Historic run ends for Junior C Hunters

The Kahnawake Junior C Hunters gave everything they could to make it as far as they did in the Ontario Junior C Lacrosse League (OJCLL) playoffs, but the Cornwall Celtics, as well as the injuries that have piled up, made Monday’s game their last.

“Nobody is anything but proud of everybody in the room: the guys who got to play, the guys who stuck around even though they were sent down to U22 or scratched over and over. It’s a team sport, and we ran out of gas,” said Hunters’ head coach Eric Jacobs following their 11-5 game four loss to the Celtics at the Sports Complex, which eliminated them with a 3-1 series loss.

The Celtics held the advantage the whole way through, taking advantage of mistakes and turnovers to convert on many of their first period chances to go up 5-2.

The Hunters scored on their first possession of the second period; Karonhiakehson Jacobs’s beautiful diving goal after winning the faceoff.

But they were unable to establish much in the offensive zone. Anything they did manage was stopped by the Celtics goaltender.

Cornwall added five more goals in the second while Kahnawake potted one more to end the second 10-4.

From there things ground to a halt, with neither offense manufacturing much amid many penalties, causing momentum-breaking pauses in play.

The Hunters were missing a few of their starters, with Bocephus Dailleboust and Cale Rice suspended and Logan Gabriel and Joren Norton forced to miss games with injuries.

“Our fill-in players did a perfect job. We couldn’t ask for anything more. It’s always hard to replace your starters, your top players; it doesn’t matter what league, team, or sport,” said Jacobs.

And that’s not to mention the many who did play through their injuries, taped up by the trainer between shifts, hobbling to take offensive zone possessions but not letting that undermine their efforts, in pain but not giving up.

“We all believe, the staff and players, that if our wheels didn’t fall off with injuries, we could have taken these guys,” said Jacobs.

He was proud of how much the Hunters fought to stay in games and on the floor despite their injuries.

“We encourage them to try and keep going, but that’s something you can’t teach. The guys who stepped up, it’s all heart. It doesn’t take skill to do that. It’s a whole different thing,” said Jacobs.

The players, too, were proud of what they and their teammates fought through.

“It shows a lot of the pride for the sport, or everything that they have connected to it. It’s just everything that they’re putting into it. The guys, no matter what it is, they’re giving everything they have,” said Karonhiakehson.

“Game two, I got hit in the chest and I had a bruised lung, a pulmonary contusion. So, I had to sit game three. It was a shame, but I was wanting to play,” said John Claypool.

“I say that because I saw Karonhiakehson in a sling. I saw Rahsontahawe’s knees taped together limping. I knew that those boys were going to give 100 percent. I couldn’t do anything less.”

The coach said the experience of making it this far and giving it everything is a big positive to take away from this year.

“Last year, we didn’t get this far. Now they are figuring out what Junior lacrosse is and finding the process, learning new things. Now, they learned what running into series after series is about,” he said.

They learned about lacrosse, getting ready for what their future as laxers will be, but they’re also learning about life outside the rink.

“You’re hurt, you’re sore, you’re tired. You still have to get up and go to work. And I don’t mean lacrosse work. I mean work,” said coach Jacobs.

“These guys are starting to understand now. I have a bunch of players who have said, ‘I see what you’re talking about now. I can see what you’ve been saying all this time.’”

For Karonhiakehson, who has been on the team since its inception, he has seen what they were and can see their potential.

“It has just been a major turning point for us and a huge learning experience. Last year we didn’t make it past first round, and then this year we made it to finals,” said Karonhiakehson.

“That was brand new water for us, pretty much. We were sort of ready, but now we have more experience for next year.”

In just the second year of the program, the Junior C Hunters went from a team that got swept in the first round of the playoffs to a team that was competitive with the best the OJCLL has to offer.

They have grown and changed, and the results have come with it.

With only a few players aging out, and a strong crop of U17 players coming up to Junior, the Hunters could have a stronger roster going into next year. They’ll also have their identity, something they will strive to keep with some new players joining in.

“We’re ready to come out hot again and bring everything we have,” said Karonhiakehson.

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