Youth makes it to U15 nationals

Kanento:ton Etienne has dreamed of playing high-level lacrosse since he was young, and now he has earned a spot on the Quebec U15 team’s roster in Halifax for the minor box lacrosse nationals in August.

“I had to go to tryouts, it was scary,” said 14-year-old Etienne. “But I made it, and it’s fun because now I get to go to Halifax this summer.”

The accomplishment is a major step for the teenager, who said he has regained his confidence in lacrosse after the COVID-19 pandemic stalled his early years.

“I always wanted to play lacrosse since I was young, but then COVID hit,” said Etienne. “So, I just started playing officially two years ago.”

It’s all about confidence, Etienne said. Now, his focus is simple: “Just having a great time with the team and having fun.”

Etienne’s father, Rahskweiontha Randy Etienne, said watching his son earn a place on Team Quebec U15 for the August 11-15 tournament has been emotional and rewarding.

“I’m actually really excited for him,” said Rahskweiontha. “I’m kind of living vicariously through him, because I never really got to experience that type of organized sport.”

This was Etienne’s second time making the provincial team; last year he got in as an alternate but had to miss it due to a conflicting family vacation.

This year, despite only being able to attend one of the two tryout sessions due to a conflicting lacrosse game, he still was able to secure a spot on the Team Quebec roster.

“I guess he showed enough of what he has to make an impression,” said Rahskweiontha.

“He always has a lacrosse stick in his hand,” said Etienne’s aunt, Kimberly Simon. “Whether it’s at school, at home, he’s always practicing.

“We show up at his house, and he’s outside shooting on the net over and over and over,” said Simon. “He’s put a lot of time into it, a lot of effort, so it’s nice to see his hard work is paying off.”

Rahskweiontha said much of his son’s improvements come from countless repetitions done on his own time.

“He does repetitions of 100 of every movement that he does,” said Rahskweiontha.

Kanento:ton’s coach, Kyle Atkwiroton Canatonquin, also said the young player always has a stick in his hand, just one sign of his enthusiasm for the sport.

“Every day I see him, he’s like ‘I can’t wait to be in Halifax,” said Canatonquin.

Kanento:ton has high goals set for himself, including dreams of playing professionally one day. Canatonquin believes Kanento:ton has the mindset to keep improving.

“At the end of the day, it comes down to how hard you work,” said Canatonquin. “And he’s on the right path.”

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Fern Marmont, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter