The Okotoks Raiders went looking for some home-cooking at the recent Rocky Mountain Junior A Lacrosse League entry draft.

The Raiders found some high-quality Alberta beef that will stay with them for a while, not some fast-food selection.

The Raiders chose three players from the Okotoks Midget Mustangs at the February draft, Raymond Banister, goalie Dylan Bachmyer and Carson McCormick from High River. The Calgary Mountaineers selected two Mustangs, Colin Koskie and Dylan Gibson.

Banister was selected eighth overall in the draft.

“Raymond played a game for us last year in the playoffs,” Raiders coach Bruce Codd said. “So I wouldn’t be surprised at all if he is able to jump right into our lineup. We want to make sure we do what is best to develop him as a player.”

Codd said Banister is a smart player and he listens to what the coaches have to say.
However, if smarts were all it took to play lacrosse, the Raiders would have drafted pre-med students from U of C.

“Raymond is also a strong guy who has good technique and handles the ball well,” Codd said.
He also fills a need. Banister shoots right-handed and presently the Raiders swing more to the left than the NDP.

“We lost three right-handed shot (players) because they are to old to play junior,” Codd said.

Codd added Banister can play in both the offensive and defensive end of the court. Raymond would join his brother Mitch on the team if he were able to make the squad.

Bachmyer may turn out to be a work in progress for the Raiders.

Codd said the goalie has skills, but it might be difficult for the first-year junior to crack the Okotoks’ lineup because the Raiders have both of their goalies returning next year.

Gibson was on the Raiders’ radar, however, the Mountaineers snagged the former Mustang forward with the fifth-pick overall, forcing Okotoks to scratch him off their list.

“He was definitely somebody who we were looking at,” Codd said.

It was no coincidence five Mustangs were selected in the draft. They had a solid team, winning the Calgary league and a major tournament in Nova Scotia.

“We play in Okotoks and it sure doesn’t hurt us to have some players from town on our team, but we don’t take anybody unless we think they can help our team,” Codd said.

Senior Raiders

The Okotoks Senior Raiders are hoping some local talent can help them defend their Rocky Mountain Senior Lacrosse League title.

The Raiders drafted four players with Okotoks ties in the league’s entry draft.

The Senior Raiders took former Junior Raider Garret Werschke with the second overall pick. He is a outstanding transition player and was also drafted by the National Lacrosse League’ Calgary Roughnecks in the 2010 entry draft.

Court Ellice, a product of the High River lacrosse program, was the Raiders’ seventh pick.

Derek Wright and Kyle Pitt of the Okotoks Junior Ice were also selected by the Raiders.

Okotoks Icemen goalie Tyler Dupuis was the Senior Raiders’ final selection.

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