It’s been a slow start to the Rocky Mountain Junior B Tier II Lacrosse League season for the Red Deer Weatherford Renegades, but assistant coach Jamie Achtemichuk feels the team is headed in the right direction.
The Renegades ran their record to 2-7 with a 12-8 victory over the Calgary Rockies at the Kinex Saturday afternoon.
“It’s a big win . . . one we needed,” said Achtemichuk, who handled coaching duties with head coach Jess Chimmery away.
“It’s been a frustrating and tough start to the season, and it has a lot to do with a lack of commitment by the players to make it out to practice. But this is the most skilled team we’ve had and we’re starting to play together and we’re excited about that.”
One of the major problems affecting the team was the loss of starting goaltender Chris Amell, who is likely out for the season. That left Jarrin Horn to carry the load.
But the Renegades added Jesse Thomblin to the roster and he was in goal Saturday.
“Jesse played midget B last year and wasn’t playing this year,” explained Achtemichuk. “He’s a friend of one of our players and we were able to get him out and start him today. It takes a load off Jarrin’s shoulders.”
The Renegades had 13 players back from last year, including both original goaltenders.
“We have a solid base and some excellent players coming up from midget,” said Achtemichuk. “We’ve been very happy with the midget players. They stepped right in and carried their share of the load.”
Londyn Chu, Jordy Hogan and Ryan Matejka are three of the returning players, who have stepped up to be the team leaders.
Thomas Baggaley, Mark Blain, Dion Daoust, Lucas Deibert, Vaughn Makey, Justin Moltzahn, Dylan Shirreff and Daniel Strowbridge round out the veterans on the roster.
Daoust is one of the team’s leading scorers along with rookie Dylan Thudium and Chu.
“We have good balance and the ability to score,” said Achtemichuk.
The other first-year players are Zachary Aslin, Mark Beingessner, Dana Daoust, Austin Johanson, Ryan Margetts, Brett Matejka, Sam Ryan, James Schorr, Braden Sparks and Brady Thudium.
The Renegades will need to get on a roll to make the playoffs, but that’s not out of reach stressed Achtemichuk.
“We can still make a playoff run . . . it means a lot of hard work, but the boys know that,” he said.
The Renegades lost two of their top players from last year — Scott Ebbert and Mitch Vellner — to the Junior B Tier I Rampage.
“But that’s OK,” said Achtemichuk. “The idea is to have a feeder system all way through. Next year there’s another very good crop of midget players coming up and I can see us fielding some tier III teams, which would be a feeder system for tier II. It’s exciting.”
Margetts had three goals and three assists for the Renegades against the Rockies with Dylan Thudium adding two goals and two helpers. Brady Thudium added two goals with singles coming from Shirreff, Dana Daoust, Ryan, Moltzahn and Sparks.
The Renegades held a 48-36 edge in shots on goal.
l In other tier II play, the Innisfail Yetti downed the Red Deer Sword Transport Revenge 14-12 at the Kinex Saturday.
Ryan McColm led the Yetti with five goals while Reid Swier added four, Spencer Wilkie two and Graham Russell, Stuart Bell and Connor Ablett one each.
Troy Klaus had three goals for the Revenge with Skylar Sargeant, Karsten Banack and Ryan Svederus potting two each and Mitchell Giele and Jordan Hemstad one apiece.
l The Red Deer Rampage won a pair of games, beating the Edmonton Warriors 10-9 Friday and the Rockyview Silvertips 12-5 Saturday.
The Rampage scored eight unanswered third-period goals to down the Warriors.
Davis Reykdal scored four times with Spencer Lee adding a goal and two assists and John Goranson, Cole deGraaf and Pearce Just a goal and an assist. Tucker Dougherty and Tyler Gauthier had single goals.
Reykdal had three goals and two assists, Lee two goals and three helpers and Ebbert two goals and one assist against the Silvertips.
DeGraaf had a goal and three assists, Goranson a goal and two helpers and Just a goal and an assist. Vellner and Adrian Dreschler had one goal each and Pat Vellner two helpers.
drode@www.reddeeradvocate.com