Hunters, Bombers tied going into weekend
Kobe Sanden (pictured) scored four goals in game one of the first round of the Ontario Junior B Lacrosse League playoffs against the Barrie Bombers, but it wasn’t enough to get the win as the Kahnawake Hunters ultimately lost 10-7. Courtesy Kahnawake Hunters
As the best-of-five series goes to Kahnawake for game three tonight (Friday), the Kahnawake Hunters and the Barrie Bombers have been showing just how close the East division of the Ontario Junior B Lacrosse League (OJBLL) has been this season.
In game one, it was Barrie who came out on top at home.
After Kahnawake scored first just 16 seconds into the game, Barrie retaliated 30 seconds later to tie things at one.
Kahnawake scored its second goal at 13:58, before Barrie scored twice to take a 3-2 lead midway through the first period.
The final two frames saw streaky offense from both teams: in the second period, the Bombers scored four unanswered to go up 7-2.
Then, the Hunters scored five unanswered to tie the game midway through the third. Barrie took back the lead at 10:43 of the third and never relinquished it, en route to a 10-7 win.
Kobe Sanden scored four times for the Hunters, Shakononhkwahtsheronniennis Rice added two goals of his own, and leading regular-season scorer Owen Rice also scored.
Leland Lahache and Trennance Benedict shared the net. Leland had seven saves on 14 shots before being pulled at the start of the second period. Benedict stopped 26 of the 29 shots he faced the rest of the way.
Game two was a completely different story for the Hunters: Kahnawake scored eight goals in the first period, leading 8-2 going into the second.
The closest the Bombers got to tying it up was cutting the lead to three twice in the second period, but it was never enough to catch the Hunters, who won game two 15-9.
Owen participated in nine of his team’s 15 goals, scoring four times and adding five assists. Four other Hunters scored twice: Shakononhkwahtsheronniennis, Rakawineh Elijah, Reese Nugent, and Mason Sanden. Jenson White, Brett Bucktooth Jr., and Jackson Norton each had a goal as well.
Game two saw the return of goaltender Kasey Lahache, who had not played since June 10 due to a suspension. He had 32 saves on 41 shots in the win.
Hunter Tehaianeráhkhwa Norton said that to him, the biggest differences between games one and two on the floor were more disciplined play, having Lahache back in net, and playing to their strengths.
“We played our game,” said Norton.
That would be “running them over,” Norton said - and that energy and aggressiveness will be all they need to close out the series as well, in his opinion.
“That’s it, that’s all,” said Norton.
Going into the back half of the series at the Kahnawake Sports Complex, he said that he was excited to play in front of the home crowd.
“I’m definitely looking foward to playing back in our home. When we play at home, our fans are awesome,” said Norton.
The playoffs are already intense in the OJBLL, with every team’s eyes on the league championship and a chance to bring the Founders Cup home - and that is no different for the Hunters, with a playoff-hungry crowd expected at the Sports Complex all weekend to see the Hunters defend their crown.
Game four will be played tomorrow (Saturday) at 7 p.m. at the Sports Complex. If necessary, game five will be June 27 at 1 p.m., also at the Sports Complex.
Barrie’s top-heavy offense
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In contrast to the Hunters getting contributions up and down the roster offensively, it has mostly been a two-man show for Barrie.
Cameron and Christian MacKinnon have scored all but three of the Bombers’ 19 goals so far in the series, both having eight.
That has followed the team’s offensive output in the regular season, as Christian led Barrie in scoring by a wide margin with 65 points (38 goals and 27 assists).
Cameron was second in scoring, with 22 goals and 18 assists for 40 points.
Their power play has also struggled so far, with just two goals - both scored by Cameron.
