Chaos begin playoff campaign

By Cole Parkinson
Taber Times

After a bye in the first round, the Southern Alberta Chaos found themselves back on the court this past weekend as they looked to become champions in the Rocky Mountain Lacrosse League (RMLL). A 14-2 record saw the Chaos finish in first place in the Jr. B Tier II South standings, and they awaited their opponent as they played the winner of the Strathmore Venom and Foothills Spurs. The Venom were able to win the best-of-three series with 16-5 and 13-8 victories. 

On July 24, the Chaos and Venom played Game 1 in Brooks. The Chaos came out firing, and they led 4-0 after the first. The two teams would trade goals back-and-forth in the second and third periods, but the Chaos were able to take the opener 7-3. Michael Dyck scored twice and added two assists, while Devon Robichaud had a goal and three assists. Austin Sheen scored twice and had an assist, Hunter Skrove had three assists, Carter Kerkhoff and Jacoby Lalonde had the other goals, and Dagrin Bahr-Hemsing notched a single assist. 

The two teams reconvened on Saturday for Game 2 as the Venom looked to extend the series to a third and final game. Once again, the Chaos jumped out to an early lead, but this time, they continued to put goals on the board as they cruised to an 18-7 victory and a series win. Dyck was unstoppable with three goals and seven assists, while Robichaud had nine assists in the game. Connor Materi put seven behind the Venom netminder and added an assist for good measure. Sheen scored twice and added two assists, Kerkhoff had a hat trick and an assist, and Colton Litke scored and had two assists. Carter Foote and Skrove each had a goal and an assist, and Logan Jones, Jett Matisho, Asher Pancoast, and Hael Maxwell-Lyster all had an assist in the win. 

On the other side of the bracket, the Calgary Axemen took on the Calgary Wranglers. The Axemen dealt with the Rockyview Rage in the first round with a 2-0 series win. Their run would end in the second round, as the Wranglers won both games to advance to Provincials. Next stop for the Chaos is Provincials in Calgary this coming weekend. For Provincials, the North Division winners from Round 2 and South Division winners from Round 2 will play in a tournament to determine the winner.