Trading in hockey sticks for dodgeball at ES Laird

The Lakeland College Women’s Hockey players have put away their sticks for some off-the-ice lunchtime dodgeball shenanigans with students at ES Laird School. 

Defender, Juliana Giacobbo who is from St. Albert says the players love the friendly competition but will go all out on the court. 

“We are here to win.” 

Forward, Addison Eurich, who hails from Luseland adds they are too competitive to take it easy on the elementary school students.  

“Anything we do as a team; we love doing it together. And it makes us cheer each other on because not all of us can be on the court at once, just like, not all of us can be in a game at once. Dodgeball or hockey, we love competing together.” says Addison. 

On the ice, the Rustlers who are the defending ACAC champions have an away-and-home match-up against rivals Red Deer on Friday and Saturday. 

“Saturday is our Kindness Wins game, that’s with our sponsor Lloydminster Co-op. So, if you wear any Kindness Wins jerseys or hoodies from the last 16 years, you can get in for free,” says Addison. 

Game time on Saturday, Feb. 7 is 5:00 p.m. at the Co-op Community Arena. 

Dodgeball showdown

On the dodgeball court, the Rustlers took on the Slimy Snails in a semifinal clash. Going in, grade 8’s, Carter Behnke felt they had a good chance of getting the win. 

“The Rustlers are pretty good. It’s going to be scary.” 

The Rustlers gave as good as they got on the court with the Slimy Snails holding their nerve until the final round of power hitting put paid to the young challengers. 

The Rustlers will meet Timmy Tuff Knuckles in the final next week at ES Laird. 

Rustlers community involvement

The Rustlers look forward to opportunities to pinch hit for community events. For Literacy Week, the players were out at Fr. Gorman School and Rendell Park reading to the students. Rustlers’ athletes from hockey, volleyball, and basketball were also at the school earlier in the day for leadership sessions with the ES Laird Sabres. 

Head coach, Morgan Mann with the Lakeland College Lloydminster & District Co-op Rustlers Women’s Hockey Team says the players have been giving back in the new year. 

“We have been to a lot of schools. It’s just the way it has worked out. Next week we are part of the Wintergration program where new Canadians will be given their first experience of putting on skates and going for a skate. These things are just as rewarding for our players as it is for the kids, youth, and community members that they are serving.”