Prairie Dogs Clinch Second SFLL Harvest Cup in Sturgis Triumph

The Prince Albert Prairie Dogs made history in the Sask. Field Lacrosse League (SFLL) by capturing their second Harvest Cup over the weekend, solidifying their status as the first club to achieve this feat. The championship victory marks the first title for the team since they won the inaugural Harvest Cup in 2021. This year’s playoffs and final took place in Sturgis, where the Prairie Dogs finished the weekend with an impressive undefeated record.

“It was good to finish up the season nice and on top,” said head coach Matt Robin. He noted that the players came together and executed their game plan effectively, achieving a perfect 4-0 record during the championship weekend. “Overall, we were quite happy with the result,” Robin added.

Only four of the six teams in the league were permitted to participate in the championship weekend. The Yorkton and Saskatoon teams were disqualified due to not fully competing in the regular season, thus failing to meet the SFLL eligibility requirements for playoff participation, as stated in a league Facebook post. This led to a last-minute venue change from Yorkton, which was originally set to host the playoffs, to Sturgis, located approximately an hour to the north.

Despite the logistical challenges, Robin expressed that the team remained unfazed. “It didn’t really affect us that much being shorthanded or changing the fields and having less teams,” he said. The Prairie Dogs faced some personnel challenges, but Robin credited the depth of experience on their bench as crucial to their success.

“We had a few younger guys that weren’t able to participate in the fall field season because there just wasn’t enough numbers in the province,” Robin explained. “So we were able to get them to play with us, and they really helped us on the backside, on the defensive end.” The contribution of younger players proved beneficial, particularly given the physical demands of the game, which spans a full football field.

“It’s tiring on us older guys, but the young guys really stepped up,” Robin noted. Although the bench was smaller than anticipated at the season’s outset, the team adapted effectively.

Looking ahead, the Prairie Dogs are set to host the 2026 SFLL Harvest Cup playoffs during the first weekend of October. With this recent victory, the Prince Albert team now holds the record for the most championships in the brief history of the SFLL, standing out with two titles. In contrast, Sturgis, Moose Jaw, and Saskatoon remain tied with one each.

As the team prepares for the next season, their recent triumph serves as a reminder of their competitive spirit and determination, setting high expectations for future performances.