Warlords Training Camp Set to Begin Early March
New Coaching staff is eager to forget disappointing 2011 season
The Warlords are ready to hit the floor, and forget a dismal 2011 season that saw the team miss the OLA Junior B playoffs for the first time in since 2007. Training camp is slated to begin March 7th, 9:30pm at the Lakemount Sports Complex in Grimsby. Please note that start time on the 7th is subject to change.
The Warlords’ new coaching staff of Justin Kennedy, Nate Reid, and Mack Abbott will be looking to evaluate players both returning and prospective during these workout sessions. Interested players should contact General Manager Bob Wright (rwright1551@cogeco.ca), or assistant General Manager Jesse Cracknell (jesse.cracknell8@gmail.com) for further details. It is the players’ responsibility to ensure that they get any required permissions from their home centres if they expect to be on the floor to start camp.
Additional information regarding training camp will be posted on the team website (www.warlordlax.com) as it becomes available.
Training camp in March is scheduled for the following dates (times are subject to change):
Saturday, March 7 – 9:30pm
Saturday, March 13 – 9:30pm
Saturday, March 21 – 9:30pm
Saturday, March 28 – 9:30pm
We look forward to seeing all players interested playing for the Warlords on the floor on March 7th. It is important to note that these camp times are not optional, and attendence is crucial to any players (new or returning) who are interested in playing for the Warlords this year.
Management, coaches and staff are eager to get going to forget a disappointing 2011 season and look forward to a bright future rebuilding the team and getting them back into playoff contention this year.
Warlords Announce Coaching Change
Justin Kennedy named Head Coach of the 2012 Welland Jr.B Warlords
The Welland Warlords would like to announce a coaching change for the 2012 OLA Jr.B season. Justin Kennedy will be the Warlords second new Head Coach in as many years.
Kennedy comes to the Warlords with an extensive lacrosse resume, that will surely be an asset to the Warlords who look to rebound from a disappointing 2011 season that saw them miss the playoffs after qualifying in each of the previous three seasons.
While this is Kennedy’s first stint as a Junior coach in the OLA, he brings an exceptional amount of experience in coaching lacrosse at a high level. The 29 year old Kennedy currently serves as the Head Coach of the Brock University Men’s lacrosse team, a team that has qualified for the Canadian University Field Lacrosse Association’s (CUFLA) Championship in each of the previous two seasons. Kennedy also currently serves as a ‘co-coach’ of the Brampton Inferno prospects team, of the Junior CLAX league.
As a player, Kennedy won 3 CUFLA national championships as a member of the Brock Badgers. He was also a member of the Founder’s Cup champion Barrie Tornadoes team in 2001, and Presidents Cup champion Owen Sound Woodsmen team in 2006. Finally, Kennedy was drafted to the Toronto Rock of the NLL for the 2003/2004 season.
Kennedy brings aboard two assistant coaches who will be familiar faces for Warlord fans.
Nate Reid will return to the Warlords dressing room as an assistant coach. Nate Reid has extensive playing experience at the Junior and Major levels. In addition, Reid serves as an assistant coach to Kennedy for the Badgers. A defender, Reid played 61 games for the Warlords, tallying 33 pts (8G, 25A) with 74 PIM.
Finally, Mack Abbott will return to the Warlords bench to also serve as an assistant coach along with Reid. Abbott has appeared for the Warlords as both a player and coach – and has been a part of the Warlords during their previous 3 playoff appearances as a player and then as a coach. Abbott appeared in 39 games for the Warlords and finished his Warlord career with 45 Pts (17G, 28A) and 36 PIM.
The Warlords ownership, management, and staff would like to welcome the new staff to the Warlords and wish them the best of luck in returning the Warlords to the playoffs after a brief hiatus in 2011.