Mounties, Raiders to Battle for Coveted Minto Cup Berth

BATTLE OF ALBERTA in CALGARY FOR 8TH STRAIGHT YEAR

The balance of power in Alberta lacrosse continues to be focused on Calgary and the surrounding communities, with the Calgary Mountaineers and Okotoks Raiders meeting in the RMLL Jr. A finals for an 8th consecutive year. 

While the talent level of the Rocky Mountain League definitely improved this season, both the Saskatchewan SWAT and St. Albert Miners were unable to reverse their fortunes and move on for a crack at a spot in August's Minto Cup being played in Langley, BC. 

After St. Albert picked up the opening game of its best-of-five with the Mounties, Calgary stormed back with three straight wins, outscoring the Miners 53-23 along the way. Okotoks saw a bit of a tougher road in the SWAT, who had led the league for parts of the year before finishing tied for second with the Raiders at 8-7. The SWAT dropped a pair of 7-6 decisions to the Raiders, which makes the sweep feel a lot more competitive than it would indicate.

The Raiders hold a 4-3 edge in the previous seven playoff meetings between the two clubs. Both teams qualified for last year's Minto in Alberta, where the Raiders were eventually defeated in the semifinals by the Coquitlam Adanacs. 

Photo by Gord Norrie, Okotoks Raiders