A Voice from the Eastern Door
A Voice from the Eastern Door
Written By Robert Mackenzie
The 43rd annual LNHL took place in Mississauga, Ontario during the week of March 9th to the 13th. Over the course of the week, 164 teams competed for bragging rights in Ontario as the Top Dog in hockey at their age level. After opening ceremonies were completed with special guest appearances by Wendel Clark and Brandan Nolan, the puck was ready to drop in pursuit of the LNHL Cup donated by the Dreamcatcher Fund.
In the novice division the Akwesasne Wild started off strong defeating Pic River with a score of 10-1, leading the charge was Carey Terrance with 6g. Also collecting points were Tryson Sunday 2g, Kade Herne 1g, and Drey Thompson 1g & 4 assists. Others collecting helpers were Jett Jock 5a, Rylan Adams 4a, Fire Swamp 2a, and Kade Cook 1a.
Many were prepared for another set of fireworks by the Wild as they got set to play game two of round robin play vs. M'Chigeeng. As predicted, an explosion of firepower erupted for 16 goals to M'Chigeeng's one. Scoring for the Wild was Carey Terrance 5g/2a, Tryson Sunday 4g, Jett Jock 2g, Rylan Adams 1g/2a, Kade Cook 2g/2a, Bleyton Hopps-Thompson 1g/3a, and Aronhiawaks Rice 1g/2a.
Game three of round robin play saw much of the same as far as offense and standing in the Wilds path was the Delaware Bruins. The Wild once again ignited the big Orange Machine with a solid performance outscoring their opponents 12-1. Points for the Wild once again led by C. Terrance 5g/1a, R. Adams 2g/2a, J. Jock 2g/1a, F. Swamp 1g/2a, K. Herne 3a, T. Sunday 1g, and A. Rice 1a.
After three games of the round robin format the Wild earned a bye to the semi-finals finishing second by one goal to a very strong Six Nations team. This being said the team headed for a nice team dinner at Dave & Busters. The boys really earned this time, said Coach Carey Terrance, and felt it was good team bonding. After a night on the town and learning they would face the Cedar Bay Wangers in the semis it was back to business for these young hockey players. The Cedar Bay Wangers was a team with numerous kids from triple A hockey programs in Ontario, but it did not stop the Wild from preparing for battle. Coach Nathan Sunday went through video and chalk talk sessions preparing the boys for this semi-final game. Preparations and a will to win took center stage as the Akwesasne boys came out flying and had no signs of slowing down. Final score: Akwesasne Wild 14 Cedar Bay Wangers 1. Wild point getters were C. Terrance 8g/2a, R. Adams 2g/3a, T. Sunday 2g, B. Hopps-Thompson 1g, F. Swamp 1g/1a, A. Rice 3a, Drey Thompson 2a, and J. Jock 2a.
On a Sunny but very chilly Thursday morning the Akwesasne Wild packed up one last time, had team breakfast, and headed over to the Hershey Center, home of the Ontario Hockey League's Mississauga Steelheads. This being the big game of the tournament and what the Akwesasne boys prepared for, the championship game. This was a game that saw two old lacrosse rivals take it to the ice, Akwesasne vs. the Six Nations for the 2014 novice LNHL title. In the end, it was a very Wild day, as late in the first period the Wild erupted for 7 unanswered goals to win the 2014 LNHL. Goal scorers were C. Terrance 3g, T. Sunday 2g, A. Rice 1 goal and rounding out the scoring J. Jock 1g. Getting the shutout was Ricky Chatland. The tournament MVP award was presented to #10 of the Akwesasne Wild, Carey Terrance. A congratulations goes out to team members Ricky Chatland, Jett Jock, Drey Thompson, Rylan Adams, Carey Terrance, Kade Cook, Aronhiawaks Rice, Kade Herne, Bleyton Hopps-Thompson, Fire Swamp and Tryson Sunday. Coaching staff Nathan Sunday, Carey Terrance, Ray Jock, Evan Thompson and Tom Smart.
The team would like to thank those who made it possible: CAA Management, Twinleaf Gas & Tobacco, Twin Leaf Express, Oie'n:kwa Trading, Traditional Lacrosse, St. Lawrence Radiology, Olsen Fab, Eggleston Trucking, Extreme Lubricants, Primeau's Marine, Express Gas, Brass Horse Grill, Wear on Earth, Total Collision, Ed Carr Collision, Gaicomos Restaurants of Boston, World Class Tickets, Speedway Plaza, Old Malone Discounts, Kahnawake Mohawks Lacrosse, Caughnawake Indians Lacrosse, Performance Shooting, Frenchies, Mohawk Nation Duty Free & Fort Covington Legion. Also special thanks goes to April Lauzon of CAA management for all your hard work and Ashley Terrance for your countless hours. Also we can't forget our special supporters, the mothers and fathers, grandparents and aunts and uncles, friends of the Wild, that made it special for all to be apart of.
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