Solid start to season for Akweks

The U14 Kahnawake Survival School (KSS) Akweks find themselves with a win, a loss, and a tie so far in their Greater Montreal Athletic Association (GMAA) season.

Their latest game was the draw, a 2-2 result on Monday against the Beaconsfield High School Bisons, currently the top team in the standings, at the Kahnawake Sports Complex.

KSS won its first game of the season 7-5 against Selwyn House on November 17 and lost the second against St. Thomas High School by a score of 5-2 on November 20.

Nicholas Lesperance, head coach of the Akweks and teacher at KSS, has been happy with the team’s start so far.

“I feel great about the beginning of the season. We have great support from the community at games, and the players seem proud to be on the team,” said Lesperance.

Few players are returning from last year, as the team is now playing in the U14 division, after being U15 a year ago.

While most players have experience playing minor hockey, that still makes them a relatively inexperienced GMAA team.

“We have a young squad,” said Lesperance.

“I’m asking those returning to be leaders on the team.”

Those leaders could be crucial in what has been an open contest for the top of the five-team division. While KSS is currently fourth, they are only two points back of second-place Lower Canada College (LCC).

“The league is seemingly balanced, so if the players want to, we can go far into the playoffs,” said Lesperance.

That being said, while on-ice success would be nice, Lesperance is looking at the bigger picture.

“My main goal is growth as student athletes. I want my players to be successful in the classroom first, then successful on the ice,” said Lesperance.

“School comes first and when that’s taken care of, then we can win our championship.”

KSS will have two games next week: a rematch against the Knights on Monday at 3:30 p.m. at the Sports Complex, and their first game of the season against LCC, which will be at their home arena, Glenn J. Chamandy Arena in Montreal, on Friday at 3 p.m.

Those two will be the last before the holiday break, as the team will be back in action in 2026 on January 15 at 2:30 p.m. in Beaconsfield.

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