Holy Cross Field Lacrosse Team History
The Holy Cross Field Lacrosse team was established in 2004. The founding Head Coach was Holy Cross CSS Communications Technology teacher Mr. John Esford. Founding community volunteers, parents and assistant coaches were Pete Bergin and Dave Hallett. Instrumental student pioneers who helped build the team were Tim Bergin, J.P. Bergin, and Davey Hallett. To achieve KASSAA status, 5 teams are required. Over the years various schools have sporadically organized a team; Bayridge, LaSalle, Sydenham, with Frontenac consistently fielding an annual team since 2003. The HC team is a varsity sport (junior and senior students) and includes male and female student athletes. Field lacrosse is played outside on a football/soccer field. A team fields 10 players: 1 goalie, 3 defensive (Long Pole), 3 Middie, and 3 attack players. Lacrosse is Canada's official national summer sport (hockey is the official winter sport).
The team organizes an annual "Alumni vs Student" friendly game in the spring which is always an enjoyable event to keep in touch with graduates. Holy Cross Lacrosse players have proudly advanced to play for American (St. Andrews, North Carolina) and Canadian (Carleton) universities, Junior "C" (Kingston Kings, Cornwall Celtics) and Senior "B" (Capital Region Axemen) teams. Alumni have acquired achievements at the next level as scoring leaders and "All-Canadian" honours by CUFLA, the Canadian University Field Lacrosse Association, play University football (Queen's), and play in the OHL (Kingston Frontenacs) and NHL (Anaheim Ducks). (Photo right: Holy Cross Lacrosse student graduates and numerous founders of the original team plus current team members pose for a group photo at the 2015 HC Lax Alumni game.)
A key member of the HC team is HC Educational Assistant, "Kokum" Debbie Myers, an Anishinaabe "Grandmother" who performs tradition Indigenous prayers and smudge ceremonies for the team. Smudging is traditionally a ceremony for purifying or cleansing. An important educational dimension of the Holy Cross Field Lacrosse team experience is the recognition, respect and celebration of Indigenous culture. Lacrosse has its origins in a tribal game played by eastern Woodlands Native Americans in Canada. The game was extensively modified by European colonizers to North America to create its current collegiate and professional form. Thank you to the Indigenous peoples for their gift of lacrosse and the honour to play on traditional Anishinaabe and Haudenosaunee territory. (Photo left: Grandmother Debbie Myers performs a sage smudge ceremony with HC lacrosse student athlete Hunter Drew.)
2019 Holy Cross Lacrosse
(Photo above: Holy Cross Field Lacrosse attack player # 71 Will Daniel lines up a shot on net against the LaSalle Black Knights.)
Season Recap
The Holy Cross Crusader Field Lacrosse Team competed in Crestwood Secondary School's (Peterborough) “Lax Classic" which took place on Fleming College's two artificial turf fields. The Crusaders beat the Eastside Ravens from Belleville 10 – 4. The Crusaders then battled their hometown rivals Frontenac Secondary School beating them 9 – 6. In the pool final Holy Cross faced Stanstead College, a private school from Quebec. The passionate championship game was called in the third quarter with a score of HC 4 and Stanstead 8. The Kingston City Championship night game pitted Holy Cross against the LaSalle Secondary School Black Knights with a final score of HC 4 - LSS 7. The game was called in the third quarter due to rough play. Season points leaders included; First: Zach Raymond, Second: Ashton Maracle, Third: Noah Prudhomme. Holy Cross Athletic awards were received by; Nick Baker “Most Promising Rookie", Noah Prudhomme “Most Valuable Player", and Zach Raymond “Leadership".
2018 Holy Cross Lacrosse
2017 Holy Cross Lacrosse
Season Recap
The Holy Cross Lacrosse team is made up of 22 strong players. Each player is showing hard work, dedication and respect on and off
the field. The team is coming out this year looking better than ever in their new
merchandise and flashy jersey's. The lax team continued the annual tradition of Indigenous celebration, prayer and smudging ceremony. The boys and girls participated in the
elementary
skills clinic at their home
tournament showing off their hard work in practice. We are looking forward to seeing some great success from the lacrosse team moving forward this season.
Season Recap
The Holy Cross Crusaders Field Lacrosse team is excited with the growth of secondary school lacrosse in
Kingston and the Eastern Ontario Region with KCVI team joining Frontenac and Holy Cross, as well as the
inclusion of Moira Secondary School in Belleville. The Crusaders have a 25 man bench this year
providing
depth, and the strongest defensive line in the team’s 12 year history. In the
first tournament of the
season in Peterborough the team went 3-1
finishing 2
tournaments, with the rookie goaltender
posting two shut-outs. The team is looking forward to our own Kingston Lacrosse Tournament, with
KCVI,
Frontenac, Holy Cross, Moira Secondary School, St. Joseph’s Catholic Secondary School, and
Charland
District High School. "To all those athletes who
continue to grow the sport of lacrosse in
Kingston, thank you!", from Head Coach Mr. John Esford.
Season Recap
The Holy Cross Crusaders lacrosse team had a slow start to the season with a loss to the Frontenac Falcons but rebounded in a huge manner at the Peterborough Lacrosse tournament going undefeated and being crowned tournament champions. Along with Head Coach Mr. John Esford, Mr. Brian Drew joined the coaching staff along with Ms. Debbie Meyers who strengthened the Aboriginal spiritual connection that contributed to the team’s success. The boys and girls are having a great season considering this was a rebuild year with one returning defensive player.
Season Recap
This year the Holy Cross lacrosse team, coached by Mr.
Esford, were successful in the away tournaments and exhibition games they played in. The team received the coaching assistance of Mr. Mike Watson from the Junior C Kingston Kings lacrosse team and helped by improving player knowledge and skill during practices. With the help of Mr. Watson the team was able to defeat the host team of the Ottawa tournament they took part in. Holy Cross Catholic Secondary School battled Frontenac Secondary School on the Crusader's home turf in front of a crowd of students, parents and teachers for the final game of the 2014 Kingston Field Lacrosse season. The Crusaders beat the Falcons 9-8 in a nail biting finish with Holy Cross breaking the 8-8 tie with only seconds remaining on the clock. #76 Hunter Drew sealed the deal to make the Crusaders victorious and "City Champs"! The Holy Cross Crusaders Field Lacrosse varsity team ended their 8 game season with a 2-6-0 record. Congratulations to players advancing onto Junior B and C teams in Kingston and Ottawa and our graduating athletes. "Great season boys, thanks for your skill and effort!", Head Coach Mr. John Esford.
2013 Holy Cross
Lacrosse
Season Recap
Head Coach Mr. John Esford is pleased to report that the Field Lacrosse team witnessed growth in the sport at Holy Cross and in the greater Kingston area this season. Holy Cross is very proud that 8 of its graduates and current players that were selected to play on the Kingston Kings Junior “C” box lacrosse team, 40% of that team being Crusaders. The lacrosse team, comprised of 30 skilled players, hosted their first tournament this season. Staff and students cheered on the team, witnessing an impressive 10-3 win over rivals Frontenac. The Kenner tournament in Peterborough wrapped up the thrilling season and HC finished the tournament with a win over Richmond Hill with a score of 5-2.
The Lacrosse team battled hail, sleet, wet snow, wind, rain, & freezing cold during their game Friday April 19th on the Queen's West Campus North Turf Field. The Holy Cross Crusaders beat the Frontenac Falcons 8-6. Currently Field Lacrosse in Kingston is not a KASSAA recognized sport, there are only 2 teams locally, Holy Cross & Frontenac. Frontenac established their team in 2003, HC in 2004.
HC played against Frontenac at Queen's University's Tindall Field.
Their first field lacrosse experience on a full field for half the team, the boys played well.
The game ended 6 - 3 for FSS, but it was a valuable learning experience. The Crusaders travelled to Ottawa for the Spring Thaw Tournament in the "C" Division.
Unfortunately, the Crusaders were unable to pull out a win however, they worked hard and showed great composure.
For field lacrosse, which can have high scores, keeping the scores low and close, the boys did a great job and
were showing improvement. "Thanks Crusaders!", Head Coach Mr. John Esford.
