The Orillia Mister Transmission Kings hope to take the next step in the Ontario Lacrosse Association this season.
The Jr. B lacrosse club finished with an 8-12-0 record last season and second in the Mid-East division. The Kings defeated teams above them in the standings last year and were rarely blown out.
"We were in pretty much every game," said third-year head coach Jim Meredith. "We had a bunch of games where we lost by one or two ... we want to turn those into wins this year."
in 2019, the Kings finished with a 3-17-0 record and finished dead last in the division. Meredith acknowledges the program has come a long way.
"I think we've gotten better," he said. "We have direction now and players coming up through minor lacrosse. We've done a lot of growing."
This year, Meredith hopes the Kings will be able to finish closer to the top of the Eastern Conference standings than the bottom.
"That way we wouldn't be playing one of the top teams in the first round," he said. "It would give us a chance to advance and have a good season."
Meredith says staying consistent and avoiding injuries are the keys to having a successful season.
"We are certainly taking steps in the right direction," he said. "Hopefully, we can take that next step to be in the middle of the pack."
Veteran goaltender Quinton Greenfield, 20, is now in his third and final year with the Kings before he ages out of the league.
"We've definitely progressed over the years," said Greenfield. "We have developed a good mix of young talent with the core group of guys who have grown older together."
Greenfield hopes the Kings will be a playoff team again this season.
"We think we could have a good run in the playoffs," he said. "We just need everybody to buy in and consistently work together."
Jesse Ashkewe, who plays offence for the Kings, is also in his last year of junior lacrosse.
"It makes me want to win more than ever," he said. "This is our last time to do it with this group."
Ashkewe, 21, will be playing this season alongside his brother Curtis, 18, for the first time.
"We've played field lacrosse together, but I'm excited to share the box with him for the first time," he said. "I think we will have a natural chemistry for sure."
Ashkewe hopes the team will be well supported by the community this year.
"Having the barn full on most nights would be nice," he said. "It gives us a lot of energy and helps us put on a show."
Here is the full Kings' regular season home schedule:
- April 27, 7 p.m. vs. Mimico at Rotary Place
- May 11, 7 p.m. vs. Oshawa at Rotary Place
- May 16, 8 p.m. vs. Orangeville at Rotary Place
- May 18, 7 p.m. vs. West Durham at Rotary Place
- May 23, 8 p.m. vs. Newmarket at Rotary Place
- June 1, 7 p.m. vs. Brampton at Rotary Place
- June 2, 2 p.m. vs. Halton Hills at Rotary Place
- June 8, 7 p.m. vs. Kahnawake at Rotary Place
- June 9, 2 p.m. vs. Akwesasne at Chippewas of Rama First Nation’s Mnjikaning Arena Sports Ki (MASK)
- June 15, 7 p.m. vs. Newmarket at Rotary Place
