Rockhounds pick up first ever Provincial Gold

The Greater Sudbury Lacrosse Association Bantam Rockhounds recently captured the ‘D’ division championship trophy at the 2008 Ontario Lacrosse Association provincial finals, held in Whitby. The youngest division, the Tyke Rockhounds, captured silver in their first ever provincial showing.

Sudbury Bantams opened round-robin play with decisive wins, 10-2 over Toronto Beaches, 5-0 over North Perth and 7-1 over Lincoln. The victory over Lincoln helped Sudbury secure first place in pool play and provided them with a bye into semifinal action against undefeated Kingston. In the semi-final contest, the Rockhounds were focused and sprinted to an easy 12-5 victory.

The win vaulted Sudbury into the championship final against Brockville, where the two teams battled leaving the Rockhounds down 1-0 midway through the first period. Sudbury soon started forcing the play in the Brockville zone, with Peewee call-up Nicholas Marion tying the game at one and igniting the Rockhounds attack as the locals jumped out to a 5-1 lead at the end of the first period.

Brockville worked hard, rallying back with 3 more goals, but with a tight defense and goals from Charlie Venedam (2), Kieran Peltier, Matt Marion, Joel Charlebois, Jacob Lachapelle and Jordyn Lacastro, the Rockhounds went on to win the game 8-4. Assists went to Kieran Peltier, Brandon Moore and Dalton Ghent.

Silver medallists one year ago, the Bantam Rockhounds brought home the Association's first Provincial Gold Medal since the sport was revived locally nearly eight years ago.

The Rockhound Bantams were coached by Jeff Lahay, Robert Bertuzzi and Dom Lacastro, with trainer Rick Channon and manager Bev Lacastro also serving as key components of the team management. The squad's roster included goaltenders Christian Therrien and Nick Channon as well as Kieran Peltier, Charlie Venedam, Jordyn Lacastro, Dalton Ghent, Wade Mallette, Tyler Critchley, Dylan West, Alex Bertuzzi, Nicholas Marion, Matt Marion, Joel Charlebois, Brett Mackinnon, Brandon Moore, Brandon Lalonde, Roch Dupuis and Jacob Lachapelle.