Hunters balling at Founder’s Cup

It would have been hard to ask for a better start for the Kahnawake Junior B Hunters at their first-ever Founder’s Cup tournament, going 2-0 after wins against the Mountainview Mavericks and the Nova Scotia Privateers.

With their third and final round robin game taking place last night (Thursday) against the Seneca WarChiefs after The Eastern Door’s publishing deadline, the single elimination games are right around the corner.

All of the Hunters’ success at Founder’s almost did not happen, however, as the original Air Canada flight to get the Hunters to Calgary from Toronto booked by the OJBLL for August 17 was no longer an option once flight attendants went on strike.

Unable to miss the start of the tournament without having to forfeit, the options were slim a few days out from when the Hunters needed to be in Calgary.

“It was a very scary situation because not being able to be here would have put all that people gave towards this team in the gutter,” said defender Darris Jones.

The option of chartering a flight was suggested, but the price of doing so last minute was very high, with an initial estimate of over $83,000, plus tax, for a one-way trip.

Social media posts from people like team owner Derek Stacey asking for help were widely shared, and community members donated to help the team get to Calgary - including one large donation that made the flight possible according to Stacey, although he did not name who it was.

With the flight chartered, the team made its way to Calgary on time.

“That was a huge help, and we will be forever grateful for this opportunity. It all comes down to us doing our part now and bringing the ring home to Kahnawake and celebrating with our families,” said Jones.

“I expect nothing less from these guys, because they’re playing on another level right now,” said Stacey.

Being in the Tsuut’ina Nation in Alberta for the Founder’s Cup has been a very unique experience for the Hunters’ players, including Jones.

“It’s amazing. Being a rookie, I never expected to be in this position. It feels great to have the opportunity to show my talent at this level,” he said.

The team as a whole has done just that in their first two games. As high calibre as the Ontario Junior B Lacrosse League (OJBLL) is, the teams at the Founder’s Cup each won their respective league championship, apart from the host team Calgary Shamrocks, making each win all the more impressive.

Their first game saw the Mavericks score first less than three minutes in, before Kahnawake showed why it had made it to Founder’s in the first place, taking advantage of scoring opportunities, strong defense, and big saves in net by Kasey Lahache.

Connor Gorman scored the Hunters’ first Founder’s Cup goal at 15:04, Owen Rice gave them the lead at 9:15, and Tehahente Albany scored as well to make it 3-1.

The Mavericks made it 3-2 on the power play at 3:44, before Shakononhkwahtsheronniennis Rice closed out the period with a goal to make it 4-2 Hunters after one.

The second period was marked by each team scoring in bunches and taking the lead: the Mavericks pulled ahead with three goals in under four minutes to open the period; Gorman and Shakononhkwahtsheronniennis Rice had their second of the game to take the lead back, and Hawi Francis added a goal of his own to make it 7-5; the Mavericks took back the lead 8-7 with seven minutes left in the second; and Owen and Francis each had their second to take a 9-8 lead at the end of the period.

The Hunters would not trail again.

The first half of the period saw neither team pierce the defensive structure of the other, until Owen completed his hat trick at 9:49 to make it 10-8.

Winter Rivera scored twice in 40 seconds at 5:42 and 5:02 to make it 12-8, Owen added his fourth shorthanded at 1:06, and the Mavericks scored their only goal of the period with just five seconds left to confirm the Hunters’ win 13-9.

Game two was as one-sided a game as it looked on the scoresheet, with the Hunters taking down the Nova Scotia Privateers 20-6.

Taking away every shot that went in from Kahnawake would still have seen them hold a 36-33 advantage in shots.

“Confidence is key, and we gained a lot from that huge win. But we can’t let it get to our heads, we have to stay humble and keep the momentum rolling,” said Jones.

After four rounds of best-of three or five playoff games, single elimination is a different beast, Jones said.

“Single elimination is a mental challenge more than a physical one, and with that being the case, we have to stick to our principles and just keep winning,” he said.

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