A dream season few could have predicted ended with a silver lining. On the heels of an undefeated season and playoff, the Okotoks Raiders battled to a silver medal at the Bantam C provincial lacrosse championship Sunday at the Calgary Soccer Centre. “We pulled in the kids, moulded them into a team, figured out who we have, had everyone working together within their little roles on the team,” said Raiders coach Jeff Faye. “We realized holy we have a really good team here. “Who would have thought we would go 14-and-0?” The Raiders went 12-0 in the regular season, swept the two-game CDLA playoff and went 3-2 on the provincial stage. Okotoks was bested 9-1 by the Wainwright Wildcats, who played as a Bantam B team all season before the competition, in the provincial final. “Theoretically we are the C champions because we beat all the C teams across Alberta, undefeated,” Faye added. “We were (17-0) other than the two Wainwright games.” Previously, the provincials was based only on qualification through league playoff. This year teams were allowed to bid to compete in the event and the Wainwright team was slotted into the C division. “It’s been a really great year. We were undefeated,” said Raider Ronin Bartisch. “They changed the rules this year … we were kind of bummed about that. In the end they were a B team you could call it and we were the best C team.” Okotoks opened the tournament with an 18-6 victory over the Calgary Axemen, edged Grande Prairie 7-6 and lost to Wainwright 8-2 in pool play. “We had our ups and downs in the tournament,” said Raider Wyatt Pothegadoo. “We had some things that held us back like confidence in the team, but we made it through and managed to get here. “I’m surprised that we made it here, I can’t thank my team enough for getting here.” The Raiders made sure to book their ticket to the gold medal game with an impressive 8-3 triumph over Grande Prairie on Sunday morning. “Teamwork, we did well, there was good sportsmanship,” said Raider Michael Horbachewski. “The coaches helped a lot with helping us develop, teaching us skills. “We continually surprised ourselves.” Self-proclaimed ‘misfits’, the Raiders were a mishmash entering the regular season with coaches and player new to one another. For whatever reason, the pieces fit and the wins started to accumulate. “Midway through the season, kids started to gel and we started to realize these guys have got something,” said Raiders coach Warren Horbachewski. “We told the guys some of you are going to Midget and we’re coaching you as midgets because we’ve got to get you ready for the next level. “We laid down some hard stuff and they were picking it up and the momentum kept going from there.” The results are terrific in and of themselves, but the coaches are especially proud of creating a positive environment, which encourages player retention for future years. “I would be so shocked if any of those kids don’t come back to lacrosse,” Faye said. “They’re going to come back second-year Bantam or first-year Midget, but they’re going to register. I don’t think we’re going to lose any players. “Winning is one thing, but I think they all had fun, had a positive experience.” Bantam Raiders roster: Oliver Faye, Darrin Headley, Evan Storzuk, Michael Horbachewski, Chayse Graveland, Wyatt Pothegadoo, Tanner Benvie, Slate Hoyle, Ronin Bartisch, Xander Boyd, Kael Monnin, Jacob Burnside, Isaac Holunga, Ty Sigurdson, Ryker Hutchinson, Caleb Loverin, Tayler Jordan, Dayne Wells. Coaches: Jeff Faye, Warren Horbachewski, Kevin Graveland, Scott Boyd, John Headley and manager Jen Hoyle. Provincial round-up Eight Okotoks area teams represented the area at the Alberta Lacrosse Championships at the Calgary Soccer Centre. The HOKS – a regional team featuring both Okotoks and High River area talent — finished with a 2-1 record in Peewee A, a 0-4 mark in Bantam A and were 1-2 in Midget A. The Raiders finished 1-3 in the Midget D division, 0-2 in Peewee B, 1-2 in Peewee C and were 1-3 in Tyke. For more information on the provincials go to albertalacrosse.com
