The Prairie Dogs prepare for their match against Sturgis in last year's SFLL finals. (Saskatchewan Field Lacrosse League/Facebook)

By Logan Lehmann

Going for gold

Prairie Dogs look to bring home second Harvest Cup at SFLL Championship

Sep 28, 2023 | 4:00 PM

This weekend is do or die for the Prince Albert Prairie Dogs as they head to Saskatoon for the Saskatchewan Field Lacrosse League (SFLL) Harvest Cup Championship weekend.

The Prairie Dogs enter the tournament as the third-seeded team after finishing the regular season with three wins and five losses.

The Dogs finished the regular season with a pair of wins in their final weekend where Head Coach Matt Robin said his team is confident going into Championship weekend.

“I think we finished off pretty strong,” he said. “We started to get in our rhythm and guys are starting to play together again. We got a strong chance having been to the finals the last two seasons and we have such a strong squad – a lot of returning guys so I think we have a really strong team going into the playoffs.”

Prince Albert struggled early, getting off to a 1-4 start after their first two weeks of play. A bye the following week led to the team’s resurgence last weekend in Regina, where they won two out of their last three games of the regular season.

Crime

Cocaine and cash seized during bust at Prince Albert business

2h ago

Crime

P.A. security guard robbed and stabbed, one person arrested

23h ago

Eyes on the prize

P.A.'s Zablocki and team finish group stage perfect at U18 women's hockey worlds

Jan 08, 2025

Now, the Prairie Dogs will face the Saskatoon Plainsmen and defending champions Sturgis 9-1-1 in the round robin of the league’s championships as P.A. looks to claim their second Harvest Cup title in three years.

“We’re hoping to continue what we did last weekend,” Robin said. “Carry on with the wins, carry on with our smart play, and taking advantage when the other teams give it to us. Saskatoon has some solid defenders and Sturgis is an all-around young team, usually a fairly large team that have been playing together for years being from a small town. We know what to expect from them [both].”

Looking back at the regular season, the Dogs split their season series against Saskatoon winning 10-5 on Aug. 26 before falling a week later 8-4. Meanwhile, Prince Albert has yet to find success on the scoreboard against Sturgis this season, dropping both matchups 8-7, 8-1.

The Prairie Dogs begin their quest for the cup at 10:00 a.m. Saturday against Saskatoon followed by their second game later that day against Sturgis at 4:00 p.m. The semi-final rounds will begin on Sunday morning at 10:00 while the championship game gets underway at 2:30.

—

loganc.lehmann@pattisonmedia.com