Prairie Gold Lacrosse League
.jpg) PGLL | |
| Sport | Box lacrosse |
|---|---|
| Founded | 2001 |
| Commissioner | Chris Lesanko |
| No. of teams | 6 (Junior) 5 (Senior) |
| Country | Canada |
| Most recent champion(s) | Junior: Prince Albert Predators Senior: Saskatoon SWAT (2023) |
| Most titles | Saskatoon Brewers (8) |
The Prairie Gold Lacrosse League, formally known as the Saskatchewan Major Box Lacrosse League (2001–2003), is a Junior B box lacrosse league in Saskatchewan, Canada.
A formal Senior division was launched in 2005, presently with five member teams.
History
[edit]2016 Senior league champion Saskatoon Brewers became the first-ever PGLL team to compete in a Canadian Lacrosse Association national tournament. Brewers traveled to Leduc, Alberta to compete at Presidents Cup.
Expansion followed in 2017 with three new teams added in the senior division (Prince Albert Outlaws, Saskatoon Steelers, Saskatoon SWAT). A fourth Saskatoon team, the Plainsmen, were added before the 2018 season.
For the 2018 season the Regina Rifles and Regina Riot programs merged to form the Regina Rampage. The program dissolved after one year and the Rifles returned in 2019.
Teams
[edit]| Junior Division | Established |
|---|---|
| Moose Jaw Mustangs | 2023 |
| Prince Albert Predators | 2003 |
| Regina Barracuda | 2022 |
| Saskatoon SWAT | 2015 |
| Standing Buffalo Fighting Sioux | 2019 |
| Swift Current Wolverines | 2019 |
Former Junior teams
- Assinboia Attack (2001–2011)
- Big River Bulldogs (2001–2003)
- Big River Extreme (2003–2006)
- Estevan Big Dogs (2013; 2018–19) - on hiatus for 2022
- Moose Jaw Jr. Mustangs (2002–2013; 2016–17; 2023–present)
- Regina Jr. Heat (2001–2006)
- Regina Rifles (2010–2017; 2019) - combined with Riot to form Regina Rampage in 2018
- Regina Riot (2011–2017)
- Saskatoon Smash (2001–2014)
- Saskatoon Steelers (2005–2014; 2017–2022)
- Swift Current Rampage (2003–2009)
- Yorkton Bulldogs (2003–2014)
| Senior Division | Established |
|---|---|
| Prince Albert Outlaws | 2017 |
| Regina Heat | 2003 |
| Saskatoon Brewers | 2005 |
| Saskatoon SWAT | 2017 |
| Standing Buffalo Fighting Sioux | 2023 |
Former Senior teams
- Assiniboia Sr. Attack (2011)
- Estevan Impact (2013–2019)
- Meewasin Valley Plainsmen (2018–19)
- Moose Jaw Chiefs (2014–2019)
- Saskatoon Minotaurs (2012)
- Saskatoon Steelers
League champions
[edit]| Season | Junior champion | Junior runner-up | Senior champion | Senior runner-up |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | Saskatoon Smash | no playoffs | --- | --- |
| 2002 | Moose Jaw Mustangs | Saskatoon Smash | --- | --- |
| 2003 | Moose Jaw Mustangs | Saskatoon Smash | --- | --- |
| 2004 | Moose Jaw Mustangs | Yorkton Bulldogs | --- | --- |
| 2005 | Moose Jaw Mustangs | Saskatoon Smash | Regina Heat | Saskatoon Brewers |
| 2006 | Moose Jaw Mustangs | Saskatoon Smash | Regina Heat | Saskatoon Brewers |
| 2007 | Moose Jaw Mustangs | Saskatoon Steelers | Regina Heat | Saskatoon Brewers |
| 2008 | Saskatoon Smash[1] | Prince Albert Predators | Regina Heat | Saskatoon Brewers |
| 2009 | Saskatoon Steelers[2] | Regina Riot | Regina Heat | Saskatoon Brewers |
| 2010 | Saskatoon Smash[3] | Prince Albert Predators | Regina Heat | Saskatoon Brewers |
| 2011 | Prince Albert Predators | Saskatoon Smash | Saskatoon Brewers | Regina Heat |
| 2012 | Regina Riot | Regina Rifles | Saskatoon Brewers | Regina Heat |
| 2013 | Regina Rifles[4] | Saskatoon Smash | Regina Heat | Estevan Impact |
| 2014 | Saskatoon Smash | Regina Rifles | Saskatoon Brewers[5] | Moose Jaw Chiefs |
| 2015 | Saskatoon SWAT[6] | Regina Rifles | Moose Jaw Chiefs | Saskatoon Brewers |
| 2016 | Regina Rifles | Regina Riot | Saskatoon Brewers[7] | Moose Jaw Chiefs |
| 2017 | Regina Rifles | Regina Riot | Saskatoon Brewers | Moose Jaw Chiefs |
| 2018 | Prince Albert Predators | Regina Rampage | Saskatoon Brewers | Regina Heat |
| 2019 | Standing Buffalo Fighting Sioux | Prince Albert Predators | Saskatoon Brewers | Regina Heat |
| 2022 | Saskatoon SWAT | Prince Albert Predators | Saskatoon Brewers | Regina Heat |
| 2023 | Prince Albert Predators | Swift Current Wolverines | Saskatoon SWAT | Saskatoon Brewers |
| 2024 | TBD | Saskatoon Brewers | Standing Buffalo Fighting Sioux |
Team records
[edit]| PGLL Record | Team | # | Season(s) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Most Wins (season) | Moose Jaw Mustangs | 14-0 | 2004 |
| Most Goals (season) | Moose Jaw Mustangs | 239 | 2005 (16 games) |
| Longest Win-streak | Moose Jaw Mustangs | 30 | May 2003-August 2004 |
| Longest Unbeaten-streak | Moose Jaw Mustangs | 40 | June 2002-August 2004 |
Individual records
[edit]| PGLL Records | Player | # | Season(s) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Most Points (career) | Ken Stewart, Moose Jaw Mustangs | 285 | 2002–05 |
| Most Points (season) | Sam Murphy, Saskatoon Smash | 109 | 2014 |
| Most Points (game) | Chris Lesanko, Yorkton Bulldogs | 22 | |
| Most Goals (career) | Ken Stewart, Moose Jaw Mustangs | 150 | 2002–05 |
| Most Goals (season) | Justin Keller, Yorkton Bulldogs | 53 | 2003 |
| Most Goals (game) | Justin Keller, Yorkton Bulldogs | 17 | |
| Most Assists (career) | Ken Stewart, Moose Jaw Mustangs | 135 | 2002–05 |
| Most Assists (season) | Chris Lesanko, Yorkton Bulldogs | 63 | |
| Most Assists (game) | Chris Lesanko, Yorkton Bulldogs | 18 |
Year-by-year review
[edit]2001 season
[edit]The Saskatchewan Major Box Lacrosse League was formed in May 2001 with the Assiniboia Attack, Big River Bulldogs, Regina Heat and Saskatoon Smash. The Saskatoon Smash took the first year's regular season league title by going undefeated. No playoffs were held.
2002 season
[edit]The league added the Moose Jaw Mustangs team and the Mustangs did not disappoint, not losing a game all year to capture the first-ever official PGLL Provincial title by defeating the Saskatoon Smash in the final. Ken Stewart was named 2002 Saskatchewan Lacrosse Association Player of the Year.[8]
2003 season
[edit]The 2003 season was a huge success with the final game summarizing just how exciting this league is and will become even more so in the future as the developing teams become more competitive. The Moose Jaw Mustangs once again captured the league championship with a thrilling overtime victory over the Saskatoon Smash. The season saw large growth in the number of teams with the Prince Albert Predators, Swift Current Rampage, Yorkton Bulldogs and the first senior team, Regina Heat, entering the league.
The Saskatchewan Major Box Lacrosse League changed the name of the league to the Prairie Gold Lacrosse League at the AGM held on December 15, 2003.
2004 season
[edit]The 2004 season was another great season for the PGLL, including the first season of tiered Junior lacrosse. The Tier 1 title was once again won by the Moose Jaw Mustangs, although the team did lose its first ever game in the league. Moose Jaw dropped a game to the Yorkton Bulldogs in the best-of three final series. The Tier 2 title was also won by Moose Jaw Mustangs II, showing this program has a strong contingent of players ready to keep the Mustangs near the top of the PGLL for years to come.
2005 season
[edit]2005 was a history-making season with Saskatoon hosting the Founders Cup for the first time in Saskatchewan's history. The Moose Jaw Mustangs kept their Tier 1 championship streak alive, defeating the Saskatoon Smash in the final series. The Tier 2 championship was won by the Saskatoon Steelers.
The Regina Heat captured the first-ever PGLL Senior title with a win over the expansion Saskatoon Brewers.
2006 season
[edit]The Moose Jaw Mustangs won their fifth-straight championship, defeating the Saskatoon Smash in the final series. The Tier 2 championship was won once again by the Saskatoon Steelers, showing the upcoming depth of the Saskatoon program.
Regina Heat captured their second consecutive Senior title with a win over the Saskatoon Brewers.
2008 season
[edit]Saskatoon Smash finished the regular season first and went undefeated in the playoffs to win the Tier 1 Junior championship. Yorkton Bulldogs had a slow start to the season, but finished it off with their first Tier 2 Junior championship. Other teams with successful seasons were the Regina Riot, Saskatoon Steelers and the Prince Albert Predators.
References
[edit]- ^ "Predators laud best after missing title by a hair". Prince Albert Daily Herald. 8 July 2008. Archived from the original on 14 July 2015.
- ^ "Past Provincial Champions". Saskatchewan Lacrosse. 30 March 2011.
- ^ "Predators fall 8-5 to Saskatoon in the PGLL final". Prince Albert Daily Herald. 12 July 2010. Archived from the original on 14 July 2015.
- ^ "2013 Prairie Gold Lacrosse League Championship Final in Saskatoon". The StarPhoenix. 15 July 2013.
- ^ "2014 PGLL Senior Champs - Saskatoon Brewers". PGLL. Retrieved 6 July 2014.
- ^ "Saskatoon SWAT are champs". The StarPhoenix. 22 June 2015.
- ^ "Sudden death". Moose Jaw Times Herald. 27 June 2016.
- ^ "Ken Stewart". Benched. 7 December 2013.