Vermilion Roar Battles Through Busy Ice Melter Weekend

The Vermilion Roar turned in a strong showing at the 2026 Lakeland Ice Melter Tournament over Mother’s Day weekend, competing against teams from across Alberta and Saskatchewan in one of the region’s largest early-season box lacrosse events.

Hosted throughout Bonnyville, Cold Lake, and Glendon from May 8 to 10, the annual tournament brought together athletes, families, coaches, and fans for a weekend packed with lacrosse action, community spirit, vendors, and family activities.

This year’s Ice Melter once again featured a three-game guarantee for teams, tournament apparel, local vendors, a Saturday farmer’s market, and Mother’s Day-themed touches throughout the weekend, creating an atmosphere that extended far beyond the arena floor.

The Vermilion Roar competed across several divisions and came away with impressive results, highlighted by a championship and a gold performance from the U15 squad. The team captured first place after defeating the Leduc Crush in the gold medal final at RJ Lalonde Arena, capping off an exciting weekend of fast-paced competition.

The U13 Roar team also secured a podium finish, earning third place after a strong win over the Leduc Crush at Cenovus Arena. Vermilion’s U9 and U17 teams also battled through highly competitive divisions to earn fourth-place finishes. The U9 team wrapped up tournament play against Lakeland Heat U9-1 at Graham Field House, while the U17 squad closed out the weekend facing the Lloydminster Border Brutes at RJ Lalonde Arena.

By the end of the weekend, Vermilion had earned a first-place finish in U15, third place in U13, and fourth-place finishes in both U9 and U17, giving the association a strong start to the tournament season.

Throughout the weekend, arenas across the Lakeland region were filled with energy as young athletes showcased their skill, teamwork, and determination in front of packed stands of supporters. For many families, the Ice Melter continues to mark an opportunity for the lacrosse community to reconnect after a long winter.

With another successful Ice Melter now complete, the Vermilion Roar heads deeper into the season, carrying strong momentum and valuable early-season experience against some of the top competition in the region.