Woodbury Goalie Part of Inaugural Junior Swarm Lacrosse Team

The Junior Swarm, a youth lacrosse team established this summer by Minnesota’s professional squad, has a few Woodbury connections.

Head coach Aime Caines, who lives in Woodbury, is also the head coach of the East Ridge High School lacrosse team.

Nate Sitzman, a youth lacrosse player in Woodbury, is a Junior Swarm goalie, and his father, Ken Sitzman, is also involved in the program.

The squad is the first “elite youth box lacrosse team” in state history, according to Alec Schimke, spokesman for the Minnesota Swarm.

“Box lacrosse” refers to the game being played indoors. It takes more stick skills and is more physical than the outdoor version, Schimke said.

“Cross checking is allowed,” he said.

The league is for players 12-14 years old and the team will head to Toronto this weekend for a series of games, taking on players from across the U.S. and Canada. Earlier this month, the Junior Swarm participated in tournaments in Los Angeles and Denver.

For more information, visit the Junior Swarm website.

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