Hunters, Thunder to clash in East finals

After sweeping the Green Gaels in the second round of the Ontario Junior B Lacrosse League (OJBLL) playoffs, only one team stands in the way of the Kahnawake Junior B Hunters in their quest to get to the league finals; a team they know very well, the Akwesasne Junior B Thunder.

The Thunder, continuing their underdog run, won their series against the first seed Nepean Knights 3-1, winning the last three games in a row.

They’ll be battling in the playoffs for the first time since 2017, when the then-Akwesasne Indians swept the Hunters in the second round.

What makes this even more special, though, is that this will be the first time both teams meet in the finals of the East.

“It’s incredible for community members in both Kahnawake and Akwesasne to see, and I feel like it brings out the best in our community and in us as Kanien’kehá:ka people,” said Brandon Bordeau, who does commentary for Hunters’ games on his Baby Blue Memories YouTube channel.

To Bordeau, the playoffs are halfway done, but the easier half is taken care of.

“They’re halfway through their journey, and the most difficult half is coming up.” Interestingly, Hunters’ defender Darris Jones feels the opposite way: to him, the Hunters have been playing to another level in the playoffs, and it’s felt easier as it has gone on.

“We are through the thick of it. To me, the start of the playoffs is the worst because it’s the scariest part,” said Jones.

“Once you get one, two rounds deep, it’s kind of like, ‘All right, we did this before. Let’s keep going together.’”

They’ll be hoping to keep going against a team that finds itself in a situation that is very similar to the 2024 Hunters, as the seventh seed Thunder have knocked out higher seeds in each of their first two rounds, and now face the second seed Hunters.

“I think it just goes to show that anyone can play in this league, regardless of what seed or place you are, just the playoffs are a whole other battle, and it’s just a matter of who can prevail at the right time,” said Thunder general manager Turner Thomas.

“It kind of came together right at the end of the regular season, and they kept it going so far in playoffs. It’s just been awesome for us.”

Bordeau said that while other teams might have been surprised by Akwesasne during the first two rounds of the playoffs, the Hunters are too familiar with them and the situation they are in now to let their guard down.

“I think they’re wary. They’re not going to be taken by surprise,” said Bordeau.

Jones agreed, saying that both teams will be watching tape of each other’s playoff rounds, and as the recipient of a loss from Akwesasne in their last regular season game, they know what Akwesasne has to offer on this run.

Both Bordeau and Thomas said they expect the series to go the distance, playing in front of huge crowds the whole time, starting on Friday at 8 p.m. at the Sports Complex. Game two will be Sunday at 8 p.m. in Akwesasne.

“If it doesn’t go the distance, the games are all going to be really close and exciting. I call it the best rivalry in lacrosse, and I’m pretty sure I’m not the only one,” said Bordeau.

“I hope both communities come out to support their teams, and either way, it’s going to be a blast. I know it’s going to be packed at both barns, and it’s going to be great lacrosse,” said Thomas.

For Jones, the key to the series will be staying disciplined against a team that could get under their skins, if they let them.

“At five-on-five, no one can match us defensively or offensively. Our penalty minutes are kind of making games closer than they should be,” he said.

For Thomas, the matchup in net will be a big part of Akwesasne’s potential success, as Xavier Delormier’s great play in the playoffs has been a huge part of their run - Delormier has only allowed double digit goals once in seven games so far in the playoffs, while the Hunters’ goaltender has done so twice in the six games he’s played.

“He’s been playing unreal right now,” said Thomas.

“He’s playing some of the best lacrosse I’ve ever seen him play. I know, as long as we can keep him on a good note, I think we’ll be good, and hopefully the boys can rally off that.”

By the Numbers

The Hunters hold the edge over the Thunder in terms of almost every metric. Looking at combined regular season and playoff stats, the Hunters have a better goal differential (111 to –1), more power play goals (44 to 33), fewer power play goals allowed (48 to 57), and more shorthanded goals (27 to 19). The Hunters have, however, been in the penalty box much more often than the Thunder, accumulating almost 100 more minutes (548 to 464).

In four regular season matchups, the Hunters and Thunder each won two contests.

Akwesasne’s leading scorer, Lukas Rozon, has 13 more goals than Kahnawake’s leading scorer Kaymen Diabo (69 to 56). Diabo holds the edge in total points over Rozon, 133 to 125.

End of Green Gaels

The Hunters completed the sweep of the Green Gaels to open powwow weekend last Friday, winning 12-7 at home.

Kahnawake got off to a very fast start, with Connor Gorman’s sixth of the playoffs, Owen Rice’s 12th of the playoffs, and Deeland Martin’s seventh of the playoffs being scored in the first four minutes of the game.

Liam Hackett responded at 14:29 of the first, but the Hunters continued to pour it on by scoring four goals in less than five minutes. Gorman’s second of the game with four minutes left to go in the period was the eventual game winner, putting the Hunters up 8-2.

None of the Hunters’ goals came on the power play, as they scored 11 five-on-five goals and Gorman’s third of the game was scored shorthanded.

Martin also had a hat trick, and Owen Rice, Shakononhkwahtsheronniennis Rice, and Kaymen Diabo each scored twice.

Kahnawake never trailed on the scoreboard in the series.

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