Flashes of brilliance and moments of blunder – par for the course for a revamped team. The Okotoks Jr. B Marauders have showcased a bit of both in a topsy-turvy start to the Rocky Mountain Lacrosse League season exchanging losses and wins through their first five games. “We knew the start of the season was going to be a little bit scrambly,” said Marauders head coach Don Haynes. “We’ve still got kids up at Junior A and with kids playing together it’s going to take a little bit of time to get some chemistry. “It’s pretty diverse in the league this year where there are some really good teams and some not-so good so you just can’t give up the games to the weaker teams.” The divide between the haves and have not’s has shown on the scoreboard. Two of the Marauders losses this season have been lopsided while both of the team’s victories have been by a combined margin of 22. Okotoks’ first tight game of the season on Sunday ended in a narrow 7-6 loss to the undefeated Manitoba Blizzard. The Marauders opened with a terrific 3-1 first period on goals from Cody Bomersine, Luke Welton and rookie lefty Brydon Robichaud. Tyson Loewen made it 4-1 early in the middle frame before the visitors closed the period on a 3-0 run. Manitoba added three powerplay goals in the final frame to take the two points. “It kind of feels like we gave them one after we did so well in the first,” Haynes said. “That team is undefeated, they’re a really good ball team. For us to be close was good, but I did feel like we kind of gave it to them, getting into penalty trouble. “They had two of their D guys who every time we came down the floor were trying to start fights.” Fisticuffs were in order early in the second period after the Marauders came to the defence of teammate Nick DiMaulo amidst a mass of Blizzard. Okotoks’ Welton and Carter Walker, key players on defence and offence respectively, took part in simultaneous donnybrooks and in doing so were lost for the game. The Marauders made quick work of the Lethbridge Barracudas in a 15-5 romp on Friday. Walker, Bomersine, Sean Garlock, Rylee Lapierre and Okotokian Jake Ruigrok paced the offence with two goals each while Robichaud, John Stephen, Shawn Phan-Nguyen, Wallace MacRae and Taylor Haince also lit the lamp in the blowout victory. The Marauders get back on the floor on May 22 for a regional road battle with the Calgary Mountaineers. Okotoks’ next home date is June 2 against the Regina Fish, the latest entry into the Tier I division. For more information go to rockymountainlax.com
