The Predators celebrate after defeating the Standing Buffalo Fighting Sioux 12-3 on May, 27, 2022. (Prince Albert Predators Lacrosse Team/Facebook)

By Logan Lehmann

High Honours

Predators head coach reflects on successful season for young squad

Dec 2, 2022 | 12:10 PM

The Prince Albert Predators had a season to remember in 2022.

Although they didn’t win it all, the club had many positive takeaways from this year, like having three of the top five scorers in the league as well as two of their players earning some of the league’s top honours.

From what he saw last season, head coach Tyson Fetch has some high hopes for his squad going into next year.

“We had a really young squad this season, but it lent itself really well for the growth of players and for the growth as a team,” he said. “I foresee this team winning the finals the next two years for sure.”

Fetch added that because the team was so young last year, the club is only losing two players next season due to age. However, the future of Predators lacrosse is looking bright for years to come.

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“We only lose two players, two 21-year-olds are moving on,” he said. “They will be missed. They were our leaders, and they were really good players on our team. But with the way that the minor program’s been working and the coaching that these players have been getting prior to coming to me, we’re way ahead of where we were when I first started coaching.”

The Preds ended the season with an overall record of 7-2-1, finishing second to only the undefeated Saskatoon Jr. Swat. Despite not winning the championship at the end of the season, two players were named to some of the league’s top honours.

Mathew Cudmore took home the league’s Most Valuable Player award after leading the league in points. Cudmore netted himself 46 points (20G, 26A) in just ten games this season. Meanwhile, PA netminder Duncan Fetch was a brick wall between the pipes, finishing the season with a 5-2-1 record to win the Defensive Player of the Year award.

Like most things though, all good things must come to an end. Fetch told paNOW that this past year was his last season calling the shots for the Preds and that he has stepped down from his head coaching position with the team. He spent 11 years as the bench boss for the club.

“Yes, I stepped down. I will help out in some capacity, I plan on doing some stuff maybe with the league,” he said. “I’ll help manage the team a little bit and help keep the program strong and moving in the right direction.”

Fetch added that Predators’ assistant coach Lucas Wells will take over the reins as the new head coach of the club going into the 2023 season.

The schedule for the next season of Predators lacrosse will be made available online in the new year.

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logan.lehmann@pattisonmedia.com

Twitter: @lloganlehmann