Season over for Junior C Hunters

The inaugural season for the Junior C Hunters has come to an end, following the 10-6 loss last Thursday to the North Shore Kodiaks in the first round of the playoffs, which completed the three-game sweep.

Kahnawake had the upper hand after the first period, with a pair of goals by Tehahente Albany - two of his four in the game - and one by Rahsatstatie Cross, putting the Hunters up 3-1.

Unfortunately for the Hunters, the Kodiaks took advantage of two second period power play opportunities as part of a six-goal offensive barrage, putting them up 7-4, a lead they wouldn’t lose.

Still, even with that playoff elimination, the Junior C Hunters, who went 5-11 during the regular season, have a lot to build on from this season, and a lot they can hold their heads up high about.

Defender Stone McGregor said that coming into the season, they were not sure they would win more than one or two games.

“We proved this year we’re capable of doing more than that,” said McGregor.

“The first season I’d say was a success, even though we didn’t have the best season we grew a brotherhood that will last a lifetime,” said Shatekaienthokwen Van Dommelen, who also plays defense for the team.

“The playoffs didn’t go how we wanted, but it was a learning experience that we all can learn from and move forward.”

Learning was the name of the game this year, with head coach Eric Jacobs often mentioning the “learning curve” of playing lacrosse at this level, especially when compared to minor lacrosse - in Junior, you might play against 20-year-olds, which the Hunters frequently did during the season, including against the Kodiaks.

Van Dommelen, for example, thought playing for the team was a good way of seeing where he was on the learning curve.

“I liked playing with the team this year because it showed me that I have things to work on and get better for next year,” he said.

“As a team we talked about learning curves, I feel like the team has progressed all throughout the year. Our bond, it has never been stronger,” said McGregor.

To him, just the experience of playing at that level alone, including in the playoffs, was valuable to have, and difficult to obtain unless you actually go through it.

“It’s not really a thing you talk about, because you’re trying to be better than your opponent, but they have played in those different situations and that’s something we didn’t have,” said McGregor.

As far as in-game skills, McGregor said that he was happy with how his play in transition had developed this year.

“It’s become a big part of my game,” he said.

This season was a season of many firsts, including first home games, first wins, and first playoff appearances - but also having Ava Weriasanoron Gabriel on the roster, who scored the first goal by a female player in Ontario Junior Lacrosse League (OJLL) history.

“The way I felt right away was like when the buzzer went off to call the game from the bronze medal match during the world championships,” said Gabriel of her first goal with the Hunters in a previous interview with The Eastern Door.

Gabriel only played eight regular season games for the Hunters, due to other obligations, and finished with four points, two goals and two assists.

The leading points producer for the team, playoffs included, was assistant captain Jackson Norton, who scored 19 times and added 42 assists for 61 points. Ava’s brother Logan was second in points, with 18 goals and 26 assists.

The leading goal scorer was Tehorahkwaneken Albany, with 28 goals in 14 games.

McGregor and Van Dommelen plan to be back in Junior lacrosse next year, with Van Dommelen specifically planning to try out for the Junior B Hunters.

“I hope everyone from our team this year goes out and tries out from the Junior B Hunters next season,” he said.

McGregor, for his part, was happy to play in Kahnawake again, after playing for the St. Thomas Aquinas College Spartans in NCAA Division 2 lacrosse.

“I came home to play with my boys and I’m grateful to do that,” said McGregor.

“It felt great to be back in front of the roaring fans in Kahnawake, there’s nowhere louder than home.”

[email protected]