Lacrosse registrations open
Selena Kaniehtiiostha Beauvais with U11 Kanesatake Warriors team players when they won the provincial games in July 2025. Courtesy Kanesatake Health Center
Lacrosse registrations for the Kanehsatà:ke Warriors team are underway until March 9 at the Kanesatake Health Center (KHC).
This year, the Warriors will add an all-girls U15 lacrosse team to their ranks, said Selena Kaniehtiiostha Beauvais, sports and athletics coordinator at the KHC.
“I’m glad they’re getting their own team and I’m sure they’re going to do amazing,” said Beauvais, who will coach the new girls team.
The new team was formed after the coaches noticed a large number of girls playing with the boys in the U11, U13, and U15 teams, said Beauvais.
Girls will continue to play with the boys in the provincial league games, and Kanehsata’kehró:non aged three to 16 years old can register with the Warriors.
Kahontóktha Beauvais, who has two sons in lacrosse, said lacrosse helps kids learn to conquer many kinds of challenges. Last year, many players had to overcome a language barrier before they could work well together as a team.
“Some kids speak French and some speak English. So that was a little bit of difficulty,” said Kahontóktha, who is Selena’s sister. “French speaking kids are learning the language. They’re also picking up on English more, and our kids are learning a little bit of French too, so it’s a nice mix now.”
And her eldest son, who joined the U13 division last year, did not win provincials in 2025 like they did the previous year.
The loss was a “reality check,” said Kahontóktha. But teaching her son how to handle losing wasn’t too hard because her dad, an avid lacrosse player and coach, had done the same for her when she was growing up.
“That’s what my dad taught me. I’m pushing that to my kids, teaching them, you’re not going to win everything. It’s okay, you don’t have to get too hard on yourself. It doesn’t mean you give up,” said Kahontóktha.
“We’re still going to be screaming for you guys, regardless of if you lose. We make sure when it’s not going their way, we scream extra loud for them, so it keeps their spirits up,” she said, referring to the support parents give during games.
The coaches are also dedicated to helping kids through thick and thin. Selena said she became a KHC coach in 2024 to help children and youth in the community build their athletic and personal development skills.
“I just want to be a good role model for our younger generation and give them good tips and tricks I’ve learnt playing,” said Selena. “Lacrosse teaches a lot about discipline, teamwork, but also builds so much confidence. I’ve seen a lot of this since coaching.”
And they make sure to keep things fun, said Kahontóktha.
“They don’t try to force the kids to do something they don’t want to do,” she said. “And they’re really big on sportsmanship, teamwork, and respectfulness.”
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This year, Kahontóktha hopes her oldest son, who is in the U13, can score a win at the provincial games.
“I’m expecting great things from the team this year,” said Kahontóktha.
“Winning provincials would be amazing,” said Selena. “But also, as long as the kids are having fun playing and want to come back and play, that’s all that matters.
Hadassah Alencar, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
