An Okotokian didn’t need the luck of the Irish to backstop his team to the Founders.
Goaltender Jared Ferris was named MVP of the Rocky Mountain Lacrosse League Jr. B Tier I provincial playoff, leading the Calgary Shamrocks to their first championship and a spot at the Founders Cup nationals.
“It means a lot for a lot of the guys, they’ve never known what it’s like to go that far,” said Ferris, a Holy Trinity Academy student. “You see a lot of the guys that play in the pros and Junior A and they’ve all been there (to Founders). A lot of the guys want to make it that far and know this is one of the steps on that road.”
Ferris and the Shammies allowed just 20 goals against in four games of the provincial playoff, known as the Larry Bishop Memorial Cup, an obscenely low average of five per game.
“I just felt in the zone for those games and I knew I could rely on my defence,” Ferris said. “They’re a strong group of guys I knew I could rely on for anything, I knew that if I got into the zone we would play great defence and transition.”
The Shamrocks edged the Fort Saskatchewan Rebels 9-5, overwhelmed the Manitoba Blizzard 15-6 and outlasted their divisional rival Calgary Mountaineers 9-6 in pool play.
Ferris and the Shamrocks saved his best for last, holding the Red Deer Rampage in check in the 8-3 provincial gold medal game.
The Okotokian made 51 saves on 54 shots to take home MVP honours in the final.
“We lost our last two games we had played against them so I was feeling the butterflies in my stomach,” Ferris said. “But I was also determined to show that we’re not going to give up easy. After the first period all of that stuff went away.
“For me, I usually know once I get to the rink and after warm-up if I‘m feeling hot and it’s going to be a good game for me.”
Calgary, the provincial hosts, more than made up for an unexpected exit one year prior.
The Okotoks Marauders shocked the Shamrocks in the 2017 playoffs, ending a promising year for the Calgary squad.
The 2018 Shamrocks didn’t leave much room for doubt, posting an 18-2 record with the second highest goals for and third best goals against numbers in the RMLL.
“Last year we got beat out before we could make it to the tournament and we had a couple older guys on the team who’ve been wanting to make it there for a long time,” Ferris said. “It was our first time playing for a championship in Shamrocks history, all the guys were energetic about that and really excited to play for that. “We were pretty confident, teams we played we knew we could beat, a lot of the guys were determined to pull through and make it there.”
The Founders Cup, which dates back to the 1960s, runs Aug. 13-19 in Akwesasne, Ontario.
“We’re getting in our practices where we can and watching film on what some of the other teams have been doing,” Ferris said. “Just really prepare for the elements there, too, the heat, and for what is going to bring us calm energy into the room, to not get too excited and be prepared really for anything.”
Alberta has a strong history of medalling at the national championship.
Red Deer earned the silver in 2017 while the Mountaineers have picked up seven medals in the past 10 competitions, highlighted by its gold medal in 2009.
“Our goal is definitely to come out with the championship,” Ferris said. “Red Deer last year placed second so we’re hoping to follow in their footsteps and make it a little bit further and try to bring the trophy home to Alberta this year.”
