Normally, it'd be a cold day in Minnesota before a group of winter-weary Midwesterners would head north in the middle of February. But that's exactly what happened over the Presidents' Day weekend, as 17 Club players and another two dozen parents and siblings drove to Eden Prairie, Minn., for three days of lacrosse fellowship and team building. Oh, and shopping.

The Club was a guest of Eden Prairie High School, whose Eagles varsity lacrosse team claimed the 2004 Minnesota state title (and featured three All-Americans). The Eagles had been invited by the Minnesota Swarm professional indoor lacrosse team to provide half-time entertainment during a Swarm-Philadelphia Wings match, and had asked St Charles to participate with them. Coach Neff and the Board considered the offer a terrific opportunity for our players, and accepted the invitation.

Most of the team and parents arrived Friday evening, and on Saturday morning everyone made their way to the nearby Mall of America, where they shopped through mid-afternoon. By 2pm, the boys were ready to return to the hotel. Was it the hit to their wallets that influenced the decision? Or was it the high school girls volleyball teams who were also guests of the hotel that weekend, in town for a regional tournament? We can only speculate.

Saturday night, following a team dinner, the club threw their lacrosse equipment back into the parents' cars and caravaned to Eden Prairie High School, just west of St. Paul. There, in the PrairieDome, a regulation-size inflatable indoor sports field, the Eden Prairie coaches led both teams through a spirited clinic. For many of the St Charles squad, it was their first varsity experience, and for everyone it was a great chance to measure themselves against a championship team.

Midway through the session, two members of the Minnesota Swarm dropped in to sign autographs, chat with players and families, and take several dozen shots each on each team's goalie. The Swarm players, both veterans of Canadian box lacrosse, peppered our Peter Steele with a variety of shots, but to a rising tide of whistles, yells and applause, the Man of Steele pretty much shut them out.

On Sunday, after a joint team breakfast at our hotel, both squads drove to the XCel Energy Center in St Paul, home of the Swarm. Just as our Eden Prairie hosts had done all weekend, the Swarm staff made the team welcome. We enjoyed top-notch seating -- to say nothing of the buffalo burgers, mini donuts, fried cheese curds and walleye strips from the concession stands -- and, at halftime, after dressing in the Swarm's locker room, the teams took the indoor field for a brief, but exciting, match in front of 8,000 fans. Our Mike Swartz scored the only goal of the game, and St Charles "won" 1-0.

Board Vice President Kevin Chamberlain -- who, with his wife, Kelly, are to thank for organizing the entire trip beforehand, and keeping tabs on everyone during and after -- says of the weekend, "It was a 'life experience' which none of us will soon forget."

Our club is very grateful to the Eden Prairie High School Lacrosse team for their warm hospitality all weekend, and thanks the Swarm for the thrilling experience at halftime.

Eden Prairie is our guest in April, at the first annual Midwest Face-Off. Please be sure to extend as warm a welcome to them then as they did to us over the Presidents' Day Weekend.

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The St.Charles squad is joined by Swarm players Trent Smalley and Kelly Hall (standing, center) on Saturday night. St. Charles players are (foreground) Peter Steele; (kneeling left to right) Andy Forsell, Cam Caruso, Sean Brogan, Ian Pfeiffer, Austin Hammer, Andrew Collins and Tyler Hines; (standing, left to right) Mike Perez, Steve Lavigne, Matt McCart, Brad Winterberger, Smalley and Hall, Eric Boller, Tyler Chamberlain, Mike Swartz, Madden Titus and Sean Leary.