New Hunters team prepares

It’s getting closer and closer to everyone’s favourite time of year, when the Kahnawake Hunters pick up their sticks and the community rallies behind some of town’s best sporting talent.

“I hope all the fans come out and support us, and all our sponsors come back, and that we have a successful season once again,” said Derek Stacey, owner of the Hunters.

The Hunters’ schedule was released earlier this month, with the first game of the season scheduled as an away game for April 25 against the Gloucester Griffins.

“We’re looking at the same thing we were last year,” Stacey said. “That’s to try and make the Founders Cup.”

This year is also a history-making one for the Hunters franchise, because it will be the first ever time that there will be a Hunters Junior C team as well as a Junior B team. Though they’ve applied before, this is the first time that the Hunters have been accepted to play in the Ontario Lacrosse Association’s Junior C League.

“We’re going to be able to carry pretty much everybody, and then we can bring players up to play B or bring them back down to play C,” Stacey said.

Last year, the Kahnawake Hunters Junior B Team had the best season in their history, being crowned Eastern Conference Champions. They lost out to the Elora Mohawks in the finals, just whispers away from securing the Founders Cup.

“We had one team to beat, and we couldn’t do it,” Stacey said. “I’m hoping this year we get the players to get us over that hump.”

Connor Gorman, who was a part of the team last season, said he’s excited to hopefully go even further this time around.

“I think we can pick up right where we left off from last season. Our regular season schedule is pretty similar to last year,” Gorman said. “I definitely think some of those losses will turn into wins during the regular season after a whole off season and another year of experience with each other. Big things for the Hunters in 2025!”

Like many returning players, it’s Gorman’s last year before he ages out of the Hunters.

“It means a lot to me,” he said.

Coaching staff is being finalized for the C team, but the Junior Bs will be working with a new coach, Brandon Francis. He takes over from former veteran head coach Garrett Cree.

“I just felt it was time for a change, and Brandon’s been coaching Senior A the last two years, coaching pro players,” said Stacey, adding that Francis has also played in the National Lacrosse League (NLL).

He’ll be assisted with coaching from Brett Bucktooth, also a former NLL player, as well as returning coaches Thunder Jacobs and Kahnawiio Dione.

“They bring a wealth of experience to the team,” Stacey said.

The full Hunters schedule is available on the team’s social media. Tryouts for both the B and C teams continued this week, with three more dates before March 20 for the next generation of Hunters to prove themselves.

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