Page 28 - Sports Energy News, Cornwall, Issue No 22

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J Bernier Excavation Bantam Celtics make it to

Semi’s at Provincials

Submitted article

hat an exciting ride it’s been for
Wthe Cornwall Bantam Celtics
this season! After sitting out a season
due to low numbers, the Cornwall
Minor Lacrosse Association (CMLA)

was fortunate to floor a Bantam team
this summer. With 11 players & their
goalie returning from the 2012 Peewee

squad, they were able to recruit five
new athletes to try the game that the
other boys loved. CMLA graduates
& current Senior players with the
Akwesasne Outlawz, Tyler Barnhart
& Nick Sanseverino stepped in to
coach the team. They worked hard
developing systems and conditioning
the boys with practices three times a
week. The dedication of the group
showed at the culmination of the
season, where the boys competed
Just one season after being unable to floor a team due to low enrolment, the Bantam Celtics managed to

right through the semi finals at the Supplied photo.

Ontario Lacrosse Festival in the 16 make it to the semi-final round of the provincial championships.
team “C” division. able to keep control of the game for the 12 returning players had been Almond won the next face off, ran
The Celtics had to start out against the fi nal minute and celebrated a 5-4 ousted from the quarters by the same down and fi red one last goal past the
the top ranked Whitby Two team, who win! opposition, the Toronto Stars. The Star’s goalie with only 23 seconds left
two weeks earlier handed our boys Game two was played later in the nerves were apparent as the game in the game to secure his team’s 5-3
an 11-2 loss. The opposition came day and the Celtics emerged with a started and the Stars got on the win. Cornwall had a great celebration,

out strong, scoring in the first minute 5-3 victory over Six Nations Two. scoreboard first with the only goal of knowing they had knocked off two

of play to set the tone. Cornwall Cornwall showed much greater the first period. higher ranked teams and for the first
capitalized on their only power play discipline by taking only six minutes The 2nd period was all Celtics as time in any of their lacrosse playing
opportunity of the game when Jimmy in penalties, in the entire game they came out hot on the first shift. In years, they were getting a chance to

Jock fired one in on a set play from compared to the opposition’s 25! Jake what was arguably the best teamwork play in the semis and move one step
Carter Tait & Tommy Forrester. Jake Cook was on fire getting a hat trick in goal of the tournament, Cook made closer to a medal!

Cook put his team up 2-1 on a pass the win. Kolten Oakes-Cook assisted a perfect behind the back pass to It was an exciting first period in the

from Sam Gaudreau before Whitby on the first power play, while Jack Oakes-Cook who quickly converted semi-final where many saves were

came back to even the score, finishing Almond also got an assist and then it across the house to Metcalfe, who made by Celtics netminder Coir (who

the frame 2-2. set Cook’s second one up. Robbie one-timed it past the Star’s goalie. was stellar in net all season) as well
During the second period, the Metcalfe put his team up 3-0, on a Cook then put his team ahead by as the Beach’s goalie. It wasn’t until
man-down teams displayed their sharp pass from Emerson Lalonde. driving down the floor and scoring late in the frame that the opposition

effectiveness by overcoming six Tait secured the winner early in the unassisted. converted a power play opportunity
minutes in penalties. Whitby snuck second period, on a great pass from into a goal. Two minutes later, they
one ball past netminder Zak Coir to Jock. Gaudreau was the playmaker Later in the frame, Oakes-Cook, got another and the Celtics were
picking up the ball in his own end,

go ahead 3-2. on Cook’s final power play goal to fired it down the floor to a breaking- down 2-0 at the end of the first.

The third period saw the man down give the team two wins and a great out Tait. The ball bounced right in The Beach’s took advantage of

teams with lots of floor time once first day! the net past a furious Toronto net another Cornwall penalty and went up

again, as the Celtics were assessed The next morning saw the Celtics 3-0 in the middle of the second frame.
minder and the crowd went wild with
eight minutes in penalties. Gaudreau, falter in their fi nal pool game against the Celtics up 3-1. On another unique yet amazing play
with his break out speed, ran the ball a lower ranked team from Sudbury. by Oakes-Cook, he pressed the goalie,

up the floor and scored to take the In a sluggish, penalty fi lled game, Early in the third, Tait got the intercepting his break out pass then
eventual game winning goal on a
lead once again. It wasn’t long before Cornwall fell 5-2. Oakes-Cook got deked him, scoring the Celtic’s first

Whitby tied it up on the power play both the Celtic markers late in the great set up from Metcalfe & Mick goal late in the second. The rest of
Miller. The rest of the period was a
and then the final two minutes were third with assists coming from Cook the game remained scoreless and the

all Cornwall. Jock netted his second & Forrester. tense back & forth game with Coir game ended in a 3-1 loss.
of the game, assisted by Taran Fiacco The two wins & a head-to-head making many great saves to keep his The coaches & families are very
& Gaudreau. Ten seconds later, with tie breaker with Whitby had the J. team pumped. proud of the efforts made the entire
the game tied and the crowd on their Bernier Excavation team finish first Late in the game, the Celtics ran J Bernier Excavation Ltd. Bantam

feet, Fiacco displayed his strength by in their pool and ready for the quarter- into penalty trouble and the Stars Celtics Team throughout their season,
charging through the opposition to finals later that day. Redemption scored twice to make it 4-3 with and especially at Provincials. Way to

score the winner! The Celtics were time was in order as two years ago, only 29 seconds remaining. Captain go Celtics!