Sylvan Lake Lacrosse Club has grown steadily in the past few years, and may soon become a completely autonomous organization.
Now in its third year, the club currently operates as an offshoot of Red Deer Lacrosse Association (RDLA). Plans are being made for the club to become its own association next year.
“The advantage to becoming our own association lies in the fact that we would now have our own identity and be able to raise our own funds that we could use for the direct development of Sylvan Lake players and local lacrosse initiatives,” said club president Tim Harris.
“Sylvan has produced some amazing lacrosse players in the short three years we have been here, and I see nothing but growth from here.”
Harris said RDLA is “fully on board” with the creation of an association in Sylvan Lake, and has mentored the club by helping it obtain jerseys, equipment and knowledge necessary to become self sufficient.
He feels that now is the perfect time for the club to consider expansion.
“We’ve spent the last two or three years trying to gain the support and make sure we’re strong enough to do it,” he said. “Everybody seems to feel that we’re ready to go, so over the off season we’re going to try and form an association and come out next year under our own banner.”
The club’s current season began last month, and runs until June. There are six teams in Sylvan Lake, with players’ ages ranging from four to 14 years old.
The Buccaneers — as Sylvan Lake teams are known — play in Central Alberta Lacrosse League. Home games are played at Sylvan Lake Multiplex.
With the rapid rate at which the club has grown, Harris feels the club will likely be well supported in its pursuit of association status.
“There’s more and more people every year that are showing a bit more of an interest, and it’s really starting to take off,” he said.
“We’ve got a handful of parents that are the most willing to help out and I think, long term, we’ll be even better.”
A large number of Sylvan Lake lacrosse players also play hockey, said Harris, adding that he is happy to see lacrosse increasing in popularity.
“As their kids get into it and start to really enjoy it, the parents start to enjoy it, and more and more people are aware of it now,” he said. “When we started three years ago, we had 63 kids. Now we’re up to 94.”
As an association, Sylvan Lake Lacrosse Club would also have the ability to host tournaments in town.
Harris is encouraging residents of Sylvan Lake and Central Alberta to take part in Rotary Club of Sylvan Lake’s Scholarship Golf Tournament at Meadowlands Golf Club on June 21. Funds raised by the Rotary Club will benefit a number of groups in the area, including Sylvan Lake Lacrosse Club.
More information about the golf tournament and lacrosse in Sylvan Lake may be obtained by emailing Harris at sylvanlakelacrosse@hotmail.ca .