Warriors take home top spots at provincials

The Kanehsatake Warriors U9 and U13 teams won the 2026 Quebec Lacrosse Federation Box Lacrosse provincial tournament in Chambly this past weekend, with the U11 and U15 teams finishing in fourth place.

“In all four categories that we participated in, we accomplished some tremendous results,” said Teiawenhniseráhte Jeremy Tomlinson, Warriors’ coach and Kanesatake Health Center (KHC) executive director. “But I mean, for me, as the director and as a coach, and also as a parent, the wins are more of a byproduct of what this program is all about. And this program is about giving a space to kids to push themselves to develop. So, the program ends up being a winning program, and it’s been so for the last three years now.”

For some players, this is their third provincial championship in a row. In 2024 and 2025, the U11 team won the provincial tournament. Those same players are in the U13 team and have achieved yet another win this past weekend.

“To me, that’s amazing, and I can’t even imagine how they feel as kids to have accomplished that,” said Tomlinson. “But I see it in their eyes, and I feel it in their energy.”

The Warriors U9 team won 7-4 against the LaCrosse Roussillon team to clinch the gold medal win.

The U11 team fell short to Terrebonne in the semifinals, losing in the shootout after a 3-3 tie.

For the U13, the team won 5-3 against Chambly. Kahontóktha Beauvais, who is mom to goaltender Oakley McGregor, was still hoarse on Tuesday after a weekend of cheering for the team.

“Just hearing everybody cheer his name in the stands - it gives you such a rush,” said Kahontóktha.

“Oh, they were so happy. They were throwing their sticks and helmets in the air and running to go see Oakley, their goalie, and jumping on him,” said KHC sports co-coordinator Selena Kaniehtiiostha Beauvais.

And finally, the U15 team finished in fourth place after losing 4-3 against the West Island team.

“From the bottom of my heart, I thank all the coaches, all the volunteers, the parents for driving the kids,” said Tomlinson. “It takes a whole community for this to work, and we’re seeing it happen.”

The Warriors’ staff and teams will take a little break before tackling programming for the next season, said Tomlinson. Next season, they expect to continue off-season practice, which has helped more effectively improve the player’s lacrosse skills this past year, and to finesse their coaching.

But the Warriors staff will also focus on their commitment to helping build a community organization with the lacrosse team, said Tomlinson. The games have brought the community together and helped connect families and build new friends within and outside of Kanesatake.

“We have some athletes from outside who play elite hockey, like AAA hockey, that have been part of the Warriors’ family now for the last four or five years. So, friendships have grown, and just that sense of belonging to the Warrior brand, to the Warrior Program. We have parents and cousins and uncles and tótas wearing Warrior T-shirts and hoodies and caps and community attending games, jamborees where the radio station is doing a play-by-play of games,” said Tomlinson.

“We see that these kids have built that sense of belonging, of what it is to be a Warrior.”

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Hadassah Alencar, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter