Kuper wins banner with eight locals

The U18 Kuper Academy girls’ hockey team defeated the team that bested them in last year’s finals, Polyvalente Sainte Therese, 6-3 to win their Greater Montreal Athletic Association (GMAA) championship banner.

Eight players from Kahnawake were on that championship team: Teieronhiathè:tha Bauersfeld, Ella Montour, Ken’tarenhawe Montour, Bella Deer, Iakotste’niá:ron Deer, Olivia Meloche, Waheshon Curotte, and Ryan Stacey.

“It’s really cool that many girls from our community get to play each other on this team,” said Iakotste’niá:ron.

“The input from those eight girls was so impressive. Without them, it would have been a tough, tough ride,” said George Martin, the athletic director for Kuper Academy, who has been at the school for 25 years and taught at Kahnawake Survival School and Kateri School for 10 years beforehand.

“All these girls have been with us since grade seven. The impact they’ve had on the school is quite impressive.”

All eight are multisport athletes at the school, playing softball, flag football, and doing track and field on top of their hockey. They also play hockey outside the school, either in the Kahnawake Minor Hockey Association or on high-level girls’ teams outside the community, and all are great academically, Martin added.

Playing in outside hockey teams helps them a lot on the ice at Kuper, Martin said, including those playing on mixed teams in Kahnawake.

“You can see it in the way they play hockey. They’re very physical, and I always get a smile on my face when they get the puck off another girl on the other team,” said Martin.

Kuper finished second overall in the regular season with a 5-4 record. Three of those losses came to Polyvalente Sainte Therese, a 3-2 loss on December 2, a 5-1 loss on January 15, and a 5-2 loss on January 20.

In last year’s finals, Ste. Therese beat Kuper 5-4.

Despite that, the players did not feel like they were underdogs going into the finals rematch.

“We were all ready. Every game is a different game. We came ready to play and win,” said Stacey.

“We knew we had a good chance to win with this group of girls,” said Ella.

“Losing to Ste. Therese in last year’s finals gave us extra motivation to come back stronger and win against them this year. I feel like everyone was just more hyped and excited to be in the finals, so I felt more confident,” said Iakotste’niá:ron.

“I did not feel like the underdogs going into the finals, because I knew my team was capable of beating Ste. Therese.”

And, indeed, they were, and both Stacey and Iakotste’niá:ron contributed a goal each in the win.

“I felt proud to have been able to make it to the finals with my team and win,” said Iakotste’niá:ron.

“It felt great to win with my friends,” said Stacey.

“A lot of my teammates are graduating this year, so it was really awesome to win the GMAA with these girls.”

Stacey was also a huge part of their semifinals game, contributing offensively on each of Kuper’s goals in a 6-1 win over John Rennie High School. Stacey scored five times and also had an assist.

Ella said it was a really fun season, and it was great to win a title for the school with seven other girls from the community.

“Everyone was so happy, it was a lot of fun,” said Ella.

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