Niagara Thunderhawks rise to take provincial title after near demise

Niagara | Amateur | Sports |

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Published August 8, 2022 at 9:57 am

The championship Niagara Thunderbirds are (in no specific order): Christian Blaylock, Keaton Boldt, Tanyon Davis, Liam Dietsch, Joseph Fragnito, Liam Gatt, Trent Hunter, Jack Marotta, Jack Muraca, Aedan O’Gorman, Colby Ostromecki, Hunter Ostromecki, Noah Ostromecki, Jack Parker, Nolan Price, Matthew VandeLaar, Aaron Wilson, Brett Wilson, Kristopher Wilson, Nathan Wilson, Sam  VanderZalm, Jordan Wiens and Ethan Williams. Coaching was Andy Boldt, BJ Trush and Dan Williams.

The team name is the Thunderhawks but the Niagara Phoenix might be a more accurate descriptor for this squad.

In a season that nearly never began, the Thunderhawks U22 lacrosse team topped off an undefeated season to win the Ontario box lacrosse “A” division championship late last week in Whitby.

The team figuratively rose from the ashes as it looked like the program might be shut down before the season even began with player disinterest threatening the team’s existence.

But then the Thunderhawks pulled a team together and capped it off by running undefeated all season.

In fact, their only non-win of the season was a 4-4 tie against the Gloucester Griffins when the provincial tournament’s round-robin opened.

However, that got that back and then some, facing Gloucester in the gold-medal match and winning 4-1.

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