Hunters teams hit mid-season
Courtesy Junior C Hunters
With an 8-5 record, just six points separate the second-place Kahnawake Hunters from the ninth-place team in the Ontario Junior B Lacrosse League (OJBLL) Eastern Conference, while the Akwesasne Thunder currently hold the top spot with a 14-0 record.
Meanwhile, the Kahnawake Junior C Hunters are holding on to third place in the Ontario Junior C Lacrosse League (OJCLL)’s east standings with just over half their games played.
Tight race in Junior
The Junior B Hunters find themselves with some time to recuperate from the regular season grind, as they have the weekend off and will only play their next game on June 3 against the Gloucester Griffins.
Prior to the break, the Hunters played three games in four nights, including two on the road.
They won two of them: a 16-12 home victory on May 21 against the Nepean Knights and a 9-8 win against the Halton Hills Bulldogs on the road on May 23. A 9-6 loss to the Clarington Green Gaels the next day closed their weekend.
The Hunters have been able to count on a pair of new players the last few games, with siblings Mason and Kobe Sanden joining the Hunters. In five games, Mason has two goals and seven assists, while Kobe has three goals in just two games.
Defender Stone McGregor, who has played in two games with Mason, said Mason has been an important element of the Junior B team.
“He’s a hard worker, brings a lot of energy, and competes every shift. He’s the kind of teammate who pushes everyone around him, and I think he’ll be a big addition for the Hunters moving forward,” said McGregor.
Steady play in Junior C
After nine games of a 16-game season, the Kahnawake Junior C Hunters are holding on to third place in the Ontario Junior C Lacrosse League (OJCLL)’s east standings with a 5-4 record.
McGregor, one of a half-dozen players to see action with both the Junior B and Junior C Hunters, had a goal and an assist in the 11-7 Junior C victory against the Gloucester Griffins on May 23. He said that he felt right at home in his first two games with the team.
“It was a great experience playing with the Junior C squad over the weekend. The guys welcomed me right away, and it was nice getting the chance to compete with them and help the team get the win. The pace was good and it was a lot of fun being out there with the group,” said McGregor, who has also played seven games with the B Hunters this season.
McGregor praised how well the Hunters came together against Gloucester.
“I think one of the biggest keys to the win against Gloucester was how hard everyone worked from start to finish. We moved the ball well and played as a team. Our energy on both ends of the floor really helped us control the game,” said McGregor.
The next day, the Junior C Hunters lost 10-5 to the first-place North Shore Kodiaks.
Even having just played one game against the Kodiaks, McGregor said he could see why they had been a strong team thus far.
“They play fast, stay organized, and capitalize on mistakes. Playing against them showed us the level we need to compete at every shift,” said McGregor.
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“I think if the C squad keeps working hard, communicating, and sticking to our systems, we can keep improving and stay competitive with them.”
Although McGregor said Junior C is a little slower and not as physical as Junior B, getting playing time anywhere he can find it is a positive for him.
“Getting extra reps and playing in important situations helps me develop and improve different parts of my game,” he said.
The Junior C Hunters will play twice this weekend. On Saturday at 2 p.m. they will visit the Nepean Knights, and on Sunday they will host the Whitby Warriors at the Sports Complex, also at 2 p.m.
