MOVING UP!

After four provincial championships and a runner up finish in their eight seasons of play at the Junior B Tier II level, the Fort Saskatchewan Junior Rebels are taking the next step. On November 22, 2015, the Rocky Mountain Lacrosse League voted unanimously to make the Rebels part of the 12 team Pan-prairie league. The Tier II Rebels have enjoyed the greatest success of any club in any division in Rocky Mountain Lacrosse League (RMLL) history, sporting a 120-23-1 record since the club's inception in 2006.

 “It was time. The club has evolved to the point we were favourites in every game we played this year from preseason to the provincial final. In order to continue to develop we needed a greater challenge and boy, do we have it!” says Rebels Co-coach Kevin Parker.

 “We felt that this was the year for the jump”, adds Dave McGarva, the club’s new General Manager, “The Rebels had a dominant run in the late 2000s winning three consecutive provincial titles. At that point, they were forced up to Tier I at the end of the natural talent cycle. This time we have made the decision and approached the RMLL from a position of strength.”

 This time the Rebels are well positioned for the move. They have a strong core of returning veterans and they have a clear five-year strategic plan. As part of the decision the RMLL awarded the Rebels the first pick overall in the Midget player draft and were afforded the cost saving measure of not having to go to Winnipeg in their first season.

 “Both the first pick and the limited travel were very big for us. Moving from a Northern Alberta league to one that includes Calgary, Red Deer, Saskatoon and Winnipeg, our budget has more than doubled”, notes McGarva. “But we think that we have a good approach, we have started the conversation with a number of local businesses, not with our hand out but with the question of ‘What can we do for you?’”

 “First and foremost we want to engage the community. We have 25 young men that have benefitted enormously from being involved in the sport of lacrosse in this city. We want to give back to minor lacrosse, local not for profits and the local business community.”