Overtime heroics mark minor hockey
U11A Mohawks forward Jack White was the overtime hero against the St. Laurent Gladiators, batting his own rebound out of the air to score in the last minute of the extra period to keep his team’s playoff run alive. Courtesy Atewenniióhstha Jacobs
The U11A Mohawks are riding a four-game playoff winning streak, with three of those games having been decided by one goal.
Regardless of how close those games have been, head coach Mackenzie Kirby said this crucial string of victories has not been a fluke.
“They put in a lot of work that most people wouldn’t be privy to,” said Kirby.
“They’ve earned every right to be where they are.”
Where they are is in the Eastern Hockey League (EHL) semifinals, where they will face off against the LaSalle Lions today, Friday, at 7:30 p.m. at Raymond Bourque Arena in St. Laurent.
During their four-game winning streak, they have beaten the Montreal West Hockey Knights 4-3, the St. Laurent Warriors 2-1, the St. Laurent Gladiators 3-2 in overtime, and the MRO Devils 4-1.
It was the overtime win against the Gladiators that provided a very special moment for the team, one that has since made the rounds on Facebook.
With less than a minute to go in the three-on-three overtime period, Jack White deked through each St. Laurent player and sent a shot to the goalie.
The puck bounced off the edge of the goalie’s glove and stayed in the air long enough for White to knock it into the goal from mid-air for the game winner.
Kirby said that Brandon Bordeau, who was broadcasting the game on his YouTube channel Baby Blue Memories, summed it up well.
“He said ‘it’s a moment where hockey meets baseball,’” said Kirby.
“You don’t see those kind of goals every day. To see that sort of moment from that player was pretty special. I’m pretty sure everyone won’t forget that.”
If the U11A Mohawks can reach the finals, they will be assured a spot at regionals, Kirby said.
The Rapides were the second-best team in the regular season, and Friday’s game will be no cakewalk for the Mohawks.
“But I have a high level of confidence in our guys and girls. If they go out and play like the way they did against the Devils, it will be a good game,” said Kirby.
The U15A Mohawks were also the beneficiaries of some overtime heroics, courtesy of Atiewatonni Homer.
Homer scored the game-winner against the Verdun Leafs courtesy of a heads-up play from team captain Tayten Nolan.
Nolan corralled the puck near the board, turned against his defender, and found Homer all alone in the slot, where he did not miss his chance to give Kahnawake the 4-3 win.
“It was a relief seeing the puck hit the back of the net after some penalty trouble in overtime,” said Shennenhiio Homer, Atiewatonni’s father, who shared video of his son’s overtime winner online.
“Seeing my son score the OT winner was the highlight of the night for me.”
Nolan was returning to the team following a four-game suspension, and he made his return count, scoring a hat trick along with the game-winning assist.
“Having our captain back in the lineup really helped us get the W,” said Shennenhiio.
The win against Verdun kept the U15A Mohawks’ playoff hopes alive in the double-loss system. Their follow-up game against the Lachine Rapides on Thursday night was played after The Eastern Door’s publishing deadline.
The U15A squad has a 1-2 record this season against the Rapides, with their most recent meeting being a 1-0 loss on February 24.
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Other results
The following results are for games played between March 19 and March 26, 2026.
The U13C Mohawks won 4-3 in overtime against the Lachine Castors on March 21, but lost 3-0 to the St. Laurent Titans on March 22, and are now eliminated.
The U15C Mohawks lost 2-1 to the LaSalle Lynx on March 21 and are now eliminated.
The U18A Mohawks lost 2-0 to the LaSalle Jaguars on March 19 and are now eliminated.
The U18B Mohawks lost 7-0 to the LaSalle Pumas on March 20 and are now eliminated.
