Survival season goals
As fall turns into winter, Kahnawake Survival School (KSS) athletics for the cold months of the year are in full swing.
Brandon Bordeau, student engagement and activity facilitator at KSS, said that participation in sports teams at the high school is up this year, thanks to recruitment efforts and word of mouth.
“I’ve tried on my end. And some of the newer teams that came around last year have garnered interest from students,” said Bordeau. He also said that they have pitched to students alternative sports when their usual sport is not in season, for example flag football to rugby players.
This year, the KSS Akweks have two hockey squads: a U15 and a U18 team.
Each has played three games this year so far - and each is looking for its first win.
The U15 team has started the season 0-3. In their latest game, which happened on the road Monday afternoon against St. Thomas High School, the Akweks lost 5-3.
They will have two opportunities for their first win of the season next week: on Monday, December 2, at 2:30 p.m. against Beaconsfield High School at the Kirkland Arena and Wednesday, December 4, at 2 p.m. against the Laval Senior Academy at the Pierre Creamer Arena.
The U18 team, meanwhile, tied 3-3 with Lauren Hill Academy in their last game on November 21, after losing their first two games of the season. Their next game will only be on December 5 at 2:30 p.m. against Bialik High School at the Sports Complex in town.
Bordeau said that despite the lack of wins, KSS players are still trying their hardest and showing pride in their play.
“The guys and girls are showing up, they are practicing,” said Bordeau. “All the players want to play. And we like having that option here for a team, and for the players, there’s a sense of pride in wearing the colours of Survival School.”
On the court, meanwhile, KSS’s three basketball teams are having better results so far.
The Juvenile boys team is 1-1, after winning their season opener 40-32 against Vincent Massey High School and losing on Wednesday 39-25 to John F. Kennedy High School. Their next game will be in two weeks, on the road December 9 against Laurier MacDonald.
“The older boys look very good,” said Bordeau.
The Cadet girls, the only girls’ basketball team at KSS this year, is also 1-1 this year, trading wins with The Study to open their season. On Wednesday afternoon at home, KSS beat The Study 41-19.
“They were in the game last week, they should have probably won,” said Bordeau. “They just missed a lot of opportunities.”
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With the win on Wednesday, KSS did not miss those opportunities twice.
The Cadet boys, meanwhile, are 0-3 to start the year. But Bordeau said that they have been competitive, and that the fact that they played three of the best teams in their league to start the year did not help things. Their next game will be on December 12 at Beurling Academy.
