For the first time since 2019, Rocky View's junior lacrosse teams are hitting the floor with their first season openers in Rocky Mountain Lacrosse League (RMLL).

The Jr. B Tier 1 Silvertips are in Brentwood to face the Calgary Chill, and head to Lethbridge for a Sunday game against the Barracudas. The Jr. B Tier II Rage are in Strathmore to take on the Venom. Both of these teams call Cochrane home.

The Silvertips Jr. Ladies team plays out of the Plainsmen Arena in Airdrie and opens its season tonight at home against the Calgary Cardinals and hosts the St. Albert Drillers tomorrow.

Jr. B Silvertips head coach Tyler Waycott says they got a good look at their roster in their exhibition play against the Jr. Mounties earlier this month.

"We've got a lot of speed," says Waycott. "We're going to try to utilize that speed to our advantage this coming season, so I'm excited to have that type of look and that type of skillset on our team."

Because it has been a few seasons since there's been RMLL play, gauging competition is difficult. including that from the Chill. 

"I'm excited about it. I don't know much about what they have at the moment, but I'm preparing as if they're going to be a skilled team like they always have been."

The 'Cudas was an expansion team the last time Waycott coached the Silvertips. He's expecting them to be a hard-nosed team and will give the Tips a challenge.

He believes having that bus trip to Lethbridge early in the season is valuable.

"We're looking forward to getting the guys on the bus, getting the guys back together with no distractions, and getting to know each other that much better."

A few days ago, the Tips had placed 34 of a possible 35 players on their protection list and established their 25-player roster for the opener. Some of their players haven't yet returned from post-secondary play in Canada and the States.

Others continue to compete for spots on Junior A teams, something Waycott and the rest of the organization encourage. 

After wandering through the wilderness the last two seasons, knowing there's a full season ahead is starting to hit home.

"Having everything trending in the right direction has been a driving force within our camp, and the players are excited to get back to playing a regular season again. It's been great to see the smiles on the guys' faces, just the joy in their eyes, knowing we're going to be playing again."

Until ice is removed from Totem One, the team will be on the road. Next weekend they play the Calgary Shamrocks and Red Deer Rampage.

We get to see them here in Cochrane for their home opener on May 13 against the Mountain View Mavericks and the Fort Saskatchewan Rebels the following day.