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Rock mine more silver

Three Westlock Rock Lacrosse teams travelled to Calgary July 12-15 to compete in the Alberta Lacrosse Association Provincial finals and all collected silver medals.
midget lacrosse
The midget Rock celebrate their silver medal finish at the Alberta Lacrosse Association provincial finals in Calgary July 12-15. Back row, L-R: Head coach Brian Hegedus, Justin Baker, Gage Parenteau, Riley Johnstone, Michael Mohrmann, Nash Hodgetts, Ty Callihoo, Evan Brost, Henry Murray, Anthony Calliou, Thomas Trefanenko, coach Rob Hlokoff, Shane Drews, coach Conrad Hegedus and Keenan Stranaghan. Front row, L-R: Jacob Reagan, Eric LeBlanc and Darion Higgins.

Three Westlock Rock Lacrosse teams travelled to Calgary July 12-15 to compete in the Alberta Lacrosse Association Provincial finals and all collected silver medals.

The novice team fell 5-3 to the Sherwood Park Titans in the final, while the midget girls claimed silver following a 9-0 loss to the Calgary Hornets (story appeared in the July 17 Westlock News).

Meanwhile the midget boys dropped a 3-2 heartbreaker that saw the Grande Prairie Thrashers take the lead in the final minute of the championship game.

Midget coach Brian Hegedus said there is no shame finishing second.

“This weekend was the best lacrosse I had seen them play all season. Every game we played was back and forth, it was a battle this weekend,” he said.

“The boys got to have that taste of working together and accomplishing what they want.

“They kept active and pushed and got the bye into the gold medal game, but Grande Prairie was able to come back from behind and beat us by one goal with a lucky bounce.”

He was particularly impressed by the Rock’s passing and communication, noting they kept their chins up throughout the tougher times of the season.

 RIGHT: The novice Rock gathered for a team photo following their second-place finish at the Alberta Lacrosse Association provincial finals in Calgary July 12-15. Back row, L-R: Coaches Steve McKenna, Travis Boissonault, Bill Norton and head coach Rory McCormick. Middle row, L-R: Alex McCormick, Owen McKenna, Lucas Boissonault, Moses Raju, Blake Wilejto, Blake Boulerice and Dyllan Chiswell. Front Row, L-R: Madison Guennette, Austin Norton, Devlyn Finnegan, Brennan Properzi and Memphis Durand.RIGHT: The novice Rock gathered for a team photo following their second-place finish at the Alberta Lacrosse Association provincial finals in Calgary July 12-15. Back row, L-R: Coaches Steve McKenna, Travis Boissonault, Bill Norton and head coach Rory McCormick. Middle row, L-R: Alex McCormick, Owen McKenna, Lucas Boissonault, Moses Raju, Blake Wilejto, Blake Boulerice and Dyllan Chiswell. Front Row, L-R: Madison Guennette, Austin Norton, Devlyn Finnegan, Brennan Properzi and Memphis Durand.

Novice head coach Rory McCormick was equally impressed with his team’s effort.

“It was really exciting to coach these guys, the boys and girls played really hard,” he said.

“Our kids can really pass the ball around. When they’re having a good passing game, they’re untouchable.”

Both coaches noted that many of the players were first timers, so the fact they were able to compete and succeed against well-established programs is impressive.

McCormick said that if they continue to work together and grow they will be a force to be reckoned with.

“We’ve got a really good group of kids to be watching over the next couple of years,” he said.

“We were No. 2 in the province going into playoffs, then we got down to the festival and won silver. They worked really hard to get where they are.”

With provincials finished, lacrosse is done for another summer and both coaches thanked the parents and fans for their ongoing support.

“I wanted to learn from the kids and parents as much as they learned from me and I learned a lot. The parents were very supportive,” said Hegedus.

“I don’t have a single child on this team, so I was a bit nervous going in because I didn’t know anyone. It was a great learning season for a first-year team.

“I see some success coming out of them next year.”

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