The BX Pub Bandits would like nothing better than to repeat as playoff champions in the Prince George Senior Lacrosse Association.
Winning back-to-back titles will be no easy task.
The PGSLA began its 2011 regular schedule Tuesday night at the Coliseum, with the College Heights Pub Assault taking on the Shooters Pub Devils. As the season unfolds, both those clubs are expected to challenge the Bandits for league supremacy.
"BX Pub, I would say, is one of the three teams that will be fighting it out for top spot," said PGSLA commissioner Glen "Moose" Scott.
Last summer, the Bandits defeated the Assault four games to two in the best-of-seven playoff final. That victory came after the Bandits lost the first two games of the series.
This year, the Bandits should again be strong. But, they'll have to find a way to mitigate the loss of their longtime leader, Brett Doig, who officially retired at the end of the 2010 playoffs. BX Pub will also be missing offensive gun Jeff Moleski, who plans to take the summer off after a season of National Lacrosse League play with the Washington Stealth.
As the Assault and Devils try to knock the Bandits out of their saddle, they'll have to overcome personnel losses of their own.
The Assault will be missing sniper Dave Jenkins Jr. for at least part of the season, as he is attending law school in Edmonton. Jenkins, however, may be available for weekend games and could return on a full-time basis when his course work ends. As well, the multi-talented Craig Dunfield won't always be in the Assault lineup. Dunfield, who scored some huge goals during the 2010 playoffs, took a job transfer and is now living in Terrace. Fortunately for the Assault, he may also be in uniform for weekend tilts.
The Devils, meanwhile, will also have major holes to fill because their captain, Dave Bennett, requires knee surgery and fellow veteran Blake McIntosh plans to cut back his involvement so he can spend more time coaching in the local minor lacrosse system. To make matters even more difficult for the Devils, goaltender Steven Brizan has an out-of-town job and that will cut back on his availability.
The other two teams in the league are the Riverstone/Regional Security Stylers and the expansion Mackenzie Lumberjax. All clubs will play a 12-game season, followed by playoffs.
Games will be held on Tuesdays, Thursdays and weekends. The Saturday and Sunday contests will always feature the Lumberjax, who will spend a lot of time on the road between Mackenzie and Prince George. The team will, however, get a six-game homestand from May 28 to June 19.
"We're trying to make it as affordable and easy for Mackenzie as possible," Scott said. "The nice thing about it is, all the teams are very excited about having Mackenzie in our league."
The next game is Thursday (8 p.m., Coliseum) when the Stylers battle the Bandits. On Saturday, also at the Coliseum, a doubleheader will be on the floor. At 6 p.m., the Devils will square off against the Bandits and, at 8 p.m., the Assault will meet the Lumberjax.
All Thursday games will be broadcast on CFIS 93.1 FM and can also be heard on the station's website.
The PGSLA is in its 21st season.
