Attack's Dillan Cochrane scores a goal for Prince Albert on Friday at Max Clunie Field. Jeff D'Andrea/paNOW Staff

By Jeff D'Andrea

Lacrosse coming back to Sask?

PLL will crown a champion this year, but can lacrosse still go on in Sask?

May 7, 2020 | 3:23 PM

The Premier Lacrosse League (PLL) announced on Wednesday even in the face of a global pandemic, they will still name a champion.

The PLL will put on their Championship Series, a giant 20-game field lacrosse tournament from July 25 to August 9. Although it will be a fanless tournament, it will be broadcasted on NBC.

Lacrosse leagues across the world will be watching—both to see how this will logistically work and to finally get to watch a live team sport again.

“Everyone in the lacrosse world is really excited about it,” said Javan Bexson, president of both the Saskatchewan Lacrosse Association and Prince Albert Lacrosse. “Even though it’s a new league, it’s very well done. It gives everyone a glimmer of hope.”

That glimmer of hope certainly is there, but the return to lacrosse in Saskatchewan is still very much up in the air.

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In the Re-Open Saskatchewan plan rolled out by Premier Scott Moe on April 23^rd, Phase four will allow the re-opening of both indoor and outdoor recreational facilities. The main issue with trying to start a lacrosse season in the province is there isn’t a date set on when Phase four will be activated.

The phase will also only allow gatherings of up to 30 people, which could be another wrench in the gears. A regular box lacrosse game will exceed that limit in just players alone, as up to 40 players can dress for each game under the current rules. In field lacrosse, the rosters are even bigger and there can be up to 46 players participating in any one contest.

Even if parents and fans are barred from watching the games, that still doesn’t take into account the coaching staffs and training staffs, the referees and scorekeepers, and rink staff (for indoor box lacrosse games)–all of which are required to hold games.

Bexson said many options are on the table for being able to restart the season, such as the possibility of shrinking team sizes, in order to adhere to the government’s regulations.

“We’re not shutting the door on any opportunity. We know athletes want to get back, however that might look,” Bexson said. “It might be a different look in 2020 this year. It’s just going to have to be accepted that it’s not going to look anything like normal. But we’re not sure exactly how that might look, but we’re looking at different options.”

For Prince Albert specifically, it was going to be a big step forward in field lacrosse. After playing the first-ever field lacrosse game on Prince Albert soil last summer, the Field Lacrosse Provincials were set for Prince Albert June 12-14 this season. Though that hasn’t been officially cancelled or postponed yet, being able to hold provincials on that date is still in doubt.

“It’s disappointing that it was our year for provincials, and that it’s all in limbo to host,” Bexson said. “We are looking at a different date for hosting provincials.”

The National Lacrosse League, the indoor box lacrosse league that features the Saskatchewan Rush, cancelled the remainder of its regular season but is still leaving the door open to conduct its postseason.

The PLL isn’t the only professional sports league gearing up to play during COVID-19. ESPN is reporting the Bundesliga, the top soccer league in Germany, will return on May 16.

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Jeff.dandrea@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @jeff_paNOW