War party triumphs

What started as a friendly exhibition turned into a hard-fought lacrosse showdown, and the Kahnawake War Party came out on top with a narrow 12-10 victory over West Island. The U18 club team showed endurance and teamwork as they overcame the odds with only 11 players on the roster and a single substitute to pull off the win.

Despite the “friendly” label, War Party coach Al Jones made it clear this was no throwaway game.

“Any game is a real game to me and my program,” said Jones. “It was a tight game, but we took the win. Final score was 12-10, and every one of those goals counted.”

West Island, currently in the process of developing its own lacrosse program, reached out to Kahnawake to organize the match. David Rahmer, the president of the West Island lacrosse team, approached Jones in hopes of creating a competitive experience for both teams and growing the game in surrounding communities.

“To me, it’s great to see these outlying areas trying to grow their game,” Jones added. “And I’m grateful they reached out to us.”

Though lacrosse is often driven by goals, physicality, and speed, Jones was especially proud of his team’s defensive stand.

“A lot of kids just want to score, that’s the name of the game to them,” he said. “But we’re really trying to teach them the other side. We had three long poles out there. It’s a whole different experience, and I’m proud of how they picked it up and they’re progressing. That’s where our box background really helps the footwork, the tone, the intensity.”

The game saw War Party jump out to an early lead, but West Island wasn’t ready to quit. They fought back late, keeping pressure on the Kahnawake team until the final whistle.

“They didn’t give up. That’s what I liked, they kept pushing. But we stayed composed, played our game, and came out on top,” said Jones.

Despite being outnumbered nearly two-to-one, West Island brought 18 players to War Party’s 11 players on the field, and the Kahnawake boys stuck together.

With only one substitute available, the energy on the sidelines and chemistry on the field proved to be difference-maker.

“We just won the Founders Cup for Kahnawake, so now it’s like we are carrying that name forward and it’s more of a hype now that everyone knows we’re national champions,” said Jones.

“I felt pretty good after winning our game against West Island, and I think it felt even better because we only had 11 players,” said Jackson Norton, one of the War Party players. “Our teamwork was great. Because we were short in numbers, it was easy for us to work together, we’ve all been playing together for a while.”

For Norton, the game was personal.

“Just seeing all my friends and family playing the game inspired me to play,” he said. “It amazes me how well we managed to play for a whole hour with only one sub.”

Jones emphasized that wins like this aren’t the end of anything, they’re the beginning of the next challenge.

“They know there’s more to come. I always tell my players, ‘Have your stick ready. I could get a call to put together a U19 team any day.’ The game doesn’t end with the season, it never ends.”

Rather than indulging in downtime, the team is already preparing for their next game.

“That’s how we celebrate, another game, another opportunity. That’s our reward,” Jones said.

Another player, Ethan Brascoup emphasized how key players tried their best.

“What stood out the most was how the team came back and bought the game to a win for us, because we were down going into the fourth quarter,” he said.

As for what the team will work on next, Jones said it’s about pacing and tactical awareness.

“They come from box lacrosse, where there’s a shot clock. In field lacrosse, there isn’t, so we need to teach them how to slow it down, find the matchup, and move the ball. Once we do that, we’ll be even more dangerous,” he said.

Even as lacrosse continues to grow in surrounding areas, Jones remains focused on what matters most, the roots of the game, and the young athletes carrying its spirit forward.

“This is our game. It’s more than just sport, it’s our medicine. And seeing these young men represent that on the field, that’s what makes me proud, they played it smart and came out victorious,” he said.

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