The year that was in sports

Sports are an integral part of life here in Kahnawake. Whether it’s an important home game at the Sports Complex or hospital field, winning medals in a tournament, or even proudly representing the community at the international level, Kahnawa’kehró:non of all disciplines and walks of life had a busy 2024.

Lacrosse

The Kahnawake Hunters started their season off slow, but as the season progressed, losing streaks turned into winning streaks.

The team went on a deep playoff run, making it all the way to the finals of the Ontario Junior B Lacrosse League (OJBLL), winning the Eastern Conference championship for the first time ever. In the finals, they were defeated in a three-game sweep by the Elora Mohawks, but their long playoff run brought the community together to support them.

Koleton Marquis was selected fourth overall by the Major Series Lacrosse’s Peterborough Lakers in the 2024 draft. In 12 games, Marquis scored 10 goals and added 18 assists for 28 points, making it to the finals with the Lakers and being named their rookie of the year.

Many players from town played for East Coast Elite at the Best in Box lacrosse tournament in January, held in Hatsfield, Pennsylvania. The U17 team won 5-4 against the host team, Penn Lax, with six community members on the squad. The four local players on the U19 team won silver at the same tournament.

Both teams added to their success the following week, winning the FireWolves Shootout Lacrosse in Albany, New York.

In March, lacrosse coach Al Jones brought a team with seven players from Kahnawake to the 2024 Spring Sixes Classic in Maine, finishing second overall.

Teharonhiorens McComber was drafted by the Junior A Adanacs in Coquitlam, British Columbia, in the Columbia Junior A Lacrosse League.

The Kahnawake Survival School (KSS) Akweks took home silver in the Greater Montreal Athletic Association (GMAA) season, losing only twice all season – including their finals loss.

The U15 Mohawks won gold in the Ray Broadworth Memorial Tournament, going undefeated.

The U15B and U17B Mohawks each won their respective Ontario Lacrosse Association playoffs.

All 10 minor lacrosse teams participated in this year’s provincials in early August, a massive undertaking for the lacrosse association.

Later that month, eight players from the community were on gold medal winning Team First Nations for U15 and U17 play at the Canadian Box Lacrosse National Championships in Regina, Saskatchewan. Ryan Stacey also played in that tournament, playing for the U17 women’s Team Quebec and winning gold in the B division.

September saw the Haudenosaunee Nationals win bronze in both the men’s and women’s tournaments in the box lacrosse nationals in Utica, New York. This was the inaugural tournament for female teams, while the men extended the medal streak they have kept since 2003.

The Young Warriors, a U17 team coached by Al Jones, won gold at the United States Box Lacrosse Association championships. Along with his son Darris and Jackson Norton were players from across the six nations to form an “all-star” team.

Trey Deere had a great year, playing Division 1 NCAA lacrosse for Syracuse University as a freshman.

In October, laxers from town competed at the 2024 edition of LAXNAI, the largest box lacrosse invitational tournament in North America. The U15 and Masters teams won gold, and CLUB24Heat won bronze in the adult’s division

Defender Louis Alfred Jr. was drafted in the fifth round, 67th overall, by the National Lacrosse League’s Halifax Thunderbirds. He started the year on the physically unable to perform list, however.

Stone Jacobs signed a one-year contract with the Philadelphia Wings and is currently assigned to the practice squad at the time of writing.

Allen “Arbour” Diabo was inducted into the Ontario Lacrosse Hall of Fame, as a “special contributor” for his coaching and support of Kahnawake lacrosse.

Hockey

The U13 Rockettes won gold in Brockville, Ontario, for the February Freeze. Ierahkwanónhnha Olivia Moon Meloche and Iehwatsirahnì:ra’ts Gilbert were on the team, in their first year of playing hockey.

The U15A Rockettes, with Ie’nahkwenha:wi Rice on the roster, finished first place in their age group and won their championship.

The U11A, U13B, U15A, and U18 Rockettes all won their season’s championships. All of those teams qualified for the Chevrolet Cup, which the U13 team won.

Three players from the community participated in this year’s Quebec Games in March, with Ryan Stacey playing for the Southwest girls’ team, placing 12th.

Rome and Kingston Delisle played on the boys’ team, which finished 11th.

Come playoff time, the Kahnawake Minor Hockey Association (KMHA) had some success throughout. U11A, U11C, U15A, U15B, U18A, and U18B all made the playoffs.

After the end of the 2023-2024 season, a new board was elected for Kahnawake Minor Hockey, with Brianne Alfred as president.

Another new addition was the introduction of brand-new, community-voted jerseys.

A new Junior team was introduced to the KMHA, after years of demand from players who had previously needed to play in other hockey associations once they reached Junior hockey age.

At the National Aboriginal Hockey Championship (NAHC) in Grand Prairie, Alberta, both U18 Team Eastern Door and the North squads were captained by Kahnawa’kehró:non: Ryan Stacey for the girls and Bocephus Dailleboust for the boys.

Dailleboust was joined by Cade Stacey, Pryor Stacey, Rohsennakehte Lahache, and Marcus Diabo.

Bocephus Dailleboust, playing in Boston in the United States Premier Hockey League (USPHL), won the prestigious Quebec Tom Longboat Award.

A covered, refrigerated rink project was announced in town, to allow for longer usage of the outdoor ice surface. The first phase of the project has started and is scheduled for completion in early 2025. The 2024-2025 season has already started well for the KMHA, with teams performing well at in-season tournaments across all age groups.

Players outside the KMHA are also performing well in 2024-2025 so far, including Ryan Stacey and Hayse Horne for the Lac St. Louis Warriors in U15 AAA.

Baseball and softball

Many Warhawks teams made their respective regional playoffs. The U9, U11, U13B, and U15A teams participated in playoff action, with the U9 team winning gold in the Lac St. Louis regional playoffs.

For the girls’ teams, the U13B Purple Warhawks made a deep playoff run, winning their sectional playoffs and advancing to provincials.

The U11 and U16 girls’ teams also made playoff appearances, but did not advance to the medal rounds.

After the season, a fall ball U15 team was assembled, with the help of players from other towns including Chateauguay and Beauharnois. The team went 7-3 during the season, finishing second, but was unable to win a playoff game.

Emily Meloche and Bonnie Zachary won bronze with Team Quebec at the 2024 Women’s Canadian Fast Pitch National Championships.

The Kahnawake Mixed Softball League was back this year, with the Rezbirds winning their third title in six years after besting the Boyz in a two-game sweep.

Figure Skating

Skaters Taylah McComber and Kaylani Delormier won medals at the 2024 Quebec Games South West. Delormier won three gold, two silver, and two bronze medals across seven elements.

The Kahnawake Figure Skating Club turned 30, putting on an Elvis-themed show at the Sports Complex in April.

Wrestling

The 2024 Canadian Wrestling Championships happened in Mississauga, with wrestlers from Kahnawake making their way to the tournament. Thirteen-year-old twins Grayden and Claire Diome both medalled with the Tritton Wrestling Club.

Kahnawake was host to the Canada East Festival in May. The Sports Complex transformed itself into a giant wrestling surface, where 215 or so wrestlers from Quebec, Ontario, New Brunswick, and Nova Scotia competed over three days.

KSS’s Lia Bear won silver in the girls’ Bantam division in that tournament. Lennox Deer from Kanien’kehá:ka Tehontatie:nas Mohawk Wrestling Club (MWC) won bronze in the boys’ Bantam division.

Tritton Wrestling Club wrestlers Kanerathens Bush, Grayden Diome, and Claire Diome all performed well at the Battle of the Beach wrestling tournament in St. Zotique, each winning many medals.

Football

The Montreal Alouettes returned to Kahnawake, linked to the Canadian Football League’s efforts for Orange Shirt Day. They held a flag football clinic for children in the community for the second straight year and wore a logo designed by Finnley Montour along with an orange warmup jersey for their game on September 28. Auctions for the jerseys raised $4,000 for the community.

The Chateauguay Raiders made playoff runs with players from town on multiple teams.

The Bantam Raiders, with Aidan Davies on the team, lost 31-13 to the St. Lazare Mustangs in the President’s Cup final.

The Peewee team also made the President’s Cup final, with Kirk Horne playing on the offensive line. They were defeated 40-0 by the St. Leonard Cougars.

Golf

The Kateri Memorial Foundation held the 10th edition of its fundraising tournament, with 44 teams participating.

This year ended up being the last for Tewatohnhi’saktha’s Business Golf Challenge. In its last edition, it raised over $115,600 for the Kahnawake Youth Center.

Three golfers from the community helped Whitlock Golf and Country Club defend their home turf in the Montreal Regional Golf Association Interclubs. Derek White, Noah Norton, and Travis Robertson were on the winning team.

Frankie McComber, Jr., won the Club Championship at Kanawaki Golf Club. He is the only player from Kahnawake to have their name engraved on the trophy.

Kiefer Kirby also won at Kanawaki, becoming the Junior champion.

Motorsports

In NASCAR news, Kahnawa’kehró:non Soot Rice and Nick McComber were on the pit crew of 2024 NASCAR Canada champion Marc-Antoine Camirand, with Rice serving as car chief.

Dexter Stacey and his father Wallace both ran partial schedules this season, with Dexter finishing with one top-10 in five starts and Wallace making one start.

Basketball

The Toronto Raptors came to Kateri School for a basketball clinic with kids, including those who had played for the First Nations Education Council (FNEC) Inter-School Games team in May.

Soccer

Poppy Diabo joined the Onondaga Community College soccer team in Syracuse, New York, making the national championship in her first year.

The Kahnawake Arrowhead FC senior Division 2 women’s team won silver in the Association Régionale de Soccer Sud-Ouest, after losing in the finals to Mercier.

KSS won the GMAA Juvenile Girls’ championship, defeating The Study 2-0 to finish their undefeated season.

Mixed Martial Arts

Three editions of FightQuest were held in town this year: 54, 55, and 56.

Kahnawa’kehró:non David Beauvais and Tiaohsera’te Johnson competed in some of their first professional fights at FightQuest.

Paddling

The Onake Paddling Club announced a move into a new building in 2025.

The club participated in many races during the warm months, including ‘Round the Mountain Canoe and Kayak Race on Saranac Lake in New York and the Cartierville Regatta.

Onake sent five crews to Hawaii this summer, participating in the 51st Queen Lili’uokalani Canoe Race. It was their first time going since 2008, and the youth teams brought home medals from the once in a lifetime event - OC6 mixed winning silver and OC6 girls gold.

Onake paddler Konwanankeren Diabo won two gold medals at the Canoe Kayak Canada provincial championships in Shawinigan.

The club itself won five medals at the provincials in Sherbrooke, including a gold in the Peewee K2 category.

Father and son duo Danny and Ahonwakerane Stacey competed in the Standup Paddling World Championships in Sarasota, Florida. While neither medalled, it was the experience of a lifetime for the pair, who have paddled together for decades.

First Nations Education Council Inter-School Games

Team Kahnawake won 76 medals at this year’s FNEC Inter-School Games in Quebec City.

Included in the medal count were two medals in floor hockey; two in 10-12 volleyball; 56 medals in track and field – 10 gold, 14 silver, 13 bronze, 10 fourth-place medals, and nine fifth-place medals; and 16 in the Ancestors’ Challenge.

It was the first year that students from Kateri School, Kahnawake Survival School, Karihwanó:ron, and Karonhianónhnha Tsi Ionterihwaienstáhkhwa competed as one Kahnawake team, instead of as four individual schools.

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