The Okotoks Raiders' brass is hopeful hosting the Minto Cup will not only raise the team's profile in the lacrosse community but also set them up as a destination organization for some of the country's best young athletes.
“ It can only enhance our reputation,” Raiders president David Fehr said about being tournament hosts.
“ You're hopeful that you'll get the best of the best players, the (Whitby Warriors) Mark Cockertons, Mark Matthews, to want to come to Okotoks and help our players.
“ We can't grow further without that cross-fertilization, with the BC and Ontario players helping our collective lacrosse IQ. The Ontario and BC kids are so instinctive with their play. We have about seven or eight players like that, but obviously you'd want a full team of those types of players.”
Raiders head coach and general manager Bruce Codd said his team's involvement in the Minto Cup for two years in a row has already begun to bear fruit in the recruitment process.
“ Yeah, two years ago we were able to get a few players, and this year we were able to get some more. I wouldn't say quite the top-flight free agents, but we got some guys that were certainly sought after by other clubs.
“ I think the fact that they chose to come here shows that we're headed in the right direction in that department.”
The Minto Cup was held at the Okotoks Centennial Arena from Aug. 20-28 and culminated with the Whitby Warriors winning the championship 12-7 over the Coquitlam Adanacs on Sunday.
The best-out-of-three final featured spectacular lacrosse characterized by tight checking, stellar goaltending and crisp passing.
“ This may sound arrogant but I believe we've put together the best Minto that I've seen,” said Fehr, whose been to a dozen or so Junior A Lacrosse championships. “ I'm really proud of Brian Wilson and Dennis Shute, they've done a tremendous job.”
Fehr said the exposure garnered from the games being broadcast on live television from Vancouver Island to the East Coast was great for lacrosse in the Foothills.
“ Would I like to have seen more fans? Yes, I would,” Fehr said. “ But the exposure we've seen from bringing the Minto to Okotoks is tremendous.”
Codd said he's heard nothing but positive feedback from organizations that have previously hosted the Minto Cup.
“ I think it just shows the class that our organization has and the quality of people that are involved,” Codd said. “ From my standpoint it was just a flawless Minto Cup and it can't do anything but help our reputation in the lacrosse community.”
From a competition standpoint, one of the visiting coaches had glowing words for the 2011 version of the Junior A Lacrosse championships.
“ This is definitely one of the best Minto Cups I've been a part of,” Coquitlam Adanacs head coach Curt Malawsky said after a round-robin game on Aug. 21. “ The parity in this tournament and the way they've hosted is just phenomenal.”
Whitby will have the chance to defend its title on home soil next year, when the Ontario city hosts the 2012 Minto Cup.
