The Huntsville Jr C Hawks officially wrapped up their 2016 lacrosse season Sunday with their awards dinner. It was a time of reflection on a year that saw the team eliminated in the second round of the Eastern Division Playoffs. It was also a time to look ahead to next year.
The Most Defensive Player of the year award was shared between Marshall Clarke and Matt Loader.
Tyler Conn was named the Best Offensive Player of the year. He scored 68 points in 13 regular season games and added another 32 points in five playoff games.
Conn then shared the team’s Most Valuable Player award with Chris McLaughlin. The coaching team of Joe O’Halloran, Ryan Bennetts and Caleb MacKay decided to split the trophy because of the way Conn and McLaughlin worked their pick-and-roll play creating a real offensive team threat.
Rookie of the Year award recipients – A.J. Campbell and Nick VanGelder
The Rookie of the Year award was also shared and given to Nick VanGelder and A.J. Campbell, while the Coaches award, given for total effort over the 16-game season went the two goaltenders, Jack Hubbard and Mitch Wagner. Both had to travel two hours to Huntsville each week for practices and games and gave the team solid goaltending for the season. The Mark Simmons Memorial trophy for overall contribution to the team went to Matteo Nobile and Cody Purvis.
The Hawks had hoped for a better record in the regular season but finished fourth in the East Division standings. They defeated Cornwall in the first playoff round but quickly exited, losing three straight to Clarington.
The coaching team is hopeful that will change next year. They are impressed with the quality of midget players coming up, and the team will only lose two players – Ted Logan and Matt Loader – due to age.
O’Halloran, Bennetts and MacKay all plan to re-apply to the team’s Executive to coach again next year.
There is a lot of good talent coming up from the midget ranks, but we don’t know if they are going to be available. Some may try to play for other teams. It would be good to secure a veteran presence on defense and maybe one more on offense, but overall we have a lot of talent.Coach Joe O’Halloran
“We talked to a lot of the midget players at the Provincials,” said Bennetts, “trying to find out their intentions for next year. Caleb Creasor, recently named to the provincial field lacrosse team, is one player quite excited about coming back next year, as well as Tyler Arnott.”
“It’s definitely an exciting time in Huntsville lacrosse with a lot of good players coming up in Bantam and Pee Wee” said O’Halloran. “There’s six years of talent coming through. We have to rely on our minor league players coming up because of where Huntsville is geographically. It’s hard to get players to come here to play Jr. C lacrosse.”
Decisions on what direction the team will take next year will be made October 21 at the team’s annual executive meeting. President Joceyln Knox said she was impressed with the coaching enthusiasm and dedication this year. Everyone, she says, is hoping for an even better year next year.
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