Receiving a promotion is nerve racking. Within the blink of an eye you get ripped out of your comfort zone and thrust into a new role, one you hope you can handle, because if you fail, everyone is going to see that you didn’t deserve the promotion in the first place.
That’s the kind of pressure the Saskatchewan SWAT had to deal with at the start of this season.
READ MORE: Saskatchewan SWAT lacrosse players test their mettle in Junior ‘A’
Members of the Saskatchewan SWAT had no idea how they would stack up against the competition after making the jump to the Junior “A” division of the Rocky Mountain Lacrosse League.
The players were excited about the prospect of playing against more talented teams, but at the same time, they wondered if they had bitten off more than they could chew.
READ MORE: Saskatchewan SWAT excited for debut in top junior division
Well the SWAT are now over halfway through the regular season, and not only is the team competitive, but Saskatchewan’s players believe they have what it takes to shock the rest of the league.
The SWAT sit with a 5-7-1 record and are clinging to the third and final playoff spot with seven games remaining in the season. The St. Albert Miners are just three points back, so Saskatchewan needs to finish strong in order to lock up a spot in the post-season.
“It would be huge,” said SWAT forward Baden Boyenko.
“Anything can happen in the playoffs and we can take it any team in this league.”
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The SWAT are riding a wave of confidence after picking up back to back wins last weekend. But it will be tough for the boys to find similar success during their upcoming three-game home stand.
The SWAT are up against the first place Calgary Mounties. Saskatchewan hasn’t defeated either of the top two teams in the league, at least, not yet.
“We’re right on that cusp,” said SWAT assistant coach Jay Price.
“We know we’re as good as those two teams and we just need a break here or there.”
The Saskatchewan SWAT will kick off a three-game home stand against the Calgary Mounties starting Friday at 8:30 p.m. CT at Gordie Howe Arena.
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