Jr. Black Bears shine at NLL Tournament
The Jr. Black Bears gathered as a team as the tournament commenced. Courtesy Zak Raymond
The Ottawa Jr. Black Bears delivered a standout performance at the 2025 Jr. NLL Tournament in Oakville this past weekend, turning heads across all divisions with skill, heart, and unity. The event, which draws the top youth lacrosse talent from across North America, served as both a proving ground for elite athletes and a powerful platform for representation especially for players from Kahnawake.
One of the weekend’s most memorable moments came before the U13 gold medal game. As the national anthem echoed through the arena, 13-year-old Korey Rice of Kahnawake stood ready to represent his community. Moments later, he opened the scoring in the final.
“Listening to our anthem before it and scoring in the gold game, that was my favourite moment,” said Rice. “It made me proud to represent Kahnawake.”
The Jr. Black Bears, composed of athletes from Ontario and four standout players from Kahnawake, entered teams in the U13, U15, and U17 divisions.
All three squads posted strong showings, highlighted by the U13 team’s flawless 5-0 run to the championship game. Their path included dominant wins over the Georgia Jr. Swarm (20‑2) and Saskatchewan Jr. Rush (15‑1). Despite falling 14‑9 to the Toronto Jr. Rock in the final, they secured an impressive second-place finish.
Head Coach Zak Raymond praised the team’s resilience and rapid development. “What really jumped out at me was the stick skills and the work ethic of these kids at such a young age,” Raymond said. “The passion and raw emotion they showed after big plays, good or bad, was unreal. We saw everything from behind-the-backs to crease dives to around-the-worlds. The highlights were incredible.”
Beyond tactics and goals, the team’s chemistry stood out. “What impressed me the most was how much they celebrated each other,” Raymond noted. “The bench lit up every time someone made a great play.”
That excitement extended to the families as well. Emily Rice, Korey’s mother, was filled with pride. “He gave up his school graduation trip to be here. Seeing him play with the best in Zone 5 and score in the gold game was unforgettable.”
Another Kahnawake parent, Jessica Teiotsistohkwathe Lazare, spoke about her son, Tehonwaká:nere McComber. “He really elevated his game. The coaches saw his potential and built him into the offense.”
Tehonwaká:nere said the experience improved his mental game. “Being around high-level players really helped,” he said. “My advice to others is to stay focused, never mind the crowd or the trash talk, just play your game.” Like Korey, he has his sights set on pro lacrosse. “I see myself in the NLL (National Lacrosse League) or PLL (Premiere Lacrosse League) one day.”
The mother of Rahontsá:waks Albany, Lacey Paul, expressed her gratitude, “It was his second year, it was really nice to see him play again this year, seeing him bond with his teammates, and watching him enjoy what he loves to do.”
Rahontsá:waks Albany, a U15 player, reflected on the tournament too, “I felt proud to represent Kahnawake and also when scoring in the first game, it was a fun, good experience, and I want to eventually play for the Hunters one day,” he said.
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The U15 and U17 teams also delivered strong finishes. The U15s turned last year’s growth into a 4‑2 record, claiming third after a 9‑6 win over Rochester. The U17s posted a 5‑2 record, capping their weekend with a dominant 9‑1 wins over Calgary.
Raymond believes this is just the beginning. “I hope this success sparks a year-round program. The future is bright.”
For the youth of Kahnawake, visibility at this level goes beyond competition. “Lacrosse is our medicine,” said Lazare. “For our boys to be seen to represent who we are, that’s powerful.”
