After a very successful 2018 campaign, the Rockyview Junior 'B' Silvertips lacrosse team is back on the turf and looking to build on their success from last season.
The 'Tips came out of the forrest to surprise everyone else in the Rocky Mountain Lacrosse League (RMLL) as they won four of their first six games before finishing off the season 11-8-1, their first winning season in franchise history while also qualifying for the playoffs. While the team dropped out in the first round of playoffs with back-to-back losses to the Calgary Chill, the team vastly improved on their 5-15 record from the previous season and proved to the rest of the league that they weren't going to be pushed over anymore.
The group should have the majority of their roster back from last season as team captain Nolan Morrison is the only graduating player leaving the team. While the final roster hasn't been finalized, newly named head coach Derrick said the team is shaping up before their first regular season game on April 27.
"I think they're looking good. We have a lot of rookies coming in who I believe can make an immediate impact," Henry said. "We still have our final cuts to make but we're waiting for the Junior A teams to set their rosters but I think we'll be good either way, regardless if some guys step up to A.
"We had a couple preseason games on April 3 and 12. The game on the 3rd was purely a rookie game with the Junior B Mounties where both teams played all their rookies to give them a taste of junior ... it was good to see where those guys were at and where they need to develop in order to fit in with our veterans. Then the game last week was against Olds after our first round of cuts have been made ... the team looks good, they just need to gel a bit more which will come when we finalize the roster. There were good things and areas we need to improve on but overall I liked what I saw."
"The veteran players have been great with the rookies, just showing them how to compete and the way we want to play each and every game."
Henry also believes its important for the team to build off last season's success.
"I think it's fairly important. Now that we're kind of open to the Calgary draft the last couple years, we're only going to get more competitive. Having a winning season is only going to help attract more players who will want to be part of your program when your drafting," Henry said.
"But also for the guys who have been there for three to five years, you want them to finish out their junior career on a winning note and have them compete in the playoffs and hopefully provincials if we can ... I think it's important to go out and show everyone that they're part of the group that helped build this program up."
The 'Tips will take to the road and travel to Sherwood Park for their season opener against the Outlaws, a team the Silvertips beat 24-5 last season.
"I'd like to see everything come together. By the time we get to our first game we'll have played in four preseason games so we should be pretty ready to play," Henry said.
"All the rust should be shaken off and obviously we'd like to win but I'd just like to see the group come together ... we'll start off with an overnight bus trip so the guys can really bond which I think will help us at the start of the year and I think that's really important. I want to see them compete and work hard with the result being whatever the result will be. As long as we work hard and execute what we've been working on the last couple weeks, we'll be just fine. I know the boys are itching to get out and play in a regular season game so it should be good."
The game will start at 5 p.m.
