Grand Cities Predators - 2012 Northern Minnesota Lacrosse Season Preview

Team:  Grand Cities - comprised of players from Grand Forks Red River and Grand Forks Central High Schools, East Grand Forks Senior High, and Warren-Alvarado-Olso High School, Central Middle School in East Grand Forks, MN and South Middle School in Grand Forks, ND

Coaches: 

Aaron Cabanaw – First year at Grand Cities

Cameron Willox – First year at Grand Cities

Kelly Hurt – First Year at Grand Cities

Brent Lindstrom – First Year at Grand Cities

Last Year's Record: Inaugural Season in 2012

Returning Starters/Key Returning Players:

Tanner Lindstrom (2011 First Team All North Conference Attack and Fargo Warrior scoring leader), Evan Larson, Brady McDonald, Jake Dunham, Christian Hanson, Trey Deck, Christian Hogness, Pete Schirrick, Nick Gaasvig, Jake Young, Tom Twedell, Aaron Sauve, Brandon Johnson, Colton Ramsey, and Tyler Lindstrom. These players all have some level of playing experience either through other programs before coming to Grand Cities or took part in summer clinics and scrimmages last year.

Predators Tanner Lindstrom in gold

Big Games/Games to See:  The biggest game for the season for Grand Cities will be their first game in program history against Duluth-Superior in Duluth on April 14.  The final game of the season against biggest rival, Fargo on May 20 will be the game the Pradators have circled on their calendars.

Season Outlook:  In less than a year, the Grand Cities Predators have grown from a dream to establish lacrosse in the Grand Forks area to a solid team preparing for the start of the 2012 MBSLA season.  Last summer, with the assistance of the University of North Dakota Men’s Club Lacrosse Team, Brent Lindstrom established the Grand Cities Lacrosse Club and the club held two 4 week familiarization clinics that had over 50 kids on the field.  Things progressed with the high school boys continuing practice and took part in a Fall Ball scrimmage against Fargo in October.  

As a new team, the Predators coaches are encouraged by the players who come to the field ready to learn and refine their skills.  The coaching staff feels fortunate to have some experienced players on this new squad but realize they have a lot of work to do to develop the rest of the team.  Team organizer and assistant coach Brent Lindstrom believes that the Predators schedule sets their team up for success.  Lindstrom stated, "If we can be competitive at the beginning of the year and keep pace, I think by the end of the year we will be a contender for a state tournament berth."  Lindstrom also mentioned that the Predators will also take on the task of promoting the sport, both in Grand Forks and beyond to gain support and grow lacrosse in the upper Red River Valley.  

With the new lacrosse program in the Grand Forks area, the boys participating on this inaugural team are proud to be the charter members of the Grand Cities Lacrosse club and look forward to writing the first chapter as a successful chapter in the lacrosse story of the Grand Forks area.