When Stage Two of Alberta's "Open for Summer" plan went into effect on June 10th, adult indoor team sports were allowed to resume without restrictions.

That put many teams and leagues back on the floor but one that's not going ahead with a 2021 season is the Rocky Mountain Lacrosse League (RMLL).

In a release posted on the RMLL website, the league Executive says it has made the difficult decision to cancel the 2021 official season.

The release went on to explain that, in a typical year, teams went through a pre-season that began in late March or early April followed by a regular-season starting in late April, followed by playoffs in August.

With the restrictions being lifted in June, the league says the earliest its teams could hit the floor was mid-June.  However, given that most teams had not been in action for several months, with some even not having played since 2019, a minimum of two weeks of practice time would be needed before the games could even begin.

That would have meant, at best, a regular-season that would start in early July.  They say that simply would have left a time frame too short to run even a reduced schedule for the regular season, and then playoffs.

Other lacrosse leagues across Canada have already cancelled the 2021 season.

Some RMLL teams like the Rockyview Junior Tier One Men's Silvertips have started some 'return to play activities' and the league says those decisions can be made on a team-by-team basis.  

The RMLL Executive has applied to the government for funds to offset the continuing costs of operating the league, and its relaunch for next season.  They say they're doing it to reduce or eliminate league fees in 2021.  

The league says losing an entire RMLL season is something no one would have thought of, let alone losing two consecutive campaigns.  They say this presents everyone involved in the sport a number of difficult challenges to navigate during the coming months, not the least of which is working together to keep the momentum of the game, and the league going to build a successful comeback for a 2022 season.

Four teams based in Airdrie call the Rocky Mountain Lacrosse League their home.  The Men's Senior 'B' Rockyview Knights, the Men's Senior 'C' Airdrie Mohawks, the Senior Ladies Rocky View Attack and the Rockyview Silvertips of the Junior Ladies division.  

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