The Okotoks Junior Raiders have added a potent weapon to what is an already lethal offence.
Port Coquitlam native James Delaney joined the Raiders for their fourth game of the season after finishing up his Junior season of NCAA box lacrosse at Seton Hill University in Greensburg, Penn. He ' s made an immediate impact in Okotoks.
“ Typically missing a training camp and coming back from field to box usually you have a little rust,” Delaney said. “ But this year now that I ' ve been doing it a couple years I knew what I was coming into.”
If there is any rust to his box lacrosse game, it ' s certainly not showing on the floor. Despite missing the first three games of the season, Delaney is second among the Alberta Junior Lacrosse League scoring leaders with 15 assists and 25 points.
The diminutive sniper has momentum on his side entering the Alberta Junior A League.
The Seton Hill Griffins just completed a season to remember in the East Coast Conference ' s Division II, facing tough competition such as national champion Dowling and perennial powerhouse Mercyherst.
“ We had the best season in school history, we went 12-4, we were ranked eighth in the country at the end of the year,” said Delaney, a midfielder for the Griffins. “ So a big step forward for us.”
After three seasons on the field in Pennsylvania, Delaney has sharpened what was already a considerable toolkit.
“ I think just maturing as a player and harnessing skill sets, and practicing and working out everyday,” said Delaney, who added his field experience buoys his ability to play box lacrosse. “ It ' s completely different sports with the bigger nets and smaller goalies, but playing against the long pole defenders makes it easier when I get back into box to get my hands free.”
Delaney was traded from his hometown Port Coquitlam Saints to the Raiders last summer, as former Okotoks coach Bruce Codd sought to beef up his lineup in advance of the 2011 Minto Cup.
“ I was happy last year to join a team going to the Minto,” Delaney said. “ It was mindboggling really, a completely different level of lacrosse.
“ I take everything as an experience and thankfully I was able to comeback this season.”
Jumping aboard an organization with a history of winning was a new sensation for the 21-year-old.
“ It was a good experience playing with a younger team, but we were lacking in the wins department,” said Delaney of his tenure with the Saints. “ I got the experience of not having as much talent around me so I could do more things.”
On a Raiders roster with league-leading sniper Holden Cattoni and top-20 scorers Brett Baron and brother Marshall and Leighton Gibson, Delaney doesn ' t have to carry the weight alone anymore.
“ I just want to help get the team back to the Minto Cup and go to Whitby this summer,” said Delaney of his expectations in his last season at the Junior level. “ Obviously I feel I ' m an offensive player on this team and if were winning games I feel like I ' m going to be scoring goals and setting up people.”
As one of a small number of veterans on a youthful Raiders roster, Delaney is taking more of a leadership role this season.
“ (Raiders president) Dave Fehr sat us all down, me, the other fifth-year Kyle Dexter and the three captains, we all sat down to talk about team goals as probably the five leaders on the team,” he said. “ I ' m taking a teaching role to help the younger players get better as they go along.”
Raiders assistant captain and fan favourite Aaron Tackaberry appreciates having another veteran on board.
“ It ' s good to have another 21-year-old in there,” he said. “ With all the rookies around to have another old guy around is a big help.”
Tackaberry said Delaney has injected a dose of offence to the team giving the Raiders a more balanced scoring attack.
“ It ' s really great having Jimmy back,” Tackaberry said. “ He ' s another strong righty to get in there offensively and take a little bit of pressure off the other guys.”
Raiders rolling
The Raiders beat the Edmonton Eclipse 14-6 at Centennial Arena on June 9 to improve to 5-0-0-1. Okotoks traveled to Calgary on June 13 to face the Mountaineers, but results were too late for press time. The Raiders return to Okotoks to host the St. Albert Miners on June 16 at 6:30 p.m. For more information go to www.raiderslacrosse.com.
