The Predators take a team photo after winning it all one season ago. (Prince Albert Predators Lacrosse Team/Facebook)

By Logan Lehmann

Battle ready

Predators set to defend title as new PGLL season approaches

Apr 26, 2024 | 4:55 PM

The Prince Albert Jr. Predators lacrosse club are prepared to put their Prairie Gold Lacrosse League (PGLL) title on the line as their first game in a new season is on the horizon.

Saturday marks the beginning of another climb to the top of the mountain for the club after they managed to accomplish the feat last year, stunning the favoured Swift Current Wolverines 12-11 in overtime back in July.

The club’s Head Coach Lucas Wells said that their championship win last year is only going to make things more competitive throughout the season.

“Last year we flew a little bit under the radar,” he explained. “We did make the finals in 2022 and we ended up losing, lost a couple main pieces too. Then in 2023, the heavy favourite was Swift Current and we gave them some pretty good games and we kind of pulled off a miracle to win.”

“And now this year with us returning so many guys from our championship season, the target on our backs is huge,” he continued. “We’re going to get the best games from every single team, and I do believe that if we play our best game like we’re going to have to every game, I feel like we should have a very successful season.”

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Along with P.A. and Swift Current, Regina and Moose Jaw are also in the running for this year’s championship while Saskatoon folded their team at the end of last season. However, the league is still at five teams as Weyburn is making their PGLL debut this season.

Wells added that the Predators have been putting in the work this offseason and that 23 of their 25 players from last year’s championship team are returning to try and run it back.

“We held our winter camps in January and training camp at the beginning of April,” he said.

“The culture around our junior program is we expect to win. We may not be the most skilled or the best team, but we expect to go into games and win, or at least compete.”

The Preds begin their quest for back-to-back PGLL titles this weekend at Kinsmen Arena in Prince Albert when they play host to the Weyburn Razorbacks for a one-day doubleheader. Game one goes Saturday afternoon at 2:00 p.m. while game two is set for 7:00 p.m. that same night.

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loganc.lehmann@pattisonmedia.com