The offense may have sputtered in a couple of games but the defense was there from game two to the finish as the Sudbury U11 Rockhounds captured the "E" Division banner at provincials in Whitby last week, surrendering a grand total of just twelve goals against over the course of the six-game span.
The Rockhounds downed the Halton Hills Bulldogs 7-5 in their opening encounter and then shut things down, earning top spot in Group 1 with victories over both the St Catharines Athletics (9-1) and the Barrie Bombers (4-2).
A 9-2 win in the quarter-finals over the Kahnawà:ke Mohawks propelled the Sudbury squad through to the final four, with every indication that they may well have played the second best team in the field of 16 in semi-final action.
The Rockhounds and the Pelham Raiders were deadlocked in a 2-2 tie heading to period three, with the locals receiving goals from Jack Eamer and Pierce Rainville when the latter decided to take matters into his own hands.
An unbelievable short-handed effort from Rainville snapped the 2-2 draw, with the talented sniper completing his hat trick with a power play strike on a feed from Declan Abitong as Sudbury doubled Pelham 4-2.
The championship affair was over almost as soon as it started as Rockhounds' netminder Taylin Johnson backstopped her team to victory, registering her first shutout of the weekend as Sudbury stampeded Six Nations 8-0 in the final.
Eight different goal scorers hit the mark as Grayson Antonio, Avery Willoughby, Pierce Rainville, Troy Sakellaris, Liam Timony, Hudson Lauzon, Lenni Wiemer and Declan Abitong all found the back of the net.
A native of Whitby and product of a program that is about as passionate about this sport as any in the country, Sudbury head coach Brett Doherty is fully aware of the lack of respect that northern Ontario teams might garner from the hotbeds of lacrosse in the province.
"All of our kids showed up Friday morning wanting to prove everyone wrong," said Doherty. "They all showed heart, determination and drive and our coaching staff could not be more proud of each and every kid on this team."
Rounding out the Sudbury U11 Rockhounds roster are King Campbell, Kaleb May, Nolan Rancourt, Amilia Rancourt, Troy Michelutti, Mackenzie Thompson, assistant coaches James Allen and Mat Rancourt and trainer Alison Antonio.
