The Predators are hosting festivities at Kinsmen Arena ahead of the home opening doubleheader against the Moose Jaw Mustangs. (Prince Albert Predators Lacrosse Team/Facebook)

By Logan Lehmann

Home opener

Preds hosting home opener festivities ahead of doubleheader against Moose Jaw

May 12, 2023 | 2:08 PM

After a successful road trip to begin the campaign, the Prince Albert Predators are set to welcome the Moose Jaw Mustangs for their home-opening doubleheader.

There are plenty of festivities planned, with a beer garden, barbecue, and even a U9 tike lacrosse festival will be happening at the Kinsmen Arena Saturday afternoon. Everything kicks off at 11:30 a.m., before Game 1’s opening faceoff at 1 p.m.

“The barbecue will be going from 11:30 till 5:30 all day,” explained Head coach and GM Lucas Wells. “Beer gardens going on all day, that opens up at noon that’ll go until about 8:30-9:00. Evening game starts at 6:00 with player, coach, and staff introductions at 5:55.”

The Preds opened the season with four games on the road, beginning with a win on April 29 against the Regina Barracudas. The Blue and Gold kept rolling into the following weekend where the squad had an early test of endurance on the slate, playing three games in one day.

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Play started on Saturday at noon with a 13-4 rout of the Mustangs before travelling west to Swift Current that same day to play the Wolverines later that night. The Preds came away with an 8-5 win but lost on Sunday afternoon to the same Swift Current team 10-6. Despite the loss, Wells said the team greatly exceeded his expectations and was proud of the way his team handled the stretch of games.

“Going into Sunday, we were exhausted,” he explained. “Three games in 24 hours, I don’t care if you’re a player in soccer or lacrosse or hockey, that’s tough for anyone to do especially playing at this level. It was unachievable for us, but we have to learn how to play through that. I thought our guys played well, they stepped up to the challenge and exceeded our expectations.”

Wells added that the Moose Jaw team they are hosting on Saturday is new to the league and when they played them last weekend, they were just getting their feet under themselves. After beating them by nine in the first meeting, the Preds bench boss expects a much tougher battle when the ball drops tomorrow.

“I think it’s going to be a lot more intense and a lot more gritty,” he said. “Moose Jaw has slowly improved all year, like when we played them that was only their second game. They just lost to Regina by four so to me that means they’re getting a lot better. I expect our guys to come out fast and strong and with the crowd behind us, I think Moose Jaw is in for a rude awakening.”

Prince Albert sits on top of the Prairie Gold Lacrosse League while the Mustangs remain winless. After this weekend, the Preds are back on the road to Saskatoon where they will face the Jr. Swat on May 25. Faceoff for that game is at 7 p.m.

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logan.lehmann@pattisonmedia.com

Twitter: @lloganlehmann