09/02/03
St. Albert Junior Rams

The St. Albert Junior Rams enjoyed another successful but disappointing season. The Junior Rams ended up second in the RMLL Tier II division with 14 wins and 2 losses.

The Junior Rams met the Red Deer Renegades in the first round of the playoffs and won a best of 3 series 2 games to 1. The Junior Rams went on to face the Sherwood Park Titans in the North final. The North final series only went 2 games with the Titans winning the best of 3 series 2 games straight. The scores for the 2 games were 10-5 and 8-7. The second game was one of the best Tier II lacrosse games ever played in Alberta. It was fast paced and hard hitting and unfortunately the Junior Rams came out on the short end but it wasn’t from lack of effort. "We outworked the Titans right up to the final whistle and just couldn’t score that goal to send it into overtime" Terry Dokken. The Sherwood Park Titans went on to beat the Calgary Rustlers for the Alberta Tier II championship.

St. Albert Junior Rams were a very young team this year. The 25 man roster was made up of 13 players in their 1^st year, 8 players in their 2^nd year and 4 players in their 3^rd or 4^th year of Junior lacrosse. The coaching staff was very happy and very proud of this year’s team. "Everyone should be very proud of these guys. Not very many teams can start the year with 13 rookies and 8 second year players and have the success that we had this year." Terry Dokken

"It was disappointing to loose to the Titans again this year (Junior Rams lost in the Provincial Finals tot the Titans last year) We honestly thought that we were the better team this year but I guess that’s why they make us play the game" Terry Dokken

The Junior Rams have compiled a very impressive win/loss record over the past 2 years. Their record is 38 – 10 – 1 (W-L-T). In 2003 the Junior Rams were first in the RMLL Tier II League in Goals For with 182, second in Goals Against with 71.

The Junior Rams coaching staff is excited in anticipation of the 2004 season. Every player from this years team is eligible to come back next year and there is a very talented group of midgets coming up to the junior ranks. "I can’t wait to see how strong we will be next year. I know we will loose a few players to the Edmonton Miners Jr A team, but with the calibre of players we have and the strong graduating midgets we will have a very strong team next year."

The Junior Rams are hoping to make the jump to Tier I lacrosse next year. They are applying to the RMLL for a Tier I franchise for the 2004 season. If successful St. Albert will have 2 junior teams in 2004 a Tier I (Jr B) and a Tier II team. Both teams have the potential to be very strong in their perspective leagues.

The St. Albert Junior Rams would like to thank their sponsors for their support this year. The sponsorship money is very important to the success of the team both on and off the floor. The Junior Rams would also like to thank the parents and volunteers that help make this year a total success. We look forward to seeing all of you next year for another successful year of Junior Rams lacrosse.