The Estevan Devils will kick off the 2011 Queen City Minor Box Lacrosse season this week knowing that it will take their new players some time to get used to the game.
The midget team has a handful of returning players with years of lacrosse experience under their belts, along with some who have never played the sport.
There were not enough players for Estevan to field a bantam team this year, so there are also several bantam players with the Devils.
Cory Bod and Shawn Pryznyk have taken over the coaching reins from Evan Handley this season.
"We'll have a competitive team," said Bod. "We've got a good core group that have been playing for six or seven years. We've got half a dozen really skilled players who are very competent at the game and understand everything."
The Devils, coming off a fourth-place finish last season, have a busy week to start the regular season.
Their opener is tonight in Regina against the Cannons. After that is a two-game weekend set against the Regina Knights at the Lignite Miners Centre, Saturday at 8:30 p.m. and Sunday at 1 p.m.
The Devils also have road games next week against the Moose Jaw Mustangs and the Knights.
There are only four teams in the Queen City league this season, with each club playing 14 regular season games.
For the Devils, one key to success will be to develop the skills of the new players so that they can play a bigger role later in the season.
"They're all excited to learn," Bod said. "Everybody's energetic, everybody's really interested in learning. The senior players have been excellent with helping the newcomers."
That said, Bod is confident in the team's returning players, including Ryan Frehlick and Isaac Elder.
"We've got some strong returnees that'll be able to carry a big load," he said.
The Devils were planning to get out on the floor for their third and final practice session Monday before opening the season.
The full roster includes Frehlick, Elder, Austin Spencer, Preston Benning, Joshua Pryznyk, Dustin Cowan, Kaitlin King, Jordan Memory, Kensey Fedyk, Shelby Betzema, Paige Collopy, Ryan Kenzie, Emily Schroeder, Saige Christenson, Brianna Cote, Michael Slager, Cole MacCuish and Christian Yuzicapi Bod.
