Mohawks on a roll in playoff hockey

The Kahnawake Minor Hockey Association (KMHA)’s U15B Mohawks are Eastern Hockey League (EHL) finals bound.

Saturday’s 2-0 win against the Verdun Bulldogs punched their ticket to the finals, which are happening today, Friday, at Scotty Bowman Arena in Verdun at 7 p.m.

“There were a lot of people from our community at the game,” said Lou Ann Stacey, director of the U15 age group. “We’re hoping on Friday to get as many people, if not more.”

There certainly will be room for them, as the 3,500 seat Scotty Bowman Arena is the main arena of the Verdun Auditorium.

Stacey said that for most, if not all of the team, this will be the first time they ever participate in a finals game like this, and to have it be on a big stage like this is special.

“They’re going to go in as prepared as they can be and do the best that they can. I think they’re just going to give it their all. That’s pretty much what they can do in every single game,” said Stacey.

Amonte Horne and Tionathathe Thompson each scored against the Bulldogs, and Olivia Meloche earned the shutout - or at least, that’s what the official scoresheet says.

On the scoreboard during the game, it seemed like the Bulldogs had actually scored, with the board showing 2-1 Kahnawake when the final whistle blew.

“I don’t know what happened, because I know our goalie told us that when they were fighting in front of the net, she said the puck had never crossed the line, and she grabbed it before it went over,” said Stacey.

She said they still are not sure why they counted it on the board but not on the sheet, but officially, it will stand as a shutout, and Meloche was very happy for her first one to come in the playoffs.

“She came up with good plays again,” said Stacey.

The whole team played well according to her, and when they won the game, they celebrated like they had just won the championship already.

“The referees got mad because some of the kids took their helmets off, and you’re not allowed to do that,” said Stacey. “It was awesome to see.”

The U11B Mohawks also came up with good plays in their go-or-go-home game on March 18, winning 6-3 against the St. Laurent Gladiators.

The U11B team is playing in a double-elimination playoff, and with one loss so far, every game is an elimination game from here on out.

“They were going into that first game thinking that they had the win the bag, and the fact that they lost that one, they now realize that they have to get it done or the season is over. They have a little more pep in their step,” said Kyle Zacharie, assistant coach and manager for the U11B Mohawks.

Jack White had a hat trick against the Gladiators, and the whole team played a great game according to Zacharie, from White to the defense to the goaltender.

“They were confident, and they’re looking forward to the upcoming games,” said Zacharie.

They also have something else to look forward to - something that seems to have helped get them motivated for their game against St. Laurent.

“Before the game, we’re talking about different things, getting the team pumped up for the game, and our head coach said, ‘If you are up 4-0 after the first period, we’re going to have a pizza party,’” said Zacharie.

“By the end of the first period, it was 5-1, and when the team scored our fourth goal, they were all on the bench, and they were chanting ‘Pepperoni! Pepperoni!’”

The U11B Mohawks can look forward to their pizza party, but first comes their next playoff game, Sunday at 2 p.m. against the LaSalle Panthers. They played twice during the regular season, with each team winning once.

“With both teams having one loss in the playoffs, I expect it to be a tough game, as the winner continues on and the loser’s season comes to an end,” said Zacharie.

It’s not just the kids who are having success in the playoffs. The U21 Mohawks Junior team, in their first season of existence, have won their first two playoff games: 2-1 against the Vaudreuil Mustangs on March 15 and 4-0 on March 18 against the MRO Diables.

“A shutout in the playoffs is a statement, the team who plays us next will know our defensive core and goaltending are strong and on point,” said Maxwell Goodleaf, who was in the crease for both victories.

“Being 2-0 in the playoffs feels amazing,” said Goodleaf.

But to him, holding the trophy at the end will feel even better.

“I think we have a real shot, we have the team to do it, our coaching staff is there, the community wants us to win and has supported us quite a bit.”

They will play their next playoff game on March 30.

Other results and upcoming games

March 15: The U13B Mohawks lost 3-2 to the CSL Canucks; the U15A Mohawks shut out the St. Laurent Spartans 4-0; the U13C Mohawks won by forfeit against the CSL Canucks.

March 16: The U18B Mohawks shut out the CSL Red Canucks 7-0.

March 18: The U11C Mohawks lost 6-0 to the Verdun Coyotes; The U13C Mohawks defeated the Montreal-West-Hampstead Knights 4-2.

March 21: The U15A Mohawks play the LaSalle Lions at Pete Morin Arena at 8 p.m.

March 22: The U13B take on the St. Laurent Warriors at the Kahnawake Sports Complex at 1 p.m.

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