Young athletes from the Innisfail Minor Lacrosse Association gave a fine account of themselves during the 35th Annual Canada Day Tournament in Calgary.
The annual event featured more than 100 teams from all the western provinces and from California and Colorado. The local teams just finished regular season play and were in Calgary to top off the season.
The Innisfail teams did not pick up any medals but league officials were happy with the strong efforts put in by the novice and pee wee teams.
鈥淭hey competed very well. There were teams from all over 鈥� Saskatchewan, Manitoba, California and Denver,鈥� said league spokesperson Elizabeth Welton.
The Fourlane Ford Novice team, featuring nine and 10-year-old local players, came up short in all four of its games on July 1 and 2.
They lost their first game on July 1 to Rockyview by a score of 6 鈥� 4. The local novice squad came up short again the same day to Edmonton by a score of 9 鈥� 1.
The next day the Fourlane Ford team were beaten 11 鈥� 1 by Mimico. Later on July 2 a novice team from Prince George, B.C. defeated the Innisfail club 8 鈥� 3.
Meanwhile, the local pee wee team, a combined squad made up from the Servus Credit Union and Central Alberta Co-Op teams, tied its first game 3 鈥� 3 against the Edmonton Warriors on July 1. Later that day they ran into a tough team from Regina and lost 14 鈥� 2.
On Saturday (July 2) the Innisfail pee wees bounced back in its third game of the tournament with a convincing 7 鈥� 0 victory over California.
In their fourth game of the tournament against Quesnel, B.C. the locals lost 7 鈥� 2.
In the bronze medal pee wee game, the locals were once again up against Edmonton. However, Innisfail, despite a strong effort, came up short and lost a close game by a score of 3 鈥� 2.
