Airdrie will play a big part in the fortunes of Zone 2's boys' lacrosse team at the 2023 Alberta Summer Games, with six local players set to don the maroon jerseys at the upcoming tournament in Okotoks.
Seven members from the Airdrie-based Rockyview Rage U15A boys' team, including six from Airdrie, will be in action as the games get underway in Okotoks this week.
“I think it’s a pretty big opportunity to show off and showcase the sport,” said Josh Armstrong, a Bert Church High School student and the captain of the Zone 2 boys' lacrosse team. “It’ll be pretty fun.”
Apart from Armstrong, the other Zone 2 boys' lacrosse players from Airdrie's Rockyview Lacrosse Association include Cole Boehmer, Jake Landry, Liam Martin, Landry Mitton, and Kaece Sills. Springbank's Sheldon Cairney is also on the Zone 2 team and the Rage.
The 2023 Alberta Summer Games are taking place from July 20 to 23. Approximately 3,000 athletes representing eight "zones" from throughout Alberta will be in action across a variety of different sports. Airdrie-area athletes all compete for the Zone 2 team, which extends as far west as Banff, as far north as Olds, as far east as Brooks, and as far south as High River.
The multi-sport games intend to mimic the Olympics, with an opening ceremony kicking off the event and the hordes of competitors (ranging in age from 11 to 17) staying in designated athletes' villages set up at Okotoks-area schools throughout the weekend.
While the Calgary and Edmonton zone teams (3 and 5) tend to be the favourites in many team sports, Armstrong said he feels positively about Zone 2's chances of securing the gold medal in boys' lacrosse. He said the squad, which includes players from a few different lacrosse associations in south-central Alberta, has come together really well.
“We’ve all come from different teams but we’re all one team now, and it’s really nice,” he said, noting the tryouts were held in late April and that the finalized roster has trained and played together regularly since then.
“I think our team is definitely the most combined team,” he concluded.
Someone who would probably agree with that sentiment is Al Houghton, the head coach of the Zone 2 boys' team. The long-time lacrosse coach commended Armstrong and his teammates for gelling so quickly.
“These kids, they’re all very motivated and their focus is to go to the summer games and perform,” said Houghton, who also coaches the Calgary Mounties Junior A team and a competitive U17 squad from the HOCS association, comprised of players from High River, Okotoks, and Strathmore.
“They’ve worked hard to come together as a team. We don’t see any city splits like, ‘Oh, this guy is from there so we don’t talk to you.’ The team has come together just “fantastically.”
Houghton said Airdrie's high number of players on the Zone 2 team is a testament to the Rage U15A's successful 2023 season, which has seen the team pick up a number of wins and accolades.
“We have some great players from Airdrie,” he said, highlighting the fact that Armstrong was selected as captain. “That Airdrie team has gone very well this season.
“I hope this group of kids brings that forward and we carry on to win gold at the summer games.”
For scores, schedules, medal standings, and other sport-specific info once the 2023 Alberta Summer Games are underway, visit 2023asg.com
