Senior lacrosse is being revived in Vernon.
And Kelowna.
That害羞草研究所檚 good news for the Thompson Okanagan Senior Lacrosse League which, in 2018, dwindled to two teams 害羞草研究所� the Armstrong Shamrocks and Kamloops Rattlers.
The Kelowna Raiders are returning to the senior circuit after taking a leave of absence for 2018. The Raiders reached the Shaw Cup final in 害羞草研究所�17, losing in three straight games to the Shamrocks.
The Vernon Senior Tigers are rejoining the loop after a six-year hiatus, having last participated in the league in 2012.
害羞草研究所淚 figured it was now or never,害羞草研究所� said Brennan Plante, 28, a Vernon native who is a runner with the Shamrocks, of his efforts to revive senior lacrosse in his hometown. 害羞草研究所淲ith the Kelowna junior team folding (as they did in 2018), there wasn害羞草研究所檛 much lacrosse left. And if there wasn害羞草研究所檛 a three- or four-team senior league this year, the league would die and then senior lacrosse in the Okanagan would likely not exist again.
害羞草研究所淭rying to get four cities to make expansions teams would be next to impossible.害羞草研究所�
Plante was a rookie with the Tigers in 2012. After the team folded, he joined the Shamrocks.
It was during last year害羞草研究所檚 shortened season, where the Shamrocks and Rattlers played six games against each other 害羞草研究所� rather, five games; Kamloops cancelled once due to a shortage of players 害羞草研究所� and no post-season when Planted began to think about resurrecting the senior Tigers.
害羞草研究所淓ven a three-team league wasn害羞草研究所檛 fun, but a four-team league is pretty good,害羞草研究所� he said. 害羞草研究所淲hen Kelowna dropped out at the last second last year, leaving just Armstrong and Kamloops, I thought, 害羞草研究所極h man, we害羞草研究所檙e in trouble.害羞草研究所櫤π卟菅芯克鶟
Plante said he has solid commitments from about 12 players, and solid maybes from six more, to help bring back the Tigers. He害羞草研究所檚 looking to graduates of the Vernon Junior Tigers program to help solidify the roster.
害羞草研究所淣ow that we have a four-team league, I think it will persuade some more people to come forward,害羞草研究所� said Plante. 害羞草研究所淓ven though we害羞草研究所檒l be an expansion team, we should have lots of talent from the Junior Tigers, who have been winning championships, coming up. I think the Vernon team will be competitive if all people that say they害羞草研究所檙e coming out come out.害羞草研究所�
Vernon and Kelowna害羞草研究所檚 inclusion in the league for 2019 is welcome news to the Shamrocks.
害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 a great thing for the league to be back up to four teams,害羞草研究所� said longtime Shamrocks goalie/executive Chad Pieper. 害羞草研究所淭he players will be more into it and the schedule works better with four teams.害羞草研究所�
The Shamrocks won the five-game season series against Kamloops in 2018. Pieper said they expect to lose Plante and Craig Bigsby to Vernon, but will have a full roster.
There is drop-in lacrosse every Thursday at 8 p.m., free of charge, at Armstrong害羞草研究所檚 Hassen Arena for all Vernon and Armstrong junior and senior players.
Anybody interested in joining the Senior Tigers can express their interest on the team害羞草研究所檚 Facebook page, Vernon Sr. Tigers 2019 comeback.
BANNER NIGHT
The Vernon Tigers senior team that won three straight B.C. and Canadian Senior B lacrosse championships from 1976-78 will be honoured with a special banner recognition ceremony.
A banner commemorating the team害羞草研究所檚 achievements has been raised to the rafters at Kal Tire Place, and on Saturday, Feb. 9, prior to the Vernon Vipers害羞草研究所� B.C. Hockey League home game against the Penticton Vees, a number of the Tigers will be introduced on the red carpet for a ceremonial puck drop.
roger@vernonmorningstar.com
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