The defending Presidents' Cup senior B national champions hit the floor running at full speed in Friday's season opener at Go Auto Arena.
The St. Albert Miners poured in 19 even-strength goals in the 21-5 throttling of the Blackfalds Silverbacks at Go Auto Arena.
The Silverbacks are newcomers to the seven-team senior B division.
The Miners led 14-3 after two periods.
Richard Lachlin fired six goals and assisted on two others and Keegan Bal pumped in five during a nine-point night.
Lachlan was the Miners' player of the game for the host team in the national final at Leduc with five goals and one assist in the 12-7 win over the Kahnawake Mohawks of the Quebec Senior League and Bal was a first team all-star and tournament MVP with 24 assists and 36 points in five games.
Bal was also the top scorer Rocky Mountain Lacrosse League with 70 points, including 26 goals, in 13 games and in the best-of-three RMLL provincial final against the Calgary Mountaineers racked up nine goals and 16 points in two games as the Miners won their first provincial title since 2014 and the fourth in seven years.
Graedon Cornfield added three goals and three assists against the Silverbacks, while Tom Buckley and captain Jordan Cornfield potted a pair each and Darren Kinnear and Matt Andruchow had singles.
Dave Marrese, the second team all-star netminder at nationals, was the starter against the Silverbacks and collected three assists.
The victory was the 26th in a row for the Miners after starting off last season with a 7-7 draw against the Rockyview Knights.
The Miners continue their five-game homestand Sunday against the Calgary Raiders at 3:30 p.m.
The Crude Lacrosse Club of St. Albert is winless in two games to start off the junior B Tier I season.
The Crude lost 12-8 to the Calgary Shamrocks and 11-4 to the Red Deer Rampage last weekend at Akinsdale Arena.
Ben Holowaty notched three goals and three assists in the season opener.
Dustin Herman tallied twice and Greyson Seibel, Keegan Doll and Brock McIntyre also scored.
Liam Potgieter struck twice and Holowaty and Jordan McCuaig also connected against Red Deer.
The next Rocky Mountain Lacrosse League game is Tuesday against the Fort Saskatchewan Rebels at 7:30 p.m. at JRC Arena.
The St. Albert Rams recorded one point in two games against the Saskatchewan SWAT of Saskatoon last weekend in the Greater Edmonton Lacrosse Council.
Scores against the SWAT (1-1-1) were 4-4 Saturday in Edmonton and 8-3 in Sunday's loss at Kinex Arena.
Monday the Rams rebounded to beat the host Sherwood Park Titans 5-4.
Bryce Schmermund and Mathieu Gautier tallied twice and Kolby Nestor also scored. Schmermund added two assists.
The Rams (2-2-1) and the Titans (0-2) battle again this Monday at 7:30 p.m. in Sherwood Park.
The junior A St. Albert Miners open the season Friday against the Calgary Raiders in the Rocky Mountain Lacrosse League.
Ball drop is 8 p.m. at Max Bell Centre.
Sunday the Miners host the Saskatchewan SWAT of Saskatoon at 1 p.m. at Go Auto Arena.
Last year the Miners finished fourth in the five-team standings at 7-13 and missed the playoffs.
The St. Albert Drillers have home-floor advantage this weekend in the junior ladies' division in the Rocky Mountain Lacrosse League.
The Drillers play the Rockyview Silvertips (0-2-1) at 6 p.m. Saturday and the Calgary Axemen-Snipers (0-0-1) at 3 p.m. Sunday at Akinsdale Arena.
The Drillers kicked off the season in last week's 16-2 loss to the Capital Region Saints (2-1) in Edmonton.
Kelsey Cameron and Derica Pilgrim scored in the third period.
