(Facebook/Prince Albert Predators Lacrosse)

By Jaryn Vecchio

We Are The Champions!

P.A. Predators win Prairie Gold Lacrosse League Junior Championship

Jul 10, 2023 | 12:00 PM

For the third time in their history, the Prince Albert Predators are the Prairie Gold Lacrosse League Junior Champions.

They beat the Swift Current Wolverines 12-11 in overtime Sunday night at Mosaic Stadium in Regina.

Lucas Wells, Predators head coach and general manager, told paNOW celebrating with the team was such a surreal feeling.

“The guys were taking pictures and I kind of just left for a bit of peace and quiet to let the feeling sink in and then I just went back out, and I just watched the boys celebrate and I was so proud,” Wells said.

It was almost a different ending as the Wolverines were up two with less than two minutes to go. Brayden Rieger made it a one-goal game with over a minute remaining before Hayden Ulriksen was able to tie it with eight seconds left.

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“(Swift Current) tried to go to their outlet and Tyler Gusdal made just a fantastic play to knock it loose and the ball just bounced right to Hayden who undressed the goalie and away we went to overtime,” Wells said.

Unsurprisingly, Rieger led the way offensively for the team. This included the game-winning goal in overtime. Rieger had a league-leading 38 goals and 43 assists for 81 points. He had 15 more points than the league’s second-leading point-getter.

“You have to respect his shot and if you overplay it he’ll walk around you and make a nice play… he can do it all,” Wells said.

Despite being the team’s offensive weapon, Rieger wasn’t named playoff MVP. That honour went to goalie Mason Hawkes.

“He’s just been so reliable for us. I think he’s the best goalie in the province right now, junior age,” added Wells.

Meanwhile, Wells joked the team will rest quite a bit for at least the next day.

They didn’t get back into P.A. until early Monday morning with Wells himself noting it still took him a couple of hours afterward for the adrenaline of winning to wear off so he could go to bed.

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Jaryn.Vecchio@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @princealbertnow