The start of the Alberta Football League (AFL) regular season is nearly a month away but the Airdrie Irish will get a read on how their off-season recruiting has worked out during an exhibition game today (May 7).

The Irish will be in Lacombe to take on the Central Alberta Buccaneers, the team they lost to in last year's AFL semi-finals.  The game is part of the Lacombe Athletic Park Association's celebrations of the completion of Phase One of ME Global Athletic Park and the completion of the new fieldhouse at the facility.  

Connor Lutz who, along with being Airdrie's all-star running back, is also President of the team, says he's excited about the upcoming 2022 season which starts on Saturday, June 4th when the Irish play their home opener with the Central Alberta squad again providing the opposition.

Lutz says the Irish, who last year was named the Organization of the Year by the AFL, have worked hard in the off-season solidifying their reputation and relationship with the Airdrie community as well as undertaking a heavy recruitment process.  The Irish opened their training camp this week.  

Just four teams took part in a pandemic-shortened season last year but Lutz is pleased that this year the league will have a full seven-team complement.  The league will be made up of the Irish, the Buccaneers, Cold Lake Fighter Jets, Edmonton Elite. the Calgary Wolfpack, Fort McMurray Monarchs and the new Peace Country Cowboys.

Kickoff for the Irish-Bucs game goes at 2:00 pm but doors open at 12:30 for anyone wanting to tour the beautiful new stadium.  

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