Going into the Ontario Lacrosse Association’s provincial championships this past weekend, not many had their eyes on the Sarnia U15 Tier 1 Pacers.
“We weren’t really expected to be in the position we were in at the start,” said head coach Brad Holbrough, pointing to a few teams that had already counted them out, despite the Pacers earning their spot in the OLA ‘A’ Final Six — the premiere division for youth lacrosse in Ontario. “No one else expected us to be there… but as for myself, and the other coaching staff, we always knew.”
That’s because he, and fellow coach Shaun Kennedy, have been with many of the players since their U7 Tyke days — when the group won the ‘E’ division title at the OLA provincials back in 2017.
Now, they’ve come full circle — winning OLA ‘A’ bronze — the first in Sarnia Pacers history.
“So, we went from being ranked 70th in the province seven years ago with the same group of kids, to being ranked 3rd overall…that’s how much growth we’ve had,” Holbrough said.
The U15 Pacers were named to the top six teams in the province, following the ‘A’ qualifiers held over two weekends in the summer. They were ranked fourth heading into provincials, but knew they had work to do, after losing 8-1 to top-ranked Burlington in their opening match, then tying no. 2 ranked Peterborough.
The next day, the Pacers defeated Oshawa 6-3, but fell to St. Catharines 6-4, sending the team to a must-win Sunday match against Orangeville to stay alive.
“We hadn’t beat them yet this year, and I think they just took us for granted,” Holbrough said of the intense match-up. “We we knew we had to win it to stay in it.”
The Pacers pulled out all the stops, including a solid performance from goaltender Levi Toenders, winning 6-4 and earning a ticket to the bronze medal match against St. Catharines.
Goals from Noal Grondin, Conner MacKellar, Price Teft, Kai Tope and Brayden Daye would help send the Pacers to a thrilling 5-4 win and an historic bronze medal.
“It was just intense — the whole weekend,” said Holbrough. “In almost every game, it was down to the wire, super close, stress level through the roof. They persevered, worked their butts off, and came out with bronze, and it was amazing to see.”
Team captain Noal Grondin was named to the tournament’s Top 6 All-Star Team, and was also recently selected to the Team Ontario U15 Box Lacrosse, along with Kai Tope and Price Teft. They’ll compete for the Commissioner's Trophy at the National Championship in Regina, Saskatchewan, August 13-17.
“We have some of the best top-end talent in Ontario,” Holbrough said of the group, “and we have, in my eyes, one of the best goalies in Ontario.”
Holbrough pointed to others like Tope, “probably the fastest kid alive,” he said with a laugh, and “stud defenders” Chase Richard and Cooper Kennedy. “They’re not big kids but they’re strong, and mean on the ball and nobody gets around them.”
But at the end of the day, every player has a key role, Holbrough said.
“It takes an army — the whole team — so while some may get the goals and recognition, it’s those depth players pitching in, getting loose balls, and playing hard defence, that makes it all possible.”
Another big asset this season was the addition of assistant coach and former Jr. B player Isaac Doxtator.
“He’s developed a really great true bond with the players, and he has been amazing to me and Shaun with the help he has given us,” Holbrough explained.
That, and a group of easy-going parents with coachable kids, help make his job easier, said Holbrough, who ensures there’s no bullying, division or drama happening on the team from day-one.
“They are young men, leaders, going into high school,” he said. “Part of being a leader is taking care of everyone on your team — it doesn’t matter if they score 50 goals, or zero goals — we’re all on one team.”
“You don’t always have to be a hard-nosed style coach, either,” he added. “I save my yelling for when it means something.”
The organization as a whole has come a long way, he said, pointing to a successful season for a number of other Pacers teams; the U13 Tier 1 capped of their season with a no. 7 ranking in the province; while teams in U7, U9, U13 and U15 all won their respective Zone 7 championships. Many of the teams are led by former players, like Holbrough, who still love the game.
“I just want these kids to grow up and treat each other like family,” he said. “Seeing those bonds and the friendships develop, that’s really what’s most special to me.”
Watch the bronze medal game below: