Junior A lacrosse will be in Medicine Hat this weekend for the second year in a row. File Photo/CHAT News

By Jesse Gill

SPORTS

Junior A lacrosse returns to Medicine Hat with exhibition game

Mar 27, 2025 | 5:03 PM

Junior A lacrosse will be in Medicine Hat this weekend for the second year in a row.

An exhibition game between the Rocky Mountain Lacrosse League‘s Calgary Mountaineers and Calgary Raiders will take place Saturday at the Moose Recreation Centre.

The teams play in the top level of box lacrosse in the province for players aged 16 to 22.

Sarah MacKenzie, Medicine Hat Lacrosse Club president, said it will give youth lacrosse players in our region an idea of what they can aspire to play at.

IN THE COMMUNITY

Medicine Hat Pride group signs open letter calling on federal leaders to protect trans rights

6h ago

WHAT'S ON

Here is what's on this weekend in Medicine Hat and area: March 28-30

Mar 28, 2025

IN THE COMMUNITY

HALO Air Ambulance may need new heli for hospital landings, CEO says

Mar 28, 2025

“I think the most important part is allowing kids in the community to see what lacrosse is at the higher level, and then that helps us build our programming, gets kids excited about it,” McKenzie said.

“Because people want to compete, and when they see that there’s that level, they get more interested in staying around.”

Last year the game at the Moose Recreation Centre was sold out.

A pair of Medicine Hat’s own goalkeeper Daine Mattson and transition player Jayden Richards will be playing for the Mountaineers.

Several other players from Southern Alberta will also take the floor.

The Mountaineers Head Coach Cody Hawkins has helped run lacrosse camps in the community the past two years.

MacKenzie said they have 200 players in lacrosse in the city this year, with the numbers going up each year.

“It helps to grow in the region. Coach Cody has been instrumental in providing his lacrosse IQ and knowledge. It’s not something we have a lot of,” MacKenzie said.

“There’s not a lot of coaches who grew up playing lacrosse that are coming back. Medicine Hat’s fortunate we do have a technical director who played a high level of lacrosse, who mentors at our club,” she added.

“The two of them being able to work together has been a great success for us.”

Game time Saturday is at 3 p.m. with the doors opening at 1:30 p.m.

Admission is $10 for Adults, with players and youth free.