Lax and loaded at Cup

Fourteen-year-old Kahnawa’kehró:non Athennon:nia Meunier was one to watch at the First Nations Cup last weekend, proving himself despite being the youngest player on the roster.

Held this year in Halifax, Nova Scotia, the 2025 Alumni and First Nations Cup brought together Indigenous athletes from across Turtle Island in a celebration of lacrosse. Meunier joined U17 Team Quebec for this year’s tournament.

“It went really well,” said Olivier Brossoit, head coach of the team. “I went as a player a few years ago, but coming back as a coach and achieving this. it’s something really special.”

The Team Quebec U17 squad may not have topped the standings, coming in sixth place overall, but the competition was strong and there were ample moments of tight play. They earned a crucial 7-6 victory against Manitoba, a game many on the team and in the stands will remember for a long time, including Meunier.

“For me, it was an extraordinary experience,” said Meunier. “Representing my province and my culture is one of the values that matter most to me.”

Meunier’s most unforgettable moment came late in the game against Manitoba, when the Manitobans were up 6-4 with just five minutes left. With rain pouring down, Meunier was put on the power play, scoring not one but two goals back-to-back, tying the game 6-6.

“One minute after this goal, my teammate scored a goal to beat Manitoba 7-6. Right after this goal, a rainbow appeared in the sky, and it stopped raining. This was a sign of Mother Nature,” Meunier said.

Coach Anthony Desmarais, who also led the U17 squad, said the team worked well together. “The brotherhood they created was the most important thing. We dealt with adversity losing players to injuries and having to change systems, but they stayed together. That win against Manitoba was the highlight for a lot of us.”

Meunier wasn’t just learning from his teammates, but also his rivals.

“Playing with the best talents in Canada is a great apprenticeship,” he said. “I learned so much by playing against Ontario and BC. I even took a photo of their rosters so I could study them later. These are the most important games in my lacrosse journey.”

His father, Marty Kanatakhatsus Meunier, couldn’t be there in person this time, due to work responsibilities and travel limitations, a challenge shared by many families as the tournament took place over 700 KM away from their home.

“I was really proud,” Marty said. “But it was hard not being there. The livestream wasn’t always clear, but from what we did see, he played really well. He’s intense and passionate.”

Marty stressed the importance of using these experiences for personal development: “He now knows what it takes to play at the top level. I told him ‘If you want to be the best, you have to play against the best.’”

Despite the distance, Marty made sure his son knew that he was cheering him on. “When things weren’t going well, my coach supported me, and my dad called me every night,” Athennon:nia said. “My parents are my number one fans even from far away.”

Athennon:nia said the most important thing to remember is that lacrosse is a medicine game.

“You can’t play alone. You need your teammates. You need to keep your head up always,” he said.

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