Local lacrosse fans should get excited – live, in-person lacrosse will return to the area in January when the Arena Lacrosse League kicks off their fifth season.
The ALL season officially starts on December 18 and the Peterborough Timbermen will play two games on the road before their home opener on January 8 at Millbrook Arena.
The Timbermen will play seven home games between January and March, all on Saturdays at 4 p.m. Complete schedule information can be found at www.peterboroughtimbermen.com.
ALL President Paul St. John said the league will be following government safety protocols in all municipalities.
“Everyone associated with the league, which includes players, coaches, officials, volunteers and fans 12 and over will have to be fully vaccinated to enter any arena,” St. John explained. Masks will also be required.
The Timbermen were a competitive team during the previous two seasons, and expectations among the coaching staff and players are high. Between 17 and 19 players are expected to return after the abbreviated 2020 season, in which the team finished third.
The upcoming 2022 season is going to be the season that the Timbermen will floor the organization’s best team in its five years, said head coach and general manager Joe Sullivan. Partly that is due to an abundance of talent trickling down from NLL training camps, which will feature two draft classes competing for limited spots.
“As an organization we have built for this season,” Sullivan said. “Coming back are top offensive players Mark Vradenburg and Aaron Woods, number one and two in league scoring, as well as NLL-experienced Cam Simpson, Vaughn Harris and Joel Matthews. Defensive standouts include Justin Bragg, Parker Sands, Carter Badour and Jordan Hendrycks, who are all back and looking to get to the next level.”
The Timbermen have sent 14 players to the NLL, which is first and foremost the mission of the ALL as the NLL’s minor league. Approximately 15% of current NLLers have ALL experience.
“We have surrounded these young aspiring players with incredible leaders in Vradenburg, Brett Coons and Steve Bourden. In net, we have the best up and coming goalie in Landon Kells. Our hope is to see Landon playing for Calgary, but if we are fortunate to have him back we will be tough to beat. If we don’t, we have two very capable goalies in Marko Celic and Troi Benedict.”
In addition to gaining experience for the NLL, the growing comradery between players and the club’s team-first atmosphere is why players want to come back.
Returning player Kyle McFadyen said he was humbled to advocate for the team and give a voice to the players for this article. McFadyen is a paramedic and firefighter working in the Muskokas, and doesn’t mind the travel from Huntsville to Millbrook to suit up for the Timbermen.
“I’m happy I listened to Sully and came on board as a free agent last season,” McFadyen said. “Playing for the Timbermen is a blast. The boys love just getting together and playing. This group of guys will be amazing to grow with over the next couple years. You will see us in the finals, and always competing as a team. It’s something I’m proud to be part of.”
Local players interested in trying out for the Timbermen must be 18 or older as of December 31. The ALL also hosts a U22 division and a women’s division. Players can register for tryouts at www.arenalacrosseleague.ca.
The ALL will also start play in Langley, B.C. this winter with the ALL West expansion. Four teams will play out of the Langley Events Centre. The goal is to eventually have the winners of the ALL’s East and West Divisions play for a championship, but that will not happen this season.
A version of this post also appeared in The Peterborough Examiner.
