The Calgary Raiders want to make history as the first Alberta team to win the 2026 Minto Cup.
The iconic lacrosse championship returns to Alberta, running from Aug. 16 to 23 at Ken Bracko Arena in the Max Bell Centre in southeast Calgary.
Competing in the Rocky Mountain Junior A Lacrosse League (RMJALL), the highest level of junior box lacrosse, the Raiders have been an important part of Alberta lacrosse for decades, developing talent to play in the professional ranks.
Raiders general manager Andrew McBride has been involved with the Raiders for 17 years as an assistant coach, head coach and now the GM.
McBride says that since this is the third time Calgary has hosted the national championship, they hope it ends with being the last team standing.
“Alberta’s never won a Minto Cup. It doesn’t get the respect it should get from the rest of the country. So to do something historic would be an absolutely remarkable thing, not only for our team, but just for lacrosse in general in Calgary. And it really will influence and inspire the next generation of lacrosse players,” McBride said in an interview with the Calgary Journal.
McBride said the biggest influence on lacrosse growth comes from the Calgary Roughnecks, who play in the professional ranks and hope to be an inspiration moving forward.
“Young kids at our game with sticks that can go on between periods, to see alumni of our program come back that are now giving back and coaching teams here in the city,” McBride said. “So it’s really remarkable to see the development on so many different levels and to be a part of that and continue to push the trajectory is huge.”
Calgary Raiders captain Carson Mann is in his second season as captain, having been an assistant for a year prior.
Mann says he felt “honored” and realized the trust others have placed in him for setting the standard moving forward is critical.
Growing up in Calgary, Mann said a big credit to Alberta’s development has been former players coming back and helping the team.
“A lot of players who come back and coach and give back to the game. And I think that helps because they learn how to play the game the right way,” Mann said. “And it’s not just kind of hockey dads coming out to coach lacrosse teams. It’s now former lacrosse players coming back and teaching the younger generation how to play lacrosse with the proper techniques and skills.”
Mann said due to the fan support for all of the different teams in Calgary, he’s hopeful the Raiders can also grow that fanbase with the Minto Cup.
“I know Calgary is very high on their sports with the Flames, Stampeders, and even the Roughnecks,” Mann said. “We have one of the biggest fan bases for the NLL with the Roughnecks. If we can get enough people to come out and watch our lacrosse, a whole new fan base can be built for Junior A lacrosse.”
Mann hopes the Raiders’ do well in the touranment, saying the team looks forward to the challenge.
“I would say that our group has a chance to make history here, be the first Alberta team to win a Minto Cup. And if people could rally behind us and support us, it would be extremely helpful,” added Mann.
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