It was a better year than last, but still a lot of room for improvement. That was the assessment of Hawk’s Jr C coach Karl Carnduff, as he looked back on the 2018 lacrosse season after the team\u2019s recent wind-up banquet.<\/p>\n
The Hawks finished with seven wins and nine losses in the Ontario Junior C loop, and were eliminated in straight games in the playoffs.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe started out 3 and 0 after trips to Cornwall and Clarington,\u201d explained Carnduff, \u201c and then we ran into Whitby and Peterborough. We gave it our best but talent always prevails.\u201d<\/p>\n
Despite the record, Carnduff said this year\u2019s team was a big improvement over the previous season.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen Caleb and I first got there each practice was like nine guys, \u201c he recalled. \u201cThis year we had 20 guys at the start of the year and 20 when it was over.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAs long as they have fun, that\u2019s the main thing. At our banquet we had 16 guys show up and that\u2019s good.\u201d
\nAt that banquet several of the team\u2019s players were recognized for their contribution to the team and their play.<\/p>\n
Duke Knox was the Hawks Most Valuable player. This was his final year with the club. \u201cHe\u2019s been playing lacrosse since he was four years old,\u201d said Carnduff. \u201cHe\u2019s Jack Bionda\u2019s grand kid and very boisterous and a real leader. He\u2019s going to be a coach somewhere someday.\u201d<\/p>\n
The top defensive player of the year award went to second year player Tyler Arnott. \u201cHe\u2019s a big kid, our best D guy,\u201d said Carnduff, \u201cand was noticed by a lot of coaches who talked to me about him. He\u2019s aggressive .\u201d<\/p>\n
Leading scorer for the Hawks was Jack Drinkwalter. \u201cHe was great with the ball and has a great shot,\u201d said Carnduff, \u201cand didn\u2019t mind getting hit and led in points after we traded Chris McLaughlin to Whitby.\u201d<\/p>\n
Rookie of the year was Dylan Lawrence who made his size felt on the floor. \u201cHe really came on and if we had a most improved player award he would have won that too,\u201d said Carnduff. \u201cHe never missed a practice all year. Even after a school trip to Europe he made a special effort to get to practice on the day he returned. The award was well deserved.\u201d<\/p>\n
The coaches award went to Zach Greening, recognizing his effort through the year even when out for a month with a shoulder injury. \u201cWe picked him up from Oakville when the family moved to Huntsville, \u201c explained Carnduff. \u201cHe impressed me first tryout.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Mark Simmons award went to Shea Greenaway. That award goes to the player picked as the team leader, on and off the floor. \u201cHeart and soul, that\u2019s the thing,\u201d said Carnduff . \u201cWe call it the team spirit award, usually voted on by the team. Shea was in his last year with the club and had been playing lacrosse since he was four years old.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\t\t