By Coach Jason Rudge
(U9, U13, U15)
The first weekend of the Ontario Lacrosse Festival was an exciting one for the Hawks, with our U9, U13, and U15 teams showing heart, hustle, and a whole lot of scoring!
Here’s a breakdown of the action:
U9-1 (B Division)
Record: 4-0 in round-robin | Semifinal Finish
The U9-1 Hawks came out flying, going undefeated in round-robin play and storming through the quarterfinals before a hard-fought OT loss in the semifinals.
- Game 1: 7-2 Win vs. Wallaceburg
- Game 2: 9-5 Win vs. St. Catharines
- Game 3: 8-6 Win vs. Newmarket
- Quarterfinals: 8-4 Win vs. Owen Sound
- Semifinals: 6-7 Loss (OT) vs. Barrie
Top Performers:
Declan Cole, Kayden Clark, and Boden Shirtliff led the offensive charge with multiple multi-goal games. Rhett Peddie also chipped in with timely goals.
U9-2 (E Division)
Record: 3-1 in round-robin
U9-2 lit up the scoreboard with a balanced team attack and strong individual performances, coming just short of a playoff berth in a tight division.
- Game 1: 12-8 Win vs. Orangeville 2
- Game 2: 8-3 Win vs. West Grey
- Game 3: 6-1 Win vs. Pelham 2
- Game 4: 6-8 Loss vs. Owen Sound 2
Top Performers:
Rixon Darby and Bodhi Pearson put on a scoring clinic, combining for over 15 goals. Winston Peddie, Van Graham-Smith, and Blake Moore added strong contributions.
U13 (C Division)
Record: 3-0 in round-robin | Semifinal Finish
The U13 Hawks played gritty lacrosse all weekend, winning tight games and showcasing depth before running into a tough Burlington team in the semis.
- Game 1: 4-3 Win vs. Pelham
- Game 2: 7-6 Win vs. Mimico 2
- Game 3: 5-4 Win vs. Brampton
- Quarterfinals: 9-7 Win vs. Cambridge
- Semifinals: 2-6 Loss vs. Burlington 2
Top Performers:
Calvin Shirtliff and Nevin French led the way offensively, while Presley Schmeler and Gabriel Dinner provided key goals in big moments. Solid team play across the board.
U15 (B Division)
Record: 2-1 in round-robin | Semifinal Finish
After a tight opening loss, U15 regrouped with back-to-back wins and powered through the quarters before a one-goal battle in the semis brought their run to an end.
- Game 1: 5-7 Loss vs. Whitby
- Game 2: 8-4 Win vs. Cornwall
- Game 3: 4-3 Win vs. Milton
- Quarterfinals: 7-3 Win vs. Orillia
- Semifinals: 4-5 Loss vs. Hamilton
Top Performers:
Orén French was nearly unstoppable all weekend. Jared Allen came up clutch with big goals, and Sage Liadis, Logan Sen, and James Bulloch were key contributors throughout.
Overall Takeaway:
Three semifinal appearances and strong showings across every division mark an impressive opening weekend for the Hawks. We’re proud of how our athletes competed, supported each other, and represented the program. Bring on Week 2 when U11 & U17 take to the floor!
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Back when I could run, in the late 50′ and early 60’s, there were a number of us older players who would coach and referee the up and comers. There was lots of stuff you had to do that you would never encounter with older future stars. A heavy check or a stick rides up and you got a tearful little hero. Deal with it.
I liked the reffing the best. Draw the ball and follow the herd. Picking up the ball is a skill to be worked on. To do it as easily as Brian and Ivan Thomas took practice and ability. These younger warriors weren’t there yet. So as the ball rolled off toward the boards, the cluster of 10 participants doggedly followed. Hacking and slashing and working to pick that ball. The way Ken Thompson could.
It was a simple matter to jog over to the melee and assure oneself that no one was in tears yet. So far so good. And then the ball would make a break for it. The process would repeat. You could toss a sheet over the ten of them , but they were perfecting their game.
And it always amazed me how, once one little soldier had got the pick-up down pat, the ability spread quickly. There were always those the skill would elude, but in general the ability just reached different levels of ability. Most could now do it, just some lacked that certain fluidity.
And then the future stars would begin to show their developing skills. The stick handling and dekeing an unwary defenseman. Loved that part of the game as much as being part of the fast break and the getting beat around.
All part of a game I loved. Stick with it guys and best of luck.