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| Calgary Raiders - About Us |
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The Raiders Jr. “A” Lacrosse Club was established in 2002 by a group of dedicated lacrosse devotees who recognized a need for Jr. “A” Lacrosse in the Calgary area, and accepted into the Rocky Mountain Lacrosse League. The Rocky Mountain Lacrosse League is the governing body for all post-midget box lacrosse in Alberta.
Now in their 5th season, the Calgary Raiders have built a solid tradition of success. In 2005, the team competed as Alberta champions in the Minto Cup, emblematic of Canada’s national Junior A championship. Seven of our players have been drafted in National Lacrosse League (NLL) entry drafts. Our team also has strong connections to other Junior A lacrosse programs across Canada as well as collegiate lacrosse programs in the United States.
Mission
The Raiders Jr. “A” Lacrosse Club’s mission is to provide a program of excellence for the dedicated and committed junior age (17 to 21) lacrosse player in the Calgary area.
Vision
We will provide the athletes who play for the Raiders the resources and leadership to compete at the highest level of junior lacrosse in Canada.
Values and Beliefs
We believe:
• that the needs of the athlete drive the decision process.
• in cooperation and collaboration with other organizations.
• in ethical conduct and behavior.
• in taking a leadership role in the development of junior lacrosse in Alberta.
• in serving as a positive presence in the community.
• in employing sound fiscal management.
• that team sport can enhance and develop values which foster leadership, self discipline, team work and fair play.
SOME QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
We hope the following information will help answer some of your questions about the Calgary Raiders Lacrosse club.
Who do the Raiders play?
The Calgary Raiders play in a major lacrosse league consisting of:
Calgary Knights (Sr. B)
Calgary Jr. Raiders (Jr. A)
Calgary Mountaineers (Sr. B)
Edmonton Miners (Jr. A)
Edmonton Outlaws (Sr. B)
Edmonton Eclipse (Jr. A)
Calgary Raiders (Sr. B)
Calgary Jr. Mountaineers (Jr. A)
Red Deer Rage (Sr. B)
St. Albert Rams (Sr. B)
In addition to games against the other Junior A teams, we play an interlocking schedule against local Senior B teams (Calgary Knights, Calgary Raiders, Senior Mountaineers). The Senior teams include some current and past NLL players.
How long is the regular season?
The 2007 regular season schedule begins April 25 and finishes July 7.
What about playoffs?
All four Junior A teams compete in Junior A provincial playoffs starting the third week of July and finishing the first week of August. The league winner will represent Alberta in the Minto Cup. The Calgary Raiders’ winning percentage in their first four years is well over .600. In 2005, the Calgary Raiders represented Alberta in the Minto Cup as the provincial champion.
Who is coaching the team?
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The coaching staff is headed by John Millar and includes assistant coaches Nolan Heavenor and Dave Coglon. John Millar has more than a decade of experience at the junior level as a coach and player, including as head coach of the 2005 Raiders team, which represented Alberta in the 2005 Minto Cup. Nolan Heavenor plays transition for the Calgary Roughnecks and is a member of the Senior A Victoria Shamrocks. Dave Coglon has coached in Calgary at different levels for more than 12 years, most recently for the Calgary Rockies Junior B Club. Together the coaching staff will provide players with the skills and knowledge to maximize the Calgary Raiders’ success over the 2007 season.
Who is involved in the management of the club?
The Board of Directors is headed by Calgary Raiders president and general manager David Fehr and includes Brian Kopec, Brad Banister, Mark McLoghlin, Colleen Werschke, Steve Gundry, Angus Somerville, Angus Jenkins and Christina Fehr.
The experience of these individuals includes several years of involvement in both professional and amateur sports, including lacrosse, as well as numerous years of educating, coaching and mentoring adolescent athletes. Combined with their strong relationships in working with the Calgary business community, this group provides a solid base to continue to grow and develop an outstanding lacrosse organization.
Who can play for the Raiders?
And will the Raiders bring in imports?
Although the team’s Jr. A program is geared toward top tier players in the Calgary area, the Calgary Raiders also recruits out-of-province import players from Canada and the United States for roster positions.
The 2006 roster included two players from Ontario and British Columbia and three players from New York State, Maryland and Oregon.
The Calgary Raiders actively encourage interest from U.S. players who are seeking to enhance their lacrosse development by playing elite level box lacrosse. We also welcome the opportunity to develop relationships with U.S. colleges interested in recruiting box players from our program. In our four years as a program, a significant number of our players have attended U.S. colleges (17 in collegiate lacrosse programs, three in collegiate hockey programs).
We are currently interested in and talking to players in New York, Baltimore, Texas and Michigan. In Canada we are also talking to players in B.C., Ontario and Saskatchewan.
What type of players are the Raiders looking for?
The success of our franchise is built upon our athletes, supported by a strong organization and coaching program. Players recruited by the Raiders recruit are expected to have the following characteristics:
• commitment to all aspects of the program, including practices, training sessions and community involvement.
• strong work ethic in practices and games.
• high level of skill and strong athletic abilities.
• unselfish dedication to the overall success of the team.
• leadership skills on the floor and away from the floor.
• desire to constantly learn from the coaches and other players.
What do the Raiders provide?
The Raiders provide all game equipment, including gloves, helmets, practice shorts and jerseys.
Is there a registration fee?
Yes. The program covers ongoing team operating costs through a registration fee, fundraising and corporate and community support. Program costs are also underwritten in part by donations from the Fehr family.
Once the 2007 team budget is finalized in April, per player costs will be set. Registration payments will be staged in three amounts, to be collected in May, June and July.
How is the team selected?
The team will sign 10 to 12 players prior to evaluation training camp in April. Another 20 to 30 players will be formally invited to the camp, which starts April 7.
Import players players who wish to try out must request an application form and return it to David Fehr, Calgary Raiders, General Manager, before attending the training camp. There will be a nominal fee charged for the training camp.
How do U.S. (field) players adjust to the box game?
Because the “pass-catch” part of the game is virtually the same in box and field lacrosse and the fact that we only offer the opportunity to motivated athletes that want the box experience, all of our U.S. players have successfully transitioned to the box game. U.S. players in our program have become huge assets to our program very quickly and are usually looked to fill roles within the first month of being in our program.
Where will I stay? And will I be able to work while I am in Calgary?
The Raiders will initially billet you with a Raider player's family for the first week or so while you get oriented to Calgary. We will then make other longer-term accommodation arrangements either with a player’s family or with a local college. As part of your subsidy or scholarship, the team covers the cost of your accommodations.
The unemployment rate in Calgary is the lowest in Canada and all of our U.S. players have been able to find work through our networking and extended Raider family.
What are the benefits in playing for the Raiders?
• the opportunity to develop your lacrosse skills through a coaching program that:
• enhances individual skill development
• increases understanding of team principles and individual tactics
• challenges players to work toward a personal best performance approach
• develops confidence through positive reinforcement
• the opportunity to participate in an elite lacrosse program, as a member of one of Alberta’s four Junior A teams.
• the opportunity to increase your player profile and open the door to other playing opportunities in North America. In our four year history, we have had four players drafted into the NLL.
• the opportunity to compete for the Minto Cup, Canada’s national Junior A championship. Our winning percentage over our first four years is well over .600 and we have won a Provincial championship and have been to our first Minto Cup.
• the opportunity to play elite lacrosse with a manageable travel schedule. Most games will be played in Calgary, with some travel to Edmonton. During the regular season, there will be no need to travel to Ontario or B.C. to compete at a Junior A level.
• the opportunity to develop new friends as a member of the Calgary Raiders organization.
For more information about the Calgary Raiders, contact:
David Fehr
President & General Manager, Raiders Lacrosse
Tel: (403) 287-1668
Cell: (403) 852-3627
Email: dl.fehr@shaw.ca
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