Akweks set for return to playoffs

The Kahnawake Survival School (KSS) Akweks’ field lacrosse team is 3-3 at the end of the regular season, finding themselves in a different position than in years past when they have consistently been at the top of the Greater Montreal Athletics Association (GMAA) standings - including last season, when they won the championship banner.

Until Wednesday afternoon, the Akweks were uncertain if they would make the playoffs, as Beaconsfield High School had a chance to tie KSS in wins until their 9-3 loss to Stanstead College.

“We lost a few key games, so we’re trying to let the seedings and stats and all that come into play, so we’re patiently waiting,” said Akweks’ field lacrosse coach Al Jones before Beaconsfield’s game on Wednesday.

“It’s definitely a different outlook.”

KSS won its season opener against Pierrefonds Community High School 12-3, before losing 15-14 to Howard S. Billings. After beating Beaconsfield 14-8, they lost two straight: 10-9 against College Jean-de-Brebeuf and 14-7 against Stanstead College. Their last game of the season was won by forfeit against Westwood High School.

KSS is still awaiting confirmation on the date of their first playoff game and their opponent, which is to be determined with the games left to be played this week.

It could be Stanstead, who they have met in the finals the last two years, or Brebeuf or Billings, two teams that Jones said have improved in the last few years.

“They moved the ball a lot better than in the past,” he said, adding that the other team’s defenders have been more aggressive - often because of their background in hockey.

“They don’t have a problem with that, playing box lacrosse, so you just have to bury more shots,” said Jones.

That said, whether it is Stanstead, Billings, or Brebeuf, Jones likes his team’s chances.

“When you beat a team, it’s hard to beat them twice. We already lost to them, so we don’t have the challenge of repeating, so we get to go in with more confidence and the opportunity to switch up our game plan,” said Jones, who added that he has been working on getting different matchups for his players on offense specifically.

What they won’t have to necessarily work on is the goaltending, Jones said, thanks to the strong play of rookie Tionatathe Thompson.

Thompson, like most of the Akweks’ roster, is a box lacrosse player learning to play field lacrosse. For goaltenders, that means stopping shots with just a helmet, gloves, and a chest protector, compared to the heavy padding in box lacrosse.

Jones said that a huge part of learning to be a goaltender in field lacrosse is fighting the fear of the ball.

“He has no fear; that helps a lot with not shying away from shots. He’ll absorb the shots off his legs and arms, and they don’t phase him; he’s ready for the next save,” said Jones.

“That’s huge, because some players, you hit them with a ball and they kind of flinch, and then they lose their stance and it opens up the goal. He holds his ground all the way through.”

In contrast to years past, this year’s Akweks team is made up of many players in grades eight and nine playing against laxers who might be two or three years older than they are.

“Three and three, that’s not bad for a very young team. We had a lot of young players all around, and I’m happy with our outcomes so far,” said Jones.

“We have a bright future, because we have a lot of eighth and ninth graders who are the core of the team. Right now, they’re taking their lumps and bumps because they’re still young, but by next year or the year after, we’re going to be a force to reckon with when these kids mature in size and skill.”

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