RoughRiders creating lacrosse program for youths

CEDAR RAPIDS - The sport has been called hockey on grass, which make this a natural for the Cedar Rapids RoughRiders to get involved.

The United States Hockey League club is conducting the inaugural RoughRiders Summer Lacrosse Program for youths. The program runs from Tuesdays and Thursdays, June 16 through July 30 at Seminole Valley Park in Cedar Rapids.

'We've been thinking about it for a couple of years,” said RoughRiders CEO Jeff Jauch. 'Both of my boys played lacrosse in high school in Wisconsin. It's a sanctioned sport in places like Minnesota and Michigan. It just has been not been in Iowa.”

Jauch has enlisted the help of Andrew Krikelas to teach boys and girls about the sport. He is an assistant coach for the men's team at Cornell College, which instituted a program last year.

The RoughRiders are providing lacrosse equipment (helmet, stick, pads) if needed. The cost of the program is $200.

Contact Jauch via phone (319-247-0340) or e-mail (jjauch@roughridershockey.com) for more information or to signup.

'The sport really is a natural for hockey players and football players,” Jauch said. 'We're starting out slow with this. We know we need to grow it.”

l Comments: (319) 398-8259; jeff.johnson@thegazette.com