The Prairie Gold Lacrosse League's senior division does not have a long regular season to begin with, and it was shortened further for the Estevan Harris Oilfield Impact on the weekend.
The Impact was scheduled to host their final two games of the season against the Saskatoon Brewers, but they were forfeited by the Brewers.
"They sent an email at 7:20 p.m. Friday night saying that due to injuries, work and family commitments, they didn't have enough players. I know what that's like. I only had nine guys going into the weekend. We were going to make it work with 14 (including five affiliated players)," said Impact head coach Jody Harris.
The Impact close out their first regular season having played six games, including just two at home.
"It's really disappointing and the league is really, super disappointed," said Harris, noting that there are two junior teams in Saskatoon she felt the Brewers could have drawn extra bodies from.
To compensate for the lost games, the league has given the Impact the right to host its second vs. third place semifinal game on July 13. That game is at 7 p.m. at the Icon Centre.
The Brewers have offered to pay the Impact for the lost revenue and expenses (floor rental) from the missed games.
Estevan avoided a pair of suspensions by not playing the games. Ryan Curzon had been suspended two games, one for an instigator penalty in a fight on June 8, the other for his second fight of the season the next day.
Harris got a one-game ban because Curzon was playing on June 9 despite being suspended.
The Impact lost 20-6 and 19-3 to the Brewers in their first two games of the year, but Harris said they've come a long way since then and believes they have a shot at making the final if everyone is available for the game.
"If all our guys show up, we've got a lot of good guns.
"We got an email from the Regina (Heat) telling us some strategy for Saskatoon. It said if we keep our heads on and let the Saskatoon team penalize themselves and hit the penalty box, we would be able to capitalize on our power plays. They said, 'If you guys play them like you played us when we were there, you'll beat them.' We came out guns a-blazing there (on June 8-9 against the Heat) and we were on them, but we just couldn't bury and their goalie stood on his head."
With about 60 per cent of the roster playing lacrosse for the first time, Harris said there has been a lot of improvement.
"We've got guys that have learned so much about the sport, it's incredible," she said. "Communicating, helping our goalie out, and our goalie's been working on his passes out of his crease. When he's passing the ball, he's the sixth guy on the floor."
"There's no selfishness on our team. They all work as a team and they've earned and shared respect. There's lots of leaders and knowing their role we've got a couple of older guys in the dressing room and they just love this group of guys is how they word it."
Harris said former Big Dog Kelsy Omland has been a big part of that.
"Omland continues to be a really good leader. He's working with the guys, he never yells at anybody or demoralizes or makes anybody feel bad. Even when he's dog-tired, he's got his emotions in check on the floor he's a huge leader and role model for us and he's got all the respect of the guys on the floor."
She added that Dion Wagstaff, Keith Lelliot, Jim Ludwig and goaltender Blaine Byers are among the players who have gotten better as the season moves along.
"It's been a really good season. That bonding, making friends, camaraderie - we've gelled really well. That's important for any team."
In minor box lacrosse news, the novice team had their season roundup on the June 15-16 weekend and the tykes had their last weekend, playing Moose Jaw for two hours. The peewee and bantam/midget teams will be headed to provincials on the July 5 weekend.
