By Jeff D'Andrea

Young, high-flying Predators humbled by top-ranked S.W.A.T.

May 20, 2015 | 10:46 PM

The Prince Albert Predators are a young, swashbuckling squad that are living and dying by the sword. Every game they play is bound to be an exciting, high-scoring affair. 

Through six Prairie Gold Lacrosse League games, the Preds boast the most explosive offence in the junior tier, scoring 10.6 goals per game but have surrendered the second most goals per contest at 10.8.

They now sit at 3-3 after Wednesday’s 10-9 defeat against the Saskatoon S.W.A.T (4-2, first place) at the Kinsmen.

Predators head coach Darryl Frenette knows his team is young and they are going to have some growing pains, especially when it comes to defence and discipline.  

Their main concern on Wednesday was the penalty count—the Predators took 10 penalties to Saskatoon’s two.  They took them at the worst times, as well.

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Down 10-9 with 2:52 left in the game, Jordan McDougall argued with the officials after believing he was high-sticked and received an unsportsmanlike penalty. Then while killing that infraction, the Preds went down 5-on-3 in the last minute while Reid Corrigal took a high-stick that was detected.

“Everywhere we go though, the reffing just isn’t favoured our way. The penalties were [10-2], so we had to play our penalty kill the whole game,” said Predators captain Arliss McCloy. “Close games like that, you don’t want to call it too tight. They’re kinda dumb penalties on our part, but there were weak calls, too.”

But as their discipline and defence both works in progress, there are some obvious bright spots and McCloy is shining the strongest at the moment.

Although he’s just 17-year-old, McCloy is already in his fourth year with the Predators as he’s been with the team since 2012. McCloy has 14 goals in six games this year, which is more than anybody in the PGLL, including the four junior teams and the four senior clubs.

Braelan Frenette, also 17 and is in his third full-year with the club, is right behind him with 12 goals and is ranked third among PGLL goal-getters. Both McCloy and Frenette scored twice on Wednesday against the S.W.A.T.

“This is a crazy thing, but we’re talking about 17-year-old veterans here. Nowhere else in the league are you calling your 17-year-olds veterans,” said Darryl Frenette. “We have a few older guys on the team, but these young guys are stepping up and we’re really happy with the offence.”

McCloy had a two-goal, four-point night while Braelan Frenette and Carson Remy each had two goals. Brendin Currie had a goal and an assist, while Josh and Jordan McDougall had a goal each. Brendon Beaulac had three assists.

For the S.W.A.T., Mitch Linklater had four goals and an assist whil Kallen Currie had three goals and four assists.

The Predators will take on the Regina Rifles for a double-header in the Queen City May 23, before a rematch against the S.W.A.T at the Kinsmen on May 30.

jdandrea@panow.com

On Twitter: @jeff_dandrea