The Jr. Ladies Silvertips have their largest and most experienced roster yet and are opening their third season against their arch-rivals, the Okotoks Raiders, Apr. 27.

Now in their third season, the Silvertips is formed by players from Red Deer, Three Hills, Canmore, Langdon, Strathmore, Chestermere, Airdrie and Calgary as well 13 players from Cochrane, 24 in all, ages 16-20.

That makes the Plainsman Arena central and their home for the season, although they have been practising in Cochrane. They've finished fourth both of their two years and hopes are high for the season ahead.

"As we have grown in maturity, experience and size, we hope this year will be even better," says manager Heather Greenan.

New head coach Jordie Loyst Thomson believes this can be the year.

"I'm very excited," says Thomson,"This is the best depth we've seen."

"I would like to see the team in the finals. I think we have the skills to be in that final game. That's what been gunning for since starting the season. In other years it's been a goal but this year it's realistic."

The team has made the shortlist for the provincial playoffs in both of their seasons and last year lost a close 7-6 battle against the Raiders for the bronze in the provincials. The Silvertips beat them two of their three regular-season games last year and you can expect it to be another close matchup next Friday.

Game time is 8 p.m. at the Plainsman Arena, 320 Centre Ave. E. in Airdrie.

Major League Showcase, May 11-13

The Rocky View Lacrosse Assoc. (RVLA) is hosting a major league showcase at the Plainsman to promote lacrosse in Rocky View, May 11-13, that involves all three of their junior teams and three senior teams. The Jr. Ladies Silvertips will be playing 14-year champions Sherwood Park Titans, May 12 at 1:30 p.m.

Lots of Depth in Coaching Staff

The team has a lot of depth in its coaching staff.

Thomson has been involved with the sport for 18 years and coached both box and field lacrosse for the last six years. She's an eight-time gold medalist of the Ontario field provincials, was a member of Team Canada's U19 field team that placed fourth in the world championships and has been involved with the Silvertips since the team was formed n 2016.

Coach Todd Betterton has coached both female and male programs in minor and junior lacrosse for 10 years and prior to joining the team was president of the Strathmore Venom Lacrosse Club for four years and coached their junior men's tier II team.

Coach Pat Greenan has played and coach lacrosse for 32 years and has served on the RVLA board for eight years. 

Joining the coaching staff this year is Janis O'Neill who played senior ladies lacrosse with the Red Deer Rage and has coached the Red Deer Chiefs for numerous years.  Her midget team won silver at the Calgary District Lacosse Assoc. finals last season.

Tom Morrison, who has coached for the last 13 years and was on the RVLA board for 10 years, has five children in the sport and his teams have won four city championships and a handful of silver and bronze provincial medals.