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Scotia lacrosse league expands game across province
Four Nova Scotia minor lacrosse associations are founding members of the new Scotia Minor Lacrosse League, launching in time for the 2019 box lacrosse season.
The SMLL includes Valley Thunder Lacrosse, Truro Bearcats Lacrosse, the Pictou County Snipers and the Cape Breton Warriors. League play gets underway May 4, with clubs fielding teams in Novice, Peewee, Bantam and combined Midget/ Intermediate divisions.
“The SMLL’s focus is on growing the game of lacrosse across the province,” says league commissioner Brendon Smithson. “We ran a successful four-club season and championship program for the Peewee division in the last two seasons; this year, we’ve expanded the schedule and really put a full league together.
”Working with the four club presidents through the winter on the SMLL has been a smooth process: we were all pleased with the Peewee trial last season, we face similar geographic and scheduling challenges and we now have a framework to develop the sport for youth playing at all ages and in all areas of Nova Scotia.”
SMLL teams will play an eight- to nine-game season, and host their first full championship weekend in Truro June 22 and 23. Hosting clubs are also scheduling in a variety of development clinics for athletes, coaches and officials, taking advantage of en masse events to offer skills training, mentorship and opportunities to build camaraderie at all levels within the game. The 6th Apple Cup, hosted by Valley Thunder in Berwick and Kingston June 7 to 9, will see league teams joined by clubs from across Nova Scotia and into New Brunswick for the largest minor box lacrosse tournament in the province.
Lacrosse Nova Scotia is expected to sanction the SMLL, and it will formally register with Nova Scotia Joint Stocks.
“On behalf of Lacrosse Nova Scotia, we are pleased to welcome a new minor lacrosse league into our province,” says Donna Goguen, Lacrosse Nova Scotia board president. “Scotia Minor Lacrosse League is a welcome addition and will be part of the growing infrastructure needed to accommodate future growth of our sport. Lacrosse players, coaches and referees will benefit from having an organized league to provide a game schedule for teams across the province to play. This is a key component of our strategic plan that prioritizes organizational effectiveness to support grassroots development.
“Our thanks go out to the hard-working volunteers who are making this happen.”
The SMLL membership remains open, as communities across the province rejuvenate or launch youth minor lacrosse programs. The league will flex its structure and schedule to accommodate teams at any and all divisions, and there is preliminary interest in extending programming into the field lacrosse sector.
Follow the league at smll.ca.
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