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H.J. Cody Lakers look towards successful season

Head Coach Jeremy Braitenback says team will have challenges but aims to make it to chapionship
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The H.J. Cody Lakers will start their season at home on Sept. 8 against Ponoka. File Photo

The H.J. Cody Lakers are preparing for another season, with the first football game being played at home this Friday.

The Lakers have been in practise since Aug. 28 and are just about ready for the first game.

Though Head Coach Jeremy Braitenback says there will be mistakes made.

“It’s the first game of the season, so they aren’t quite up to fighting form yet,” Braitenback said in a recent interview.

He expects the team will make mistakes during the games, mistakes they won’t likely make as the season goes on and the team settles into their roles.

Braitenback says it is the same every year, as new players come in and old leave, the team has a bit to go at the beginning of the season, coming through by the end.

It may be a little more difficult for the Lakers this season. The end of the last school year a large number of the team graduated.

There weren’t many players coming in to make up for the loss either. This means the Lakers are playing with fewer teammates this season than last.

“It’s going to be a little rough going this year, but I believe in them. They are a great bunch of kids,” Braitenback said.

It is hard to evaluate them at this point in time as well, Braitenback says.

Because the team has yet to play a game, he can’t really say where the team’s strengths and weaknesses are at this point in the season.

With just practises to go on, Braitenback says the team’s defence is a current weakness.

“I’d say our weakness right now is our defence. It could definitely stand to be tightened up,” he said.

Despite the smaller team, Braitenback believes the team will do well in the season.

The Lakers are looking at this season, and preparing, like every other season.

They are going in with the intention to do very well.

“We are looking at it like every other season. We are prepared to do our best and make it to the championships once again,” said Braitenback.

The H.J. Cody Lakers have claimed the championship title four times in the past 20 years.

The Lakers will face off in the home opener against the Ponoka Broncs on Sept. 8. The game will begin at 4:30 p.m. at the H.J. Cody Field.

megan.roth@sylvanlakenews.com