The Barrie Bombers Junior C Lacrosse team is ready for the 2017 season; they just hope everyone in the division is ready too.
The Ontario Junior C Lacrosse League is underway and the Bombers will join the fray this evening as they head to Huntsville to face their rival Hawks. Last year may not have gone the way that Head Coach Luke Ringler may have wanted, but he is confident this will be the start of better days.
“We haven’t had the best record the last two years and the pressure is definitely on,” said Ringler. “That said we have a great core of young talent that we have been training constantly on discipline and hard work. No matter what the wins and losses say this season, other teams are going to know they played us.”
Ringler is no stranger to the lacrosse world with an impressive background in the national sport. After playing for many years as a kid, in 1999 at the young age of 22, he got involved in the now-defunct Barrie Tornado organization coaching many House League teams and holding several responsibilities. That led Ringler to taking on coaching roles for the minor rep squads from 2001 to 2007 and in 2006 his Midget team placed fifth at the provincial Summer Games. A successful run with the Tornado group took Ringler to Newmarket for six years as the Jr B head coach, where he compiled a 73-47 record and qualified for five of six playoffs. Now back in Barrie as not just a coach but also as Vice President of Rep teams.
“It certainly keeps me busy,” said Ringler. “Lacrosse is definitely a passion for anyone who not just plays it but also volunteers their time to make the organization better but the parents who get these kids to every practice and every game. Lacrosse is like a hidden gem where a lot of people don’t get the attraction until they experience it and when they do they’re hooked. Our stands will be packed for games throughout the season.”
The regular season for the Bombers starts early May until the end of June with playoffs happening in July. Should a team be fortunate enough to get to the prestigious Meredith Cup, they’d be playing right into August. Ringler feels they’ll do better than their 1-15 record last year with the many key components they have added.
“That was a long season last year,” said Ringler. “On top of the guys who played here the last couple years and are better equipped to the league now, we have some young kids joining us who played the highest level of midget last season and are going to be able to slip right in and be competitive. We also have some guys who have played in Jr. B and now that we have this team they want to come and play for their home team. It’s going to be a different Bombers squad this year and going forward.”
Barrie competes in the East Division of the OJCLL along with Cornwall, Clarington, Peterborough, Gloucester, Whitby and Huntsville. While they’re all important in their own right, Huntsville is considered a main rival for the team and Ringler hopes to really take it to the Hawks this year.
“We play them four times a season, two at each other’s home rinks,” said Ringler. “They’ve had our number the last two years as I don’t think we’ve beat them once. It’s a good rivalry and likely to be a spirited affair tonight and whenever we play.”
Seventeen-year-old Luke West is a transitional player for the Bombers as he plays both offense and defence for the team. The Innisdale student has been playing since he was five years old and really didn’t have a choice in the matter.
“My dad played and my grandpa played so I almost didn’t have a say but I love it anyway,” said West. I love the speed of it and the physical side as well. Some people at first glance think it’s a brutal sport to be involved with but it’s actually a beautiful game to play; I love it.”
West echoes his coach’s sentiments on the rivalry with the Hawks but has different reasons for wanting to take it to the northern squad.
“We play them a lot but my dad’s from Huntsville so it makes it a real treat to compete against them and hopefully start getting a few wins,” said West. The Bombers home opener is Sunday May 7 at The Holly Rec Centre. Barrie will host the Peterborough Lakers for a 2PM start time.
For more info on the Bombers and their home game schedule, check out the website.
