Mohawks reach hockey semis

Having their playoff runs concluded with semifinal losses was not the end of the season either team was hoping for, but that doesn’t mean the Kahnawake Minor Hockey Association (KMHA)’s U11A and U15A Mohawks did not have successful seasons, far from it.

The U11A Mohawks rattled off four straight playoff wins to make the semifinals, where they took on the second-best team by regular season record, the LaSalle Lions, on March 27.

The Lions opened the scoring in the second period, but Carver Goodleaf scored in the third to tie the game at one and, eventually, send it to overtime.

Unfortunately, it was the Lions who scored less than a minute into the three-on-three overtime to reach the finals with a score of 2-1.

“We knew it was going to be a challenge,” said U11A head coach Mackenzie Kirby.

The two teams had met only once in the regular season, on February 18. The Lions won that game 3-1.

“This time around, we were much more optimistic, not only because of the winning streak that we were riding, but just overall, the team was in a much different place than when we played them the last time,” said Kirby.

They had grown a lot on and off the ice, as players and as a team.

“I knew we had a realistic shot of winning. And honestly, as far as the game went, I’ll say we couldn’t have executed a better game plan, and the kids couldn’t have played any better than they did,” said Kirby.

After the game, the players ran through the gamut of emotions, and Kirby said the coaches gave them space to live those emotions, before telling them that they had nothing to be ashamed of.

“If we look at the season as a whole, these kids were winners. They really, on an individual level, improved, and as a result, the team improved tremendously. This was validated from parents, friends, and opposing teams. I told them to take as much time as they need to work themselves through it, but when they left the dressing room to make sure that they keep their chin up, because they are winners even if the game didn’t say so,” said Kirby.

He said that he and the other coaches felt very validated from how much the players had grown this year, both in their play and emotionally.

“We felt like we made an impact in some way, shape or form, despite the results of the games and the playoffs,” said Kirby.

The night before their game, as a team bonding exercise, the U11A Mohawks went to Lachine to cheer on the U15A Mohawks in their playoff game against the Lachine Rapides, which they won 4-3.

“Because it was an older age group, it’s something that they can aspire to be. Being together to cheer on another team, it just made them a tighter-knit group than they already were,” said Kirby.

Terry McKeown, head coach of the U15A Mohawks, said they very much appreciated their support that night.

“To have them come out and show their support for our entire team, that makes a big difference,” said McKeown.

“It was kind, considerate, and it was very well appreciated, and I think that’s what gave us that boost to win the game, knowing that those kids were out there cheering us on.”

While the U15A Mohawks would also go on to lose in the semifinals, a 7-5 loss to the LaSalle Lions on Monday night, McKeown was proud of how his players bounced back from a tough regular season that saw them go 7-14-3.

“We gave it a valiant effort, and the result wasn’t what we wanted. But the result, as far as the playoffs go, we were satisfied with them,” said McKeown.

“It showed a lot of character for our team to not give up.”

That kind of character was also apparent in the team’s captain, Tayten Nolan, whom the team rallied behind in the playoffs as he potted two playoff hat tricks, McKeown said.

“They rally behind him. That was probably the reason why we were able to turn it around with his leadership,” said McKeown.

“He showed that he had the quality to be the captain, which is why he put on that C. The players look up to him in the dressing room, on the ice, and on the bench.”

He also noted the strong play of goaltender Rahontsiiostha Madden McComber throughout the year, and the strong support from parents and the community at large.

“Of all the many, many years I’ve been a coach, I would have to say this year was our best year for support from the parents, and that made the biggest difference,” said McKeown.

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