It’s been a few years since the Estevan Big Dogs were able to eat at the Prairie Gold Lacrosse League table but not that they’re there, they have no intentions of leaving the Saskatchewan junior B league again.
The team lost a pair of games 20-4 and 17-2 to Prince Albert’s P.A. Predators over the weekend in their first home league games since the 2014 season.
“It feels good to play local,” said player-coach Derian Pratt. “We had a few guys go to different towns to play but it’s good to have something local to get the game back in the community.”
The team had the full complement of players out for the weekend, with the exception of net where Teanna Sieben was hanging out with the Saskatchewan Rush of the National Lacrosse League.
“A lot of our team is a lot younger,” Pratt said. “We have a lot of first and second year players and it’s good. It’s a building season it’ll be good to have a lot of guys with a lot of experience.”
The Big Dogs have started out 0-3 in their first three games, scoring 11 goals and surrendering 41.
The team has so little experience at the junior level they’re still in the process of finding their exact roles on the team, causing a few bumps in the road early.
“We’re just trying to play everybody wherever and try to find out who fits in where,” Pratt said. “It’s good to just get ‘em out there, get their hands on the sticks and start learning the game and see where it goes from there.”
While those bumps in the road are to be expected, the team still has some big goals for this season.
“We’re hoping for a playoff spot but it’s our first year back in the league after four years,” Pratt said. “As long as we get out there, it would be nice to get a few wins.”
The Big Dogs’ next games are May 12-13 against the Predators and their next home game is May 17 in Weyburn against the Swift Current Rampage. Their next game in Estevan is May 31 at Affinity Place at 8 p.m.
“It feels good. It’s the oldest age group so it’s nice to get out the younger kids and see what they can do,” Pratt said. “Even to get the parents to come out and watch, it just grows the game in the community.”
