Venom victorious in provincial final
Mario Prusina – Times Editor
It maybe the most overused phrase in all of sports, but ‘peaking at the right time’ was indeed the case for the Strathmore Venom.
After posting an 8-5-1 record and finishing in fourth place in the league standings, the local Tier III Junior B team was unstoppable in the post-season.
Despite being underdogs in each of their best-of-three playoffs rounds, the Venom defeated the top two teams in the South Division before defeating the Grande Prairie Thrashers in the Provincial Championship. “We were nervous, but we knew we could beat them,” said coach Jody Stolz of the final. “We played the first place team in the south and beat them in two (games) and the second place team, we beat them in three (games), so we knew we could do it … we just had to go in with the right, positive attitude and play lacrosse.”
After defeating the top-ranked Innisfail Yetti and the Medicine Hat Sun Devils in the South Championship, the Venom made the 10-hour bus ride into hostile territory.
“They did everything possible to get us (off) of our game,” said the coach. “We played great lacrosse – in the first game, I don’t want to say it any better (but) we schooled them – we schooled them in the game of lacrosse.
“In the second game, they tried everything – and they were winning after the second period – but we calmed down and relaxed and beat them in the third period.”
According to Stolz, the Venom can make life frustrating for opponents.
“We’re a hard team to play,” he said. “We’re fast, we’re physical, we’re aggressive on the ball and you have to be ready to play our transition.”
During the regular season, the Venom’s rough and tough style of play resulted in them accumulating 541 penalty minutes – the most in the entire league.
Prior to the playoffs, Stolz send a message to his players that was well received.
“The biggest thing we had to realize was that for us not to lose in the playoffs, we had to stay out of the penalty box,” said Stolz. “Absolutely, the biggest thing was our discipline and the kids believed me when I told them. They (listened) and they were rewarded for it.
“Hard work, determination and going in with the right attitude (was the key) to success.”
According to Stolz, this is the first provincial title since Strathmore became a hub for kids to play lacrosse. He anticipates that younger kids will aspire to play junior lacrosse and help build the program from the grassroots level.
He was also quick to praise the support of the parents and local businesses for generating the funds necessary to take the kids to Grande Prairie.