Skip to content

Wild getting through learning curve

Wild getting through growing pains of B.C. Intermediate Lacrosse League
web1_170612-PWN-OK-Wild-lacrosse
Kale Lawrence (22) and Beau Chetner (48) of Penticton lead the way offensively for the Okanagan Wild in the B.C. Intermediate Lacrosse League. Okanagan Wild Facebook page

The Okanagan Wild has discovered it’s a steep learning curve in the B.C. Intermediate Lacrosse League.

The league’s newest expansion team has three wins in 13 games. Earlier this month the Wild played Richmond, earning a split with a 10-5 win in Merritt on June 4.

“Most of our players before this year, hadn’t played at this (A) level,” said Wild coach Dan Chetner. “There are some big differences and then some little differences, too, between the elite play and B-level play.”

Among the differences is playing with intensity and speed. Chetner said over time, that is something the players get used to.

Related: Okanagan Wild lacrosse fills need in area

“I think we are doing a lot better now,” he said. “We had a rough start, but have picked up since then.”

This weekend the Wild have a home-and-home set with the Burnaby Lakers. Their home game is June 17 at Chilliwack Twin Rinks. Chetner said it is a huge weekend for them as the Lakers are winless and the Wild are four points out of a playoff spot. The top eight teams qualify.

The following weekend will be another big one for the Wild, on June 24 they host their first and only home game at Memorial Arena against the New Westminster Salmonbellies.

Beau Chetner is 12th in league scoring with 32 goals and 52 points in 13 games.


 

@pentictonsports
sports@pentictonwesternnews.com

Like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.