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Outrage is spreading in Prince George after a local lacrosse team has been denied the chance to compete at the provincial level.
“It’s actually criminal what they are doing to us,” said Jeff Moleski, coach of the Prince George Posse Junior B Team.
Just a week before the tournament, the B.C. Lacrosse Association (BCLA) officially denied the team entry into the Junior B Tier 1 Provincial Championship, which includes players aged 16 to 21.
The BCLA said it could not allow the team to play because it was not a part of a recognized BCLA league, but Moleski said no recognized lacrosse league in B.C. will accept the northern team.
“It’s a sad day for lacrosse, for the north and sport in general,” he said. “We weren’t taking anybody’s spot. We were just adding to it. It’s a growth for the game.”
When the team was formed in August 2025 they did attempt to join the Thompson-Okanagan Junior Lacrosse League, Moleski said, but they were ultimately rejected.
Exhibition games
Moleski said the Thompson-Okanagan league cited concerns about additional travel costs to Prince George and questioned the ability of the Posse to compete at the Junior B level.
“Then we then got hold of the BCLA and said this is what happened so how do we get to provincials?” said Moleski.
“We’re still part of the province and we should be able to keep competing at the provincial level and represent our zone.”
Moleski said he was told by the BCLA senior directorate they would still be able to qualify for provincials if they played exhibition games to determine their spot in the B1 or B2 division.
“So that’s what we based our season on,” he said explaining the team then played six exhibition games in Port Coquitlam, Delta, Maple Ridge and Kamloops.
But Moleski said after a meeting in May, the team was told by the BCLA they would no longer be eligible for provincials.
So, the Posse appealed that decision — and won.
However, days before the team was supposed to leave the tournament in Kamloops, Moleski said they were again told by the BCLA board of directors they aren’t, in fact, eligible.
‘No path forward’
BCLA president Gerry Van Beek said in a statement that ultimately the BCLA policies do not allow a team that is not part of a recognized league to enter the B.C. Provincial Championships.
“There was no path forward for 2026,” he wrote. “This was not made clear to the Prince George Posse Junior B representatives.”
Van Beek said he understood the frustrations felt by the team’s players and supporters, and acknowledged the initial rulings and final rulings differed.
Cariboo-Prince George MP Todd Doherty and former MLA Shirley Bond are among those who have expressed their support for the team.
“This decision raises serious questions about fairness and the message it sends to young athletes who have done everything asked of them and who had already booked travel and accommodations in Kamloops,” said Doherty.
“How do you do that to a bunch of kids?” said Moleski, noting that many players had also given up summer jobs or the opportunity to play on other lacrosse teams.
“They love the game and just want to compete and have an opportunity like the rest of the province does.”
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