The Anowarako:wa Arena held their first minor lacrosse action last weekend and the games did not disappoint.

Various teams from the Nepean Knights and Cornwall Celtics Minor systems came to town and made for some interesting games against the host Akwesasne Storm clubs.

On Saturday it was against Cornwall and in the Tykes division Karakwetien Barreiro scored the first three goals for Akwesasne in the first period, and added another in the third as they edged Cornwall 5-4. Adrian Thompson added the other while Cornwall’s goals came from Ryan Dehann (2) Russell Grant and Emitt Adams. Akwesasne led 4-3 going into the third period and Barreiro’s fourth goal made it 5-3 early in the third, but Cornwall then scored two minutes later to trail by one, but they could not get the equalizer. Karson White added an assist for the Storm.

The Storm Bantams blew out Cornwall 12-0 in their matchup. Saka Thompson recorded the shutout and Trysen Sunday picked up four. Tryten Benedict scored a hat trick while Camrin King, Louie Francis and Crayton Cree scored one apiece. Warren Oakes chipped in with a pair.

Game three of the day was a 6-2 Peewee 1 Storm win. Luke Lazore, Mason Cree and Waksi Rice scored the Storm’s first period goals to jump to a 3-0 lead. Cornwall then scored two goals from Jack Moore. That was all they managed while Alex Delormier and Jensen White netted goals to end the second period 5-2. Bleyton Hopps scored the third period’s only goal for the 6-2 win. With the game out of hand the Storm Peewee 1 then used the clock to fine tune their passing plays in the Cornwall end.

The Storm Novice club only needed one goal from Korvin Edwards to win their game 1-0. Jayce Delormier recorded the shut out.

The action continued on Sunday with the Nepean Knights in town. The first game of the day was another doozy as the visiting Tykes edged out the Storm 1 club 5-4. Nepean took a slim 2-1 lead into the first intermission with Ryland Roundpoint scoring for the Storm.

In the second period the local Tykes got goals from Torrell Benedict, Hohnegayehwahs Mitchell and Karakwairon Barreiro, and Nepean countered and the score stood 4-3 after two periods. But in the third a pair of late breakaway goals from the Knights put the game away and they won 5-4.

The matchup between Novice #1 and Nepean was also a close finish as the visitors took home the 7-5 win. Teays Benedict and Brogan Lazore did all the scoring for Akwesasne with Benedict scoring three and Lazore two. Drey Skidders recorded two assists.

The Knights held a slim 3-2 first period lead but they took off with three unanswered goals in the second frame to pull ahead 6-3. Near the end of that second period Skidders and Lazore put on a stickhandling clinic and put together a nice shot on goal, but missed.

At the start of the final period the two teamed up again, this time with Lazore scoring.

Nepean scored their seventh marker half way through the period and the Novice Storm looked to tie as they scored two straight; a passing play with Lazore and Trevy Seymour and a diving Benedict topping off his hat trick for the day. But a late Storm penalty to Skidders ended their rally and game.

In the third game of the Play Day, the Nepean Bantam team #1 doubled the Storm 4-2.

Kyden Burns scored the Storm’s only first period goal and they trailed 2-1 after one period. This penalty filled game had 28 p.i.m.s in the first period alone. After a scoreless second period Nepean outscored Akwesasne 2-1 for the 4-2 score. Jett Jock netted the Storm’s third period tally.

The Storm Bantam #2 club got that game back by beating the Knights 4-2.

Tehokwirathe Barreiro scored two in that win while Rawennes Swamp and Kahiio Terrance netted one each.

After a 2-2 first period lead there was no second period scoring and Barreiro’s second goal and Swamp’s marker sealed the win.

The Storm Midget #1 team needed a big third period to catch up to Nepean and they scored three to claw back for a 5-5 tie. Nepean scored two first period goals and Stone Chubb scored with five seconds left to trail 2-1. The middle frame saw the Knights outscore the Storm 3 to 1 to lead 5-2 with Thanagkahtha Elijah netting that one.

In the second period the penalty box filled up with double minors to both sides. Trent Square started their third rally comeback with a breakaway goal five minutes into the period, Elijah barged through the crowd in front of the Nepean net and scored with five minutes remaining and Square capped the scoring with Elijah assisting. This was while the teams were playing four on four during a penalty filled final period which saw the teams put up 20 p.i.m.

The Novice #2 Storm club were defeated 13-2 in the next game. Kayden Thompson and Wyatt Thompson scored those two.

Next game was a runaway also as the Storm Peewee #2 club was blanked 8-0

The final game of the Play Day was a Storm Bantam #2 1-0 loss. Ethan Seymour was very busy in the Akwesasne net in some instances holding off 5 shots in a row while the Knights players swarmed his crease.

Despite coming out on the wrong end of a blowout in a few games the Storm program put on a big performance this past weekend to kick off the 2018 season.