The Sudbury U22 Rockhounds might not have returned north with yet another championship banner from the OLA (Ontario Lacrosse Association) Provincial Championships this year - and still their sense of pride is likely greater than any one of 2022/2023/2024.
After securing Division "C" accolades in 2022 and following that up with back to back titles in Division "B" the following two years, coach Mike Miron and company committed to securing a spot among the elite this year, contesting a Division "A" banner.
As play in Whitby opened up in this age bracket a week or so ago, the Sudbury lads were right there alongside the 11 other best teams in the province, ascending to the pinnacle of competition in Ontario.
Just keeping things close might have been a fair objective in their first ever venture into this territory - just not for these Sudbury Rockhounds.
The locals blasted out of the gates, scoring five times in the opening period of game one to launch their tournament in style with a 5-3 win over the Orillia Kings. Kai D'Amour scored twice to lead the way, with Jacob Barney, Ben Harris and Alex Hachez adding one goal apiece.
The Rockhounds tightened things up defensively even more so in game two, taking down the St Catharines Athletics 4-1 as Jacob Barney, Xavier Esquimaux-Osawamick, Kai Erkkila and Alex Hachez all hit the mark for the proud representatives of the GSLA.
The Sudbury side suffered their only loss in pool play in a back and forth affair, edged out 4-3 by the Owen Sound North Stars as Alex Hachez, Malik Jakubo and Cody Wahl all tallied in a losing cause.
A quarter-final battle with the Gloucester Griffins could easily have gone either way, the teams deadlocked at 3-3 heading to period three before the eventual silver medal winners (Owen Sound trimmed Gloucester 6-5 in the final) pulled away for a 5-3 win.
Ben Harris scored twice and Kai Erkkila added the other as Sudbury goaltender Mason Robertson continued to shine, earning the start in each and every game.
And while some will move on, having graduated out of this age bracket, the experience proved to be a great one for some key newcomers to the team this year, lads who shared their thoughts on the progress, both individually and as a team, at a final practice just days before the tournament.
"I was not good at all at overhand shooting so I was only passing at the beginning of the year," suggested 15 year old rookie Ryder McKee. "The coaches really worked with me on that. My hands were too high, up near the top of my stick instead of moving down."
"That, and being more aggressive in the defensive zone. I think I can improve on that."
For North Bay native Sam Kotsopoulos, this was his first crack at box lacrosse after tapping into his hockey and football background to earn a spot on the Nipissing Lakers field lacrosse team last fall, with CUFLA teammate Jacob Barney luring him the Sudbury this summer.
"I thought this was a perfect opportunity to get more experience," said Kotsopoulos, who adjusted nicely to a somewhat different version of Canada's national summer sport. "It's a faster pace here, more aggressive - and there are different rules, so be ready for that."
"It's smaller quarters in box lacrosse so you're face to face more often with the guys. In field, you're a little farther out."
Just 14 years old and heading into grade 10 at St Charles College, Liam Ramalho stepped up big time for the team, making the conversion from player last year to goaltender this time around to ensure a back-up was ready if needed when Mason Robertson might not be available.
"It was weird at first, having the ball shot at me," Ramalho confessed. "It was hard, but you get used to it, learning the picks and where they are likely to shoot."
Rounding out the roster are Mitchell Vendette, Mason Lachance, Joe Gouchie, Ashton Eadie, Jack Gouchie, Noah Tremblay, Max Vendette, Isaiah Peltier, Noah Larcher and Matteo Di Ciccio.
