Kings crowned hockey champs

After 18 regular-season games and two playoff rounds, the Kahnawake Men’s Hockey League (KMHL) season is now over, with the Kings taking home the adult league’s championship.

It was not an easy road to the top for the Kings, who spent most of the season at the bottom of the four-team league’s standings.

The Kings had a 5-13 record, the worst in the league, before heading into the playoffs - all teams make the playoffs, which are two single-elimination rounds that determine a champion.

Anything can happen in the playoffs, as the old adage says, especially when it comes down to two do-or-die games.

That was certainly true in the KMHL finals, as the Kings not only reached the championship, but also defeated the Nordiques by a score of 7-5 to hoist the league’s top prize - a Stanley Cup replica trophy.

Sam Norton, who served as the Kings’ captain, said his personal highlight from the finals game was not something he did, but something his teammate achieved. It was when Oran Horn gave the Kings their championship win by scoring with two minutes left in regulation to bring the score to 6-5.

That goal served as the game winner and the championship winner for the Kings’ squad.

It was the first time Norton and many of his teammates had ever won the KMHL championship.

Norton said he has been a longtime participant in the KMHL, which makes finally achieving that first championship win all the sweeter for the Kings captain.

“I’ve been playing since I was 18, and I’ve always enjoyed playing hockey,” said Norton, now in his 30s.

“It feels good to finally win, the boys played hard.”

Norton said he won’t be retiring on top and instead intends to defend the championship victory in the 2026-2027 season.

“I can’t wait until next year,” he said.

The KMHL’s regular season takes place on Saturdays from October to March at the Kahnawake Sports Complex.

The league’s four teams then play semifinals games, where the matchups are determined based on regular season standings. The winners of each semifinals game then face off in the finals for the cup.

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