The two-time defending Jr. A lacrosse champions have a new look for the 2012 campaign.
The Okotoks Jr. A Raiders ' prospects in the Rocky Mountain Lacrosse League (RMLL) will likely come down to how much progress their youth movement makes in 2012.
As one of just three Okotoks Junior A Raiders in his 20s, alongside Aaron Tackaberry and Dustin Reykdal, Okotokian Cam Copland knows he ' s expected to shoulder much of the leadership responsibility on such a young roster.
“ I ' ve got to really mentor the young kids and tell them what they ' re coming up against and let them get on our backs,” said Copland, who is entering his fourth season with the Raiders.
There is considerable turnover on the Raiders ' backend. Four-year Raider and former captain Barclay Hickey as well as defensive stalwart Mitch Banister are now Raiders alumni. Given the big names departing on defence, head coach Daryl Haynes expects Copland and twin brothers Marshall and Leighton Gibson to help fill the void.
“ From a defensive perspective we ' re hoping Cam Copland will be a leader and the Gibson brothers as well, again it ' s going to be a leadership by committee on defence,” Haynes said.
Fortunately, Copland is eager to see his role increased.
“ I was on the floor quite a bit last year, but that ' s going to be one of the main things is (more) playing time for me and some of the older guys,” Copland said. “ I think we ' re going to be on the floor a lot in key situations.”
Offensively, Okotoks will be relying on some new faces and the ascension of its veterans.
The Raiders lost four of their top six scorers from last season to graduation from the Junior ranks.
The cupboards aren ' t exactly bare either.
Last season ' s rookie sniper Holden Cattoni, a 35-goal scorer in 2011, and second-leading goal scorer Aaron Tackaberry return to the fold. Fellow-incumbents Brett Baron, Ben Fream and Kevin Pym are also expected to shoulder more of the offensive responsibility.
Copland expects a goal-scoring-by committee to ensue in 2012.
“ It ' s not going to be the top-three guys scoring every time,” Copland said “ The guys we have right now might not put up as many goals, but I think we ' re going to still put in offence. We ' re going to transition the ball really well from defence to offence and most of our goals are going to come from that transition.”
Haynes expects first-round pick Brett Davis, a Grade 10 student at Holy Trinity Academy, fellow-rookies and former Calgary Sabrecats AJ Kluck and Jayden Piattelli and Clayton Warren to aid in the goal-scoring department.
“ The guys we drafted are very skilled and we expect team to fill some of that production,” Haynes said.
Okotoks will also have to replace the goaltending exploits of Adam Shute. The Calgary native led the RMLL with 13 wins while posting a league-low 6.30 goals against average and a league-high .844 save percentage for the Raiders in 2011.
The offseason change doesn ' t end there.
In his first year with the organization, the Raiders head coach was immediately impressed with the team ' s speed, tenacity and work ethic in practice. He expects the Raiders to translate their strengths into entertaining lacrosse.
“ They ' re really chomping at the bit to start the season,” Haynes said. “ All things being equal we should be a fast paced, high energy team in all-three zones. If people are looking to see up tempo lacrosse they ' re going to find it with us.”
Okotoks will start the season minus Reykdal and Okotokian Raymond Banister, who are both away at school, with the latter expected to return to the lineup in June.
The Raiders open their 2012 schedule on May 12 when they host the St. Albert Miners at 4 p.m. at Centennial Arena.
The Miners mirror the Raiders in offseason roster transition as the St. Albert club lost its leading scorer Darren Kinnear to graduation.
Okotoks is back on the home floor on May 16 when it hosts the Calgary Mounties at 8 p.m. For more information on the Okotoks Jr. A Raiders go to raiderslacrosse.com.
