These Phantoms are for real, playing junior lacrosse in Akwesasne
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AKWESASNE — A new junior lacrosse franchise will start play this spring out of the A’nowara’ko:wa Arena.
The Akwesasne Phantoms already have some momentum, recently having dozens of players attend tryout sessions at the Benson Centre field house in Cornwall, and by getting the support of a lacrosse legend – former pro Mike Benedict Jr., who’ll serve as an assistant coach for the junior C team that will play in the Ontario Lacrosse Association.
“I heard about (the franchise) though the grapevine and told the organizers I’d be more than happy to help out, to consult, whatever they need,” said Benedict, who had nearly 300 points during a pro career that included suiting up for the Rochester Knighthawks, Buffalo Bandits, Columbus Landsharks, and Ottawa Rebel. “This is for the kids – it’s important to have (the franchise). Thirty-five players showed up at what was more or less an informal tryout, so there’s a lot of interest.”
Benedict already has a busy schedule, which last season included coaching his son in Akwesasne, and coaching a men’s semi-professional team, the Alexandria Bay-based Thousand Islands Spirits. And as a youth justice worker with the Akwesasne Community Justice Program, Benedict knows the importance of having opportunities available for youths.
For youth in Akwesasne in the older lacrosse age brackets, the summer of 2023 had many lining up for the minor association’s U-22 team, but that’s a division with few teams across the region, so it was mostly a series of games with Gloucester, before going on to the provincials. That’s why several in the community decided to put an application in with the Ontario Junior C Lacrosse League, which in 2023 had eight teams – and that was just in the Eastern Conference, and with another seven in the west.
The Phantoms are being warmly welcomed into the OJCLL, with the league commissioner, Jim Lowe, releasing the following statement: “We are incredibly excited to welcome the Phantoms to the OJCLL. Akwesasne has produced so many great players and teams over the years at all levels of lacrosse. With their dynamic leadership team and deep player pool, I expect the Phantoms to make an immediate impact in our league.”
The team’s head coach will be Josh Jacobs, and with Trevin Thompson joining Benedict as an assistant behind the bench.
In the early stages of the process, the community got behind the effort to secure a junior C franchise, and that included letters of support from the Akwesasne Thunder junior B team that last summer won the provincial title and captured silver at the Founders Cup national championships in August in Port Coquitlam, B.C.
Now that the Phantoms are in the OJCLL, Benedict is excited about the prospects of being affiliated with the Thunder. And, of course, the Phantoms have a built-in geographical rival – the Cornwall junior C Celtics play just across the river.
Benedict said he’s close friends with several people in the Celtics organization, and he believes the teams can work together to ensure as many players as possible from the region the area can compete in the sport at the junior level.
“There’s a lot of talent (in the region) – absolutely there’s room for two (junior C franchises) in close proximity,” he said. “Kids want to play, and basically our goal is to give them the opportunity, and develop them and get them to the next level.”
The Phantoms will make a splashy entrance into the league, hosting a multi-team exhibition event that will be played at a yet-to-be-determined date in mid-April.
The email to contact the Phantoms organization regarding upcoming tryouts and others information is AP@gmail.com.
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