The pulp mills are making paper again, the sawmills are cutting lumber, and the economy in forestry-dependent Mackenzie has found its pulse again.
Perfect time to launch a new sports team.
The Mackenzie Lumberjax have been added as an expansion team to the Prince George Senior Lacrosse Association to begin their first season, starting in late April.
The Lumberjax will join the BX Pub Bandits, Tabor Sports Pub/Regional Security Stylers, Shooters Pub Devils and College Heights Pub Assault in a five-time senior C league as the PGSLA expands its borders beyond the city limits for the first time in its 21-year history.
"There are enough players the community's starting to pick up a little bit --people are coming back to work -- and we've got lots of former midget players who have played away for a few years who are back in town and they want to get something started here," said Lumberjax head coach Karl Peet.
"The community is starting to revitalize and you can see the difference in the attitudes of the people that are changing. There are a lot of positive emotions in the town right now. People like to have fun and sports has always been part of that fun."
The Lumberjax are an offshoot of the Mackenzie Norsemen team that introduced itself to a Prince George audience last August in the Rio Tinto Alcan Cup Canadian Invitational Lacrosse Championship. The Norsemen did not win a game in that tournament but proved they were close enough in calibre to the other teams to warrant membership in the PGSLA.
"We didn't get much preparation time but we played really well, and with the chance to put a team together and actually practice, we figure we can at least show up and give these guys a game and have some fun and keep lacrosse alive in the north," said Peet.
Mackenzie has a history of supporting sports teams of any level and Peet is confident having a senior team in town will help the sell lacrosse with young players. Mackenzie had 96 minor players in its own association last season.
"Just like having senior hockey, when you have a team it gets kids out to watch and it inspires them to get away from the Xbox and go out and play," said Peet.
"Mackenzie's had lacrosse for over 25 years now, and even though the town has suffered financially the last few years, lacrosse has survived. Per capita, we still had more players than any community in the north.
"To be part of trying to get this new club going in town is really exciting," he said. "It's a new senior sport for the town and I think it's going to draw a lot of people out to the games. Having something like this happen is only going to make the sport grow in the north."
The Mackenzie Minor Lacrosse Association executive will help run the team until it gets established. The team is still looking for a major sponsor. The Lumberjax will likely play home games as doubleheaders on weekends.
Ken Barwise, the brother of Zone 8 field lacrosse coach Bill Barwise, will be the assistant coach for the Lumberjax. Kari Rivest is the general manager and Jackie McCarthy is the assistant GM.
"Everyone I've talked to is very excited about the Mackenzie Lumberjax being involved in the league and everybody thinks it's a great thing," said PGSLA commissioner Glen 'Moose' Scott. "It shows the growth of senior lacrosse throughout the central Interior. We're very excited about Mackenzie coming in."
Between 18 and 25 players have expressed an interest in joining the Lumberjax. Mackenzie had seven players with other teams in the PGSLA last year.
Originally from Newfoundland, where he played lacrosse in high school, Peet coached the past seven seasons in the Mackenzie minor system. He realizes with the number of shift workers on the team not everybody will be available for all 15 league games and he might have to call his own number a few times to give his players a break.
"I'm very confident we will be able to field a team for all our league games this year and I'm looking forward to getting out on the floor to play a couple games," said Peet. "I'm 45 years old so I don't want to be out there for an hour and have some 20 year old beating on me with a stick."
Rio Tinto Alcan is no longer the sponsor of the August invitational tournament, which is now called the Prince George Challenge Cup. This year's tournament, Aug. 19-21 will also serve as the B.C. senior C championship.
n The PGSLA will host its annual general meeting and midget draft on Sunday, Feb. 27 at AIMHi gymnasium, 950 Kerry St.
