Zone 7 lacrosse is not just a minor sport, it is a family. Yes, our zone is much smaller than the rest, but our heart and drive are just as big or bigger. We run hard and play hard against each other all season, but we always work together in the end whether it be at executive meetings, tournaments or provincials supporting our other zone teams or in the off season running clinics that are open to all zone 7 players.
This season we seen many successes for our players and coaches, Congrats to all!
Windsor
Tyke - A
Midget - A
Intermediate - A
Avery Garant - Midget Girls Team O
Connor McManus - U17 Team O Field
Jake Rosa - U19 Team O Field
Wallaceburg
Tanner Cole - Team Ontario Midget (Silver Medalist)
Lucas Jacobs - Team First Nations (Bronze Medalist)
Lucas Jacobs - NAIG Boys Midget (Gold)
Shkuhnodin Shognosh-Myers - NIAG Girls Intermediate (Gold)
Kamryn Whiteye - NIAG Girls Intermediate (Gold)
Midget Boys finished A and competed in A Qualifiers
Novice, Bantam lost in quarter finals.
Sarnia
Tyke 2 win "E" Gold at Provincials
Bantam Boys make "A" Qualifiers
Tyke 1 remain "A" for 5 years straight
Team O – Eric McDonald
Bantam - Zone Champions
Novice 1 - Zone Champions
London
National Championships:
Kaden K, Team Ontario GOLD (Peewee)
Nate D, Team First Nations Silver (Peewee)
Quincy, Gregory, Corban, Damon, Team First Nations Bronze (Midget)
Kash D, Team First Nations (Bantam)
Provincial Championships:
Midget Girls, Ontario Midget 'C' Silver
Midget 2 boys, Ontario Midget 'D' Silver
Zone Champions:
Peewee 1 and Tyke 1 (Tier 1)
Tyke 2 and Novice 2 (Tier 2)
North American Indigenous Games (NAIG):
Quincy, Gregory, Corban, Damon, Anahalihs: Team Ontario GOLD (U16)
Shawnah, Mackenzie, Taylor, Jaelena, Kendra, Aiyana: Team Ontario Silver (U19)
We also seen many referee successes with the highest number of referees being drafted to Provincials. We also seen Noah Young attending all three weekends of A Qualifiers, and Garrett Conquer-VanHeuman with strong appearances at each tournament and provincials he attended. Our referees are more than just "game controllers" they are part of the family, and their success makes our zone stronger. Congrats!
Our Zone Yearly Awards will be celebrated in late October, congratulations to our winners!
Coach of the Year: Andy Cadieux, Bantam Boys - Andy came in this year changing key components of the Bantam Boys game. He changed how they changed off and on the floor, how they played offence, defence and most of all, how they seen the game. Andy created confidence and integrity for the game for all 17 adolescent boys. The players bought in right away, as they new there was not much time in the 2017 season. The Bantam Boys record was 16-6-2, Winning there only tournament in Milton. Andy Cadieux sure brought out the “A” game in these 17 young men, as a great coach should. Congratulations Andy.
Volunteer of the Year: Mike Mroczek - Fundamentals Director - Mike has been an inspiration to Sarnia Lacrosse. He has been on the Executive board for multiple years with the same goal in mind year after year, Development. Mike has ran the fundamental age group for several years. It takes a huge commitment and heart to make sure 3-6 year old kids stay in check and develop each season of lacrosse. Without the volunteering and commitment of Mike Mroczek SMLA would not be the same. Congratulations Mike
Player of the Year: Eric McDonald, Sarnia - Eric McDonald began and ended the year a leader on the Arc 1 Welding Sarnia Bantam Pacers. From our first tryout to our last practice Eric was a leader on the floor. Unanimously voted team Captain by his peers Eric lived up to that selection. Used in every situation Eric was a key contributor at the offensive and defensive ends of the floor playing on the Power Play and off the bench on the Man Short units. Eric was also selected to the Team Ontario Bantam team this season winning Gold at the Canadian National Championships with his Ontario team mates. Congratulations Eric.
Referee of the Year: Noah Young has not only done Sarnia proud but he has done our zone proud. This past summer he reffed 113 minor lacrosse games across the province; association games in Sarnia, Brampton A Tournament, Owensound A Tournament, Zone 7 Intermediate Tournament, 1st Qualifier weekend, 2nd Qualifier weekend, Final 6 weekend, Intermediate Provincials and Midget Provincials. Noah worked hard at the two A tournaments he attended and was awarded by the RDT team 1st Qualifier weekend. With his strong showing, and supervisions at first weekend, he was extremely fortunate to be asked back for the 2nd weekend of Qualifiers. After a strong performance over both weekends, he was chosen for the Final Six Weekend. At Final 6 weekend his strong performance landed him the Bantam Gold game. Noah had an extremely successful season. We look forward to watching his reffing career continue to grow. Congratulations Noah
To say I am proud to be from Zone 7 is an understatement. All of the volunteers, players, coaches and referees are family. They make my job easy and without their passion and dedication, we would not have accomplished all we have in the last 10 years. Kudos Zone 7, keep up the hard work and keep moving forward.
Jenn Matheson, Zone 7 Director