Badlands Sun Devils building junior program after returning to Medicine Hat

“There was a pretty resounding response of yes that kids still did want the option to be able to play some junior lacrosse here,” Bauer said.

The Sun Devils are five games into their regular season. After winning their opening home game on April 25, they have lost four games.

Head coach Logan Sundholm says the roster has been slowly put together.

“Even up to the last week or two of practice before the games started, we were still adding players. But we did get our first win right away, which was an encouraging sign,” Sundholm said.

“We believe pretty strongly in a lot of the guys we have, and it’s still a work in progress for a brand new team. Some guys haven’t played for two or three years. Lots of them haven’t played together,” he added.

“Some close losses, but they’ve been to good teams. One game on the road, we didn’t quite have the manpower to match up with that team. It hasn’t been discouraging losses necessarily, but we’re not really looking for moral victories either.”

Sundholm, who grew up playing lacrosse in Medicine Hat before spending his junior career with the Calgary Shamrocks, said helping rebuild the local pathway for players was a major reason he stepped into the coaching role.

“I just wanted to help out and let these kids continue to play into the junior level and help them get to where they want to be,” Sundholm said.

Sundholm expects to see progress from the team throughout the season and believes they will contend for a playoff spot.

“It’s just a matter of time for us. We need to keep working. Build that chemistry and get that experience too,” Sundholm said.

“Guys who haven’t played and then young guys coming into junior. It’s a different game. We will get there.”

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(Image Credit: PH Photography/Badlands Sun Devils)

The coach says the team will be built on hard work.

“We’ve got a lot of grinders, a lot of physicality, maybe too much at times, but that’s not something we’re too afraid of,” Sundholm said.

“We’re a hard-working squad. We do have some talent, some speed, with our style of play, we’re trying to be fast, and maybe that hurts us at times, but that’s the way we want to play,” he added.

“We want to keep getting better at not trying to change for the present, trying to build for the future.”

He adds that, with that combination of toughness and grit, the Sun Devils are ready to play anybody at any time.

The team’s return has also generated excitement among local lacrosse supporters, with strong attendance at the club’s first two home games at the Kinplex Arena.

The Sun Devils are currently offering free admission as they continue to build awareness around the program.

Sundholm said the support from fans, alumni and younger lacrosse players has helped energize the roster.

“The guys really love playing at home, seeing all the kids in the stands and alumni that are back and proud to see the team,” Sundholm said. “Everybody’s excited.”

Bower said the fast-paced style of lacrosse and energetic game atmosphere have helped attract spectators unfamiliar with the sport.

“It’s an action-packed game for sure,” Bower said.

“Hopefully we can keep getting the fans out there because it’s a pretty good product on the floor.”

The impact is also noticed among younger players in the community, according to Bower, who also coaches and volunteers within the minor lacrosse system.

He said younger athletes attending games at the Kinplex are already beginning to view the junior team as something they can aspire to join in the future.

“There’s already some of those younger guys talking that they want to play this when they’re older,” Bauer said.

“It’s really fun to see the growth of the game.”

The Sun Devils’ next home game is Saturday, May 23, at 5:30 p.m. at the Kinplex.

A full league schedule is available on the RMLL website.

by Jesse Gill

Badlands Sun Devils building junior program after returning to Medicine Hat

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