Two hometown boys are looking forward to representing their community when the Okotoks Junior A Raiders host the Minto Cup in 2011.

“Okotoks is where I wanted to play,” Raiders defencman Mitch Banister said. “I thought I would have to go to B.C. in order to play in the Minto Cup.

Okotoks Raider Mitch Banister heads down the floor in the team's victory over the Calgary Senior Knights on Friday. Banister and teammate Cam Copland are looking forward to playing in the Minto Cup in their hometown in 2011.

“This is an opportunity to showcase my talent and our team right in my hometown. We can show people how good lacrosse is here.”

The Raiders put in bid to host the 2011 Minto Cup last fall and the organization heard it received the bid at a Canadian Lacrosse Association meeting in Saskatoon on May 31.

The Minto Cup is the championship for Junior A lacrosse in Canada. The teams consist of the champions in the Rocky Mountain Lacrosse League (Alberta) and provincial champions from Ontario and British Columbia as well as the host team. It is the equivalent of the Memorial Cup in hockey.

“This is the biggest tournament in North America,” the 19-year-old Banister said. “Hopefully, we can pack the Centennial Arena.”

Banister’s goal isn’t to be a pleasant greeter at the Centennial Arena doors in 2011 because the Raiders are the host. He said the Raiders will have an opportunity to win the national Junior championship.

“Three years ago, I didn’t think Alberta teams would have a chance to win the Minto Cup, ” Banister said. “We only lose a few players from this year’s team and we will have a legitimate shot to win.”

He said some of the key players the Raiders are losing include captain Danny Dahms and goalie Greg Hallett.

This year’s team is the favourite to represent Alberta at the 2010 Minto Cup in Coquitlam, B.C. as the Raiders have an 8-0 record and are perched in first place in the Rocky Mountain Junior A Lacrosse League standings.

Cam Copland, a Grade 12 student at Foothills Composite High School, had no idea he would likely be wearing a Raiders’ jersey at the Minto Cup when he was drafted last season by the Okotoks team.

“I owe Brad Banister and David Fehr a big thank-you for putting in the time to get the Minto Cup here,” Copland said. “I’m really excited. It is going to be a really high caliber of lacrosse.”

Banister is the owner/GM of the Calgary Roughnecks of the National Lacrosse League. He is an Okotoks resident and had a key role in establishing the Okotoks Minor Lacrosse Association, for which both Mitch Banister and Copland played.

Fehr is the president and owner of the Junior A Raiders. He brought the team to Okotoks at the start of the 2008 season.

Meanwhile, Mitch Banister and Copland aren’t looking too far forward. They have some unfinished business to do — getting to the 2010 Minto Cup in Burnaby.

The Raiders remained perfect in the 2010 season by thumping the Calgary Senior Knights 15-5 Friday at the Centennial Arena in Okotoks.

The Raiders’ attack was led by Tanner Newitt and Travis Comeau who each picked up a hat trick in the victory.

Jake Hayes, Luke Vanderwilp and Brett Baron scored two goals each and Destin Seguin, Aaron Tackaberry and Danny Dahms added singles.

The Raiders host their Senior counterparts, the Okotoks Senior B Raiders, tonight June 9 at the Centennial Arena at 8 p.m.

The Junior A Raiders close out the week when they take on the Edmonton Junior Minors at the Centennial Arena Sunday at 3 p.m.

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