Having crested the half-way point of the 2023 season, the Rockyview Silvertips appear to have found a winning formula.
Twelve games into a 20-game regular season, the Cochrane-based junior B, tier 1 lacrosse team is currently in first place of the Central Division of the Rocky Mountain Lacrosse League (RMLL) with a 9-3 record.
While the Silvertips recently lost their first game in nearly a month, head coach Tyler Waycott said it's nevertheless been a strong start to the campaign from the U21 squad.
“We’re happy with the results we’ve been getting and the way we’ve been preparing for our opponents, week in, week out,” he said. “To be in first place of our division at the half-way point is a good start to the year.
“But the second half of the year is when things will definitely start to tighten up. We’re seeing that already. Teams are all getting better. It’s great to be where we’re at at the moment, but we understand we still have a lot of work to do in order to reach the goals we’ve set out for our group.”
Last week, the Silvertips saw a six-game win streak come to an end, courtesy of a 12-8 loss to the Calgary Shamrocks on June 16. According to Waycott, Rockyview was in the contest up until the last few minutes of the fourth quarter before a trio of late goals by the Shamrocks sealed the four-goal victory.
“I think it was a game we kind of shot ourselves in the foot, so to speak,” Waycott said, admitting the Calgarians did enough to deserve the win.
“Just the mental mistakes we were making, [and we] kind of got away from what was making us successful in that six-game winning streak,” he said. “That was definitely a big contributor to it. I thought a lot of good lessons were learned in that game.”
Rockyview clearly made good on those lessons in their next outing, as the 'Tips followed up from the setback with a narrow, 11-10 win over the Beaumont Jr. Outlaws two nights later. Team scoring leader Wyatt Viste and Chase Penner led the offensive lines, each registering four goals in the game.
Waycott applauded Viste, a local Cochrane lacrosse product, for putting forward a strong rookie season in the RMLL. Viste has averaged a hat-trick per game in his nine junior outings thus far.
“We’re happy with how our offence is scoring by committee, especially our secondary," he noted.
This week is another busy one for the Cochranites, as they prepare for three games in the span of five days. On Tuesday night, the 'Tips will take on the Calgary Jr. Mounaineers in another game against a tough regional opponent.
Then, on Friday, June 23, the Silvertips will be back in Calgary for their third battle of the season against their perennial division rival, the Calgary Chill. Waycott mentioned how the 'Tips are 2-0 in their overall series with the Chill this season, but that Rockyview will undoubtedly have another hard-fought battle on their hands when they travel to Brentwood.
“Any game in our division is super exciting,” he said. “We play the Chill four times this season. So far, we’re 2-0 on the season, so that next game, to get that 3-0 up on them in the series would be big. Those inner division games are big games as we build into the second half of the season and start building toward hopefully securing a playoff spot.”
If they don't want to make the trip east to Calgary, Cochrane's lacrosse fans won't have long to wait to see the Silvertips in action, as the team will be back at SLS Centre on Saturday for a home tilt against the Saskatchewan Swat. Opening face-off is set for 7 p.m.
According to Waycott, Saturday night's battle will mark the only time the 'Tips take on the Swat this regular season, and he is keen to see how his side compares with the Saskatchewanians.
“You don’t see them too often, but when we do, it’s always nice to see teams from different areas of the league,” he said. “I think they’re a team that can steal games off you, so you have to come prepared.
“It’s been a pretty tight race in the league this year. Anyone can beat anyone on any given night.”
For scores, schedules, and other information involving the Silvertips, visit rockymountainlax.com
