The Saskatoon Brewers are the five-time Senior B Box Lacrosse Provincial Champions of the Prairie Gold Lacrosse League (PGLL) in Saskatchewan, Canada. The PGLL is a relatively unknown gem of the prairies, hosting players from all over the province at the Junior and Senior levels of play. Lacrosse has grown far more popular in the province due to the NLL team, The Saskatchewan Rush, relocating to Saskatoon in 2016. With the addition of five new youth teams joining the ranks for the 2019 season; you’ll be sure to see the number of NLL draft picks from Saskatchewan steadily increase in the future. Read more about the PGLL here.
The Saskatoon brewers were founded in 2005, playing in the PGLL along with a half dozen other teams located throughout the province. In the last 13 years the team has amassed 5 provincial championships as well as traveling to play at the national level, the Presidents Cup, for the last three consecutive years. With a young, new Coach Marcus Fischer at the lead; the Brewers finished in 5th place at the 2018 Presidents Cup (the Senior B Box Lacrosse championship tournament), their best showing in three years, the team hopes to beat that finish in Kahnawake, QC at the 2019 Presidents Cup. Coach Fischer will be returning for his second year as the head coach, learning from last year and expanding on the team philosophies; he hopes to capture the provincial title for a fourth season in a row. With the addition of a few more key players and important positions filled, the Brewers are slated to do just that — a four-peat.
In the 2018 regular season the Brewers finished first place with an undefeated record for the third year in a row. Adam Saunders led the team in goals (31) and assists (17) during the 2018 season; followed by Brandon Murphy (23 goals, 30 assists) and Bryton Thorarinsson (21 goals, 23 assists). Baeley Molkoske led the defense in his first season playing senior with the Brewers. Managing 16 goals and 5 assists, Baeley proves that he is an all-around skilled player transitioning well from his defensive position into an accurate shooter. Drew Dziadyk should not be taken lightly on defense, as a veteran on the team he provides excellent leadership as well as slick transitioning amounting in 14 goals and 12 assists.
In the provincial final the Brewers battled against the Regina Heat for the title. During the regular season the only game played against each other saw the Brewers on top with a final score of 13-7. With the Heat coming off a big win in the semi-finals, the final was slated to prove who the best in the province was. Brewers came out on top with a score of 21-7. Moving onto the 2018 Presidents Cup, the team was at full strength with Anthony Hallborg (SK, NLL draft pick) returning from his stint in the WLA. The Brewers also picked up some talent on their way to Nanaimo in the form of; Cameron Simpson (Onondaga Nation), Hugh Weir (BC), Tomas Newton (BC), Regan Harding (SK), Tanner Fetch (SK), Hunter Wongstedt (SK), Jon Ronn (SK), and Josh Murray (SK). The team had a slow start with zero wins in the round robin. Scoring their first win in the first round of playoffs they continued that streak to finish in fifth place. The Brewers hope to pick up quite a few of these players again in the 2019 run for the Presidents Cup, as they shoot to improve on last year’s finish.
For the 2019 season you will see a few new faces on the new turf at Kinsmen arena. For starters, the team is under new management. New General Manager, Gerald Tornato, is a veteran in the Saskatchewan lacrosse scene; he currently holds the position of VP of Planning and Development for the SLA. Gerald first became interested in the sport when his son, Jordan Tornato, began playing in 2003. He coached and managed youth teams until Gerald decided to pursue a position with the SLA in 2010. Coach Marcus Fischer is returning for a second season as head coach with new tools and experience under his belt. Marcus has been around Saskatchewan lacrosse for many years mostly as a player and a official. He currently holds the position of Referee in Chief of the SLA. Coach Fischer will have help on the bench in the form of Shawn Saunders, stepping up into the assistant coach position for the 2019 season.
The 2019 Regular Season Roster
Scott Anderson, October 25th 1990- Yorkton, SK
Cody Corriveau, August 22nd 1990- Saskatoon, SK
Drew Dziadyk, June 16th 1994- Saskatoon, SK
Levi Dziadyk, August 7th 1993-Saskatoon, SK
Brady Fetch, June 19th 1994- Prince Albert, SK
Wyatt Goldade, December 11th 1995- Saskatoon, SK
Anthony Hallborg, July 11th 1996- Warman, SK
Casey Maclntyre, February 17th 1988- Calgary, AB
Baeley Malkoske, June 28th 1996- Saskatoon, SK
Brandon Murphy, August 11th 1993- Saskatoon, SK
Reed Murphy, September 8th 1997- Saskatoon, SK
Sam Murphy, November 3rd 1994- Saskatoon, SK
Spencer Murphy, January 30th 1996- Saskatoon, SK
Parker Nolan-Ens, November 15th 1999- Warman, SK
Jack Okanee, January 26th 1996- North Battleford, SK
Adam Saunders, August 26th 1992- Saskatoon, SK
Greg Simpson, May 18th 1993- Prince Albert, SK
Gabe Sutherland, March 22nd 1989- Saskatoon, SK
Chris Sokalofsky, March 25th 1991- Saskatoon, SK
Bryton Thorarinsson, June 17th 1992- Saskatoon, SK
Jordan Tornato, June 1st 1996- Saskatoon, SK (Oakwood Nissan Sponsored)
Ryan Wahobin, May 26th 1996- Saskatoon, SK
Hunter Wongstedt, October 5th 1994- Saskatoon, SK
Some key player pickups for the season start in the form of Hunter Wongstedt. Hunter is a young, extremely talented goalie with great technique and a bright future in lacrosse ahead of him. He joined the team for the 2018 Presidents Cup coming out of a Senior A season in the WLA. Casey Maclntyre, a free agency pick-up from Alberta, joins the offense of the Brewers as a slinging right-handed power player. Finally, there is Reed Murphy, the Brewers first round pick in the 2019 PGLL draft, joins the team fresh off a Junior A season in Saskatoon. Reed reunites with his three older brothers on the team and hopes to settle in nicely as a speedy right-handed force on the offense.
The Brewers had one exhibition game against the Saskatoon Senior SWAT on March 31st, 2019 which was a unique experience. Kinsmen arena, where all the Saskatoon games are played, has recently been turfed. For most guys this was their first time playing on anything but the concrete that is in most rinks. The Brewers came out with the win in the exhibition game, while only running with half of their roster players. The regular season starts for the Brewers on May 10th, 2019 with their first game against last year’s toughest opponent, the Saskatoon Steelers.
Saskatoon Brewers 2019 Regular Season Schedule
All Saskatoon games played at Gordie Howe Kinsmen Arena
Game 1- May 10th at 9:00 pm Saskatoon Brewers (Home) vs. Saskatoon Steelers (Home)
Game 2- May 16th at 8:00 pm Saskatoon Brewers (Home) vs. Prince Albert Outlaws (Away)
Game 3- May 23rd at 8:00 pm Saskatoon Brewers (Home) vs. Saskatoon Plainsmen (Away)
Game 4- May 24th at 8:00 pm @ Regina CO-OP field DQ5 Saskatoon Brewers (Away) vs. Regina Heat (Home)
Game 5- May 25th at 12:00 pm @ Estevan Affinity Field Saskatoon Brewers (Away) vs. Estevan Impact (Home)
Game 6- June 1st at 4:00 pm Saskatoon Brewers (Home) vs. Moose Jaw Chiefs (Away)
Game 7- June 6th at 8:00 pm Saskatoon Brewers (Away) vs. Saskatoon Senior SWAT (Home)
Game 8- June 9th at 3:00 pm @ Kinsmen Arena Saskatoon Brewers (Away) vs. Prince Albert Outlaws (Home)
Game 9- June 14th at 8:00 pm Saskatoon Brewers (Home) vs. Saskatoon Senior SWAT (Away)
Game 10- June 16th at 3:30 pm Saskatoon Brewers (Away) vs. Saskatoon Steelers (Home)
Overall, the PGLL and the Saskatoon Brewers have a great deal to offer regarding senior box lacrosse in Saskatchewan. You can regularly find the players volunteering at youth events and even some coaching the next generation of lacrosse, all in an effort to grow the game they have played all these years. A variety of skill and genuine love of the medicine game is what you will find with any team in the PGLL, and any player that is in Kinsmen arena during the season. Whether you’re from Saskatoon or not, be sure to catch the Brewers on their Facebook and Instagram @saskbrewers or, on Twitter @stoon_brewers and get to know the team and staff as they work towards medaling at the 2019 Presidents Cup.
