Lakers brothers to see action this summer
Josh and Zach Currier have both jumped to the upstart Premier Lacrosse League, a new professional field rival for the National Lacrosse League
It looks like the Currier brothers may get to play lacrosse again in 2020.
Josh and Zach Currier are set to travel to Utah later this month for the two-week-long Premier Lacrosse League season. Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the PLL has compressed its season into a championship series from July 25 to Aug. 9 at Zions Bank Stadium in Herriman, Utah, near Salt Lake City.
The Curriers play in the National Lacrosse League, as well, which recently cancelled the remainder of the 2020 season. They also play for the Peterborough Century 21 Lakers, whose ’20 season was cancelled.
This will be the first PLL season for both. Zach was the first overall pick in the PLL draft by the Waterdogs Lacrosse Club. Josh was signed as a free agent by the Archers Lacrosse Club. One other Laker plays in the PLL. Jake Withers signed with the Waterdogs as a free agent.
Zach Currier and Withers are moving to the PLL, entering its second season, from the older Major League Lacrosse professional field league.
“Better players are in the new league and I want to play with the best players,” said Zach. “That was the driving factor.”
The teams are not affiliated with cities. Normally, teams travel to one location each week to play games over 12 weeks. This year’s set up is different because of the pandemic.
“Talking to a few teammates, they really enjoyed it. Hopefully next year all this can be in the past and I can really see what it’s all about,” he said.
This will be Josh Currier’s first time playing field lacrosse since he graduated from college in 2016.
“I think I’m going to fit in just fine because the talent we have on offence is unbelievable,” said Josh. “I’m really excited to play with Tom Schreiber on the midfield and Grant Ament behind the net, two of the best feeders in the world on our team. If I use my skillset and find space, it could work out well.”
Playing pro field has been on his bucket list since college.
“The years keep going quicker and quicker so I figured I’d try to get it done. I was fortunate enough the Archers took a chance on me.”
Zach normally lives in Michigan, where he works for Warrior Lacrosse, but he’s been living with Josh in Trent Hills since the pandemic ramped up in March.
They’re aware the COVID-19 picture in the U.S. is more dire than in Canada. The P1 visa they have as professional athletes allows them to cross the border, said Zach.
Players report July 18 and will be tested for COVID-19 and isolated together for a weeklong training camp.
Both admit to some concerns about travelling to the U.S., one of the world’s COVID-19 hot spots.
“It’s definitely not a good situation in the States as a whole based on the amount of active cases,” Zach said. “It’s a concern for sure. I’ll have to make sure I’m as careful as I can be travelling there and back. The biggest concern is going to be the airports, being with a bunch of people who are complete strangers and I don’t know if they’ve been social distancing or going to rallies in the States. There’s been a lot going on with the political climate in the U.S.”
“It’s very serious and we’ve been taking it serious the whole time,” Josh said. “We’re going to stay as safe as possible. We’ve been on multiple calls with the league on all the protocols we’re going to go through. There are very strict protocols from the point we leave our house to getting to the facility. They’re doing multiple rounds of testing. It’s definitely something I’m thinking about, but I put a lot of trust in the PLL to set up a good protocol. I’ve looked at what they’re doing and I think what they’re doing is the right way to do it.”
Josh’s introduction to the pro league will be a crash course.
“I don’t know if I’d rather have it any other way. There will be no time to be nervous about anything. I’m just going to play,” he said.
Neither can recall the last time he had a four-month break from lacrosse.
“I’ve been playing full-time since high school,” said Zach. “Last year, I played on four different teams. My off-season was two weeks before NLL training camp. To rest up a little has been great. Even with the amount of rest, I’m still hovering at 95 per cent. There are a few things I’m trying to get back to 100. The time off has benefited my body but, if I had it my way, I’d have continued playing this whole time. I’m just trying to see the positive side.”