News

BY DALLAS SMITH

LEDUC, Alberta - Two teams desperately searching for a win early on in the President’s Cup tournament was the focal point of the afternoon match-up between the Kahnawake Mohawks (0-1) and the Tyendinaga Thunderbirds (0-1). The vocal nature of both benches outlined the team's intensity as they moved through a series of settled offensive possessions and quick fast breaks. Though the pace was quick and the settled possessions filled with movement, neither team was able to score until seven minutes into the period, when the Mohawks capitalized on a fast-break opportunity. The Mohawks extended their lead to two after an extra-man goal from Markie Kirby. The Thunderbirds showed resiliency with a quick goal from Seth Oakes who had a beautiful dodge around his defender. Unfortunately for the Thunderbirds, the Mohawks were able to score consecutive goals in the closing minute of the period to push the score to 4-1 in their favor. 

As "U Can’t Touch This" by M.C. Hammer played in the background, the two teams came out prepared and energized for the second period of the game. Both the Thunderbirds and the Mohawks played with great defensive intensity. The Thunderbirds defensive stoutness paid off after killing a two-minute penalty and feeding a streaking Chris George out of the penalty box for a breakaway goal. However, the Thunderbirds would not let the momentum last as Patrick Saunders scored on their ensuing possession, followed by an additional goal. Two consecutive goals by the Thunderbirds would close the Mohawks lead to 6-4 at the mid-way point of the second period. The last ten minutes consisted of both teams trading goals with the Thunderbirds closing the Mohawks lead to 7-6. The end of the period concluded with Trey Adams stonewalling the Mohawks 6 on 5 opportunity as the period concluded. 

The first half of the third period saw much of the same as the last two. The ball moved fast up and down the floor and side to side on the settled offensive possessions. At the end of the second, the Thunderbirds pace began to wear on the Mohawks stout defense. However, the Mohawks players came out energized and invigorated to hold onto their slim one goal lead. After exchanging goals throughout the first ten minutes, the Mohawks still managed to be up 9-8 at the halfway mark of the third. As the clock wounded down into the final eight minutes, teams exchanged consecutive penalties. Even though the Thunderbirds were able to halt the Mohawks extra-man opportunity, a debilitating short-handed goal came from a streaking Peter Jacobs . The continued momentum enabled the Mohawks to kill the remaining penalty time. Content to milk the clock with two minutes remaining the Mohawks slowed the pace on offense. However, behind an Alex Kedoh Hill goal, the Thunderbirds struck back to within one goal in the final remaining minute of the third. With an important face-off win, the Thunderbirds called a time-out as they set-up for a final 6 on 5 attempt to even the score before time expired. The Thunderbirds produced two separate opportunities to score before  the Mohawks Angus Goodleaf halted the comeback and secured a 10-9 victory for the Mohawks.

The victory moves the Mohawks to an even 1-1 record while dropping the Thunderbirds to 0-2 in the round-robin portion of the tournament. Kahnawake and Tyendinaga both resume play against the Native Sons and the Langley Warriors on Wednesday morning and afternoon.