Covy Moore/Rocky View Publishing

The Knights of Airdrie senior lacrosse team faced off against the Calgary Junior A Mounties April 18 in Crossfield. The team is in the midst of setting its roster for the 2012 season.

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Airdrie Knights setting regular season roster

The newly relocated Knights of Airdrie played an exhibition game in Crossfield April 18, losing to the Calgary Junior A Mounties club 6-5.

Head Coach Gareth Barley used the matchup to assess some of the younger players on the team, as he left seven of the veterans off the roster.

“The game score wasn’t something we were too concerned with. Wes dressed the most inexperienced guys we could,” said Barley. “Some players worked their way off the roster last night, some players worked their way on.”

The team, which will begin its regular season at the Plainsman Arena next month, is trying to whittle its roster down to 26 players before the season begins.

“There are eight first-year players trying to make the team. We were looking for some leadership out of the older guys,” said Barley. “It was kind of what we suspected, the veterans were the top scorers on the team, but there were some rookie surprises too.”

An exhibition game was held on April 21 in Blackfalds against two-time Rocky Mountain Senior Lacrosse League champions the Edmonton Outlaws. The Knights defeated the Outlaws 12-5. The next game will be held April 25 in Crossfield against Calgary’s Senior Mounties.

“We are expecting a good game from them, they have picked up six or eight players from the draft, and four of five of them will make their team,” said Barley.

While the team is still looking to set a final roster, Barley is excited for the season because the core group of Knights has been together for a number of years, and even spent some time in the off-season together.

“There is a lot of talk about coming back to Airdrie. A lot of the guys came out early for off-season training, we are seeing how close the team is from last year,” said Barley.

“Everybody has the same motto, we are not finishing second, we are winning a championship.