Pandemic has spurred resurgence of senior Snakes, says Kamloops Rattlers captain Jurista

For years, longtime Kamloops Rattlers captain Mark Jurista searched for new blood, pleading with the media for lacrosse players to join his club, an aging and often understaffed team that was on the verge of extinction. .

In the end, it took a global crisis to smoke out these slippery, evasive, evasive snakes.

“I think it has a lot to do with two years off and COVID and the pandemic and everyone is excited to start doing something social again and something in team sports,” said Jurista, who has turned 38 on April 17.

The Rattlers were asked to pay a $100 commitment fee, and 23 players forked out the money.

“It’s way more than we had in the past and so soon,” Jurista said. “I know it’s probably inevitable that we’ll lose a few, but it’s kind of nice to see those kind of numbers.”

The Thompson Okanagan Senior Lacrosse League season begins Friday, April 22, with Kamloops set to host the Vernon Tigers, at 7:30 p.m. at Memorial Arena.

In 2018, the league was in bad shape, with only two teams in its ranks – the Rattlers and Armstrong Shamrocks, who agreed to play a six-game series.

Armstrong won five games and Kamloops was unable to muster a team for Game 6.

The Kelowna Tigers and Raiders joined the league in 2019 to complete the four-team circuit, which included Kamloops and Armstrong.

Each of those teams are listed, and Princeton has been added to the mix for the five-team 2022 campaign.

Teams can dress 18 runners and two goaltenders for a game. Jurista and some of the other Rattlers veterans plan to volunteer to sit out if more than 20 players are available on game day.

“It’s early to jump to conclusions, but that’s the way it is,” Jurista said. “It’s a good problem to have older guys looking to hand over the reins to us.”

Jeremy Bosher and Riley Peterson are among the notable additions to the Rattlers’ roster to start the season, Jurista said, noting that Josh Bosher could also struggle for the club.

“It’s nice to see these young faces,” Jurista said. “Everyone is looking forward to Friday.”

Tickets are $5 at the door. KMLA players who wear a jersey get in for free.