|
|
|
 History: History of the Kelowna Minor Lacrosse Association |
|
History of the Kelowna Minor Lacrosse Association
The Kelowna Minor Lacrosse Association was officially registered as a society in 1985.
A dedicated group of lacrosse enthusiasts worked diligently in developing lacrosse in this area. Competitions were held with teams in Vernon and Armstrong.By 1992, Kamloops was ready to join the league.
Their commitment and drive kept the sport alive but the numbers were small.
In 1984, there were 86 athletes registered to play minor lacrosse in the Kelowna area.
A new drive was started to create an awareness of the game. Lacrosse was everywhere and the hard work paid off as the next year saw double the number of lacrosse players. With much work, both the Penticton areas and Salmon Arm areas joined the league. The growth continues and sits at approximately 350 registered players in 2002.
Many new coaches and officials came on board along the way.
Kelowna hosts three invitational tournaments yearly.
The Bill McBain Peewee Tournament, held in May, is a house league tournament. It is held in honour of Bill McBain, a local lacrosse enthusiast, who has brought much lacrosse experience to the Okanagan Valley. Bill has held positions in the Canadian Lacrosse Association, the BC Lacrosse Association.
His coaching clinics are well attended and he currently works on the development of lacrosse in all areas of British Columbia.
The Joel Reddeman Memorial Tournament is held in June and is a house league tournament of Bantam age players. Joel Reddeman was an outstanding local lacrosse player who passed away tragically in August 1994. The Kelowna Minor Lacrosse Association also recognizes an individual athlete every year within the association, with the Joel Reddeman Outstanding Lacrosse Player Award.
The Andy Woods Summer Showdown is a competitive tournament held in Kelowna every July. This tournament is held in the memory of another fine young Kelowna Lacrosse player, Andy Woods, who lost his life in July 1996, shortly after his high school graduation. Every year,the KMLA honors the memory of Andy with a high school bursary.
|
|
