After going quiet during the COVID‑19 pandemic, the Innisfil Wolfpack Lacrosse Club is working to rebuild - with a focus on the community’s youngest athletes.
The club, which previously drew hundreds of local families each season, shut down during the pandemic and did not immediately restart. Now, with renewed momentum, organizers are hoping to revive a sport that once had a strong footprint in Innisfil.
“We had pre-COVID, we had 250 families coming out with their children to play lacrosse in Innisfil, and COVID put a damper on that, and we're trying to get a resurgence again of lacrosse in Innisfil,” said Ken Siggens, who is helping lead the Wolfpack’s return.
Rather than jumping straight back into older age divisions, the club’s focus this year is on building from the youngest players up - a strategy designed to ensure long‑term sustainability.
“So right now, our big mandate is to build the club back up from the small, young kids, and then we can have a strong club going into the future,” Siggens told Barrie 360. “We are starting kids as young as three years old.”
The Wolfpack is offering U5 and U7 house league programs, along with rep teams at the U9, U11, and U13 levels. The youngest programs focus on basic skills, teamwork, and fun, with no contact and limited equipment, making it an accessible entry point for families new to the sport.
Listen below to our interview with Ken Siggens. It begins at the 19:43 mark.
For parents weighing summer activities, Siggens emphasized that lacrosse doesn’t have to take over the season. Aside from the U5 and U7 programs, which run on Mondays, most practices and games are scheduled during the week, keeping weekends largely free.
The rep season wraps up in early August with the Ontario Lacrosse Festival, leaving families time to enjoy the rest of the summer.
“We really try to respect the parents' time,” Siggens said, adding that avoiding long weekends and Friday commitments has been a priority.
With the Stroud Arena closed due to structural issues, the Wolfpack will split games between the Morgan Russell Memorial Arena & Community Centre in Lefroy and the Innisfil Recreational Centre this season.
The club has also brought in a mix of experienced and passionate coaches, including a former Junior B player and a coach who played lacrosse in 1973, giving players a blend of modern and traditional instruction.
Registration open
Registration is open, and the club is still looking to fill rosters, particularly in the U9, U11, and U13 age groups. Players who did not make teams in nearby centres are also welcome to register.
“We want to get as many kids out as possible to enjoy the sport,” Siggins said.
Families interested in learning more or signing up can visit wolfpacklacrosse.ca for registration details.
