Back in the day, Drumheller was a strong lacrosse community. The Hanna Harvesters know this and are searching for players to try out for their minor lacrosse program.
On February 27th, the Hanna Harvesters are hosting a tryout and providing an opportunity for local kids to learn more about the sport. Ricky Boyce, the Vice-President of the Hanna Lacrosse Association shares that their program is fairly new but continues to grow. “The Hanna Harvesters have been around for three years. We started as a rec program for our first and grew into a team that went into a league, the Central Alberta Lacrosse Association. We run programs of U7, U9, and U11. We get kids all the way from Oyen to Drumheller.” Boyce noted that having kids from Drumheller involved is important for the success for the Hanna Harvesters program.
Lacrosse is set up similarly as most minor sports, confirms Boyce. “You can go from U7 to U18, to junior and beyond. It is kind of set up similar to hockey in that way. We’ve got a lot of opportunities for minors, depending on what you want to do with lacrosse. You can come out for just the physical activity or you can have that drive to become a professional lacrosse player, and earn scholarships and what have you. We are currently looking in expanding our teams to U18.”
Having high quality professional lacrosse only in Calgary has provided significant benefits to the sport here in our area admits Boyce. “The (Calgary) Roughnecks organization, I cannot say enough about them. Lately, we have been partnering with them. We have taken our teams to a few Roughnecks games. Last year we we’re able to do a ‘Bench Warmer Experience’, where our kids got to sit on the bench while the Roughnecks practice and interact with them one on one.”
Of course the game is different than what you see in the professional ranks with the physical play not as intense. The season is from the end of March until June. The teams usually practice at the J.C. Charyk gymnasium to start until the ice is removed from the Hanna Arena and then the teams play and practice on the floor of the Arena.
The open house at the Badlands Community Facility on February 27th for a try it night starting at 6:30 PM until 8 PM. They ask that you bring a caged helmet, indoor running shoes, gloves, and a water bottle. Sticks will be provided. A waiver must be signed by a parent or guardian for the child to participate.
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