scored twice each with James Smith, Brock Forbes, Troy Klaus, Jordan Hemstad and Mitch Giele adding single markers. Orin Farries recorded the win in net.
l In senior C league play Friday the Red Deer IFR Workwear Silverbacks, who play in Blackfalds, downed the Calgary Bowman 11-10 in overtime Friday.
Geordin Flett scored twice, including the overtime winner, to go with two assists. Justin Kinnear had three goals and an assist, while Myles Nadon had a goal and three helpers.
Single goals were added by Adam Reynolds, Josh Brown, Matt Howard, Ray Williams, Tyler McRobbie.
drode@www.reddeeradvocate.com