What Each Player Brings to Team's Push for a Canadian Lacrosse Championship
by Chris Halliday  
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Orangeville Junior A Northmen head coach Bruce Codd identifies depth as an underestimated strength during his team’s run to a provincial lacrosse championship.

The coaching staff used a total of 29 players during the team’s 16-game run to the Junior A Northmen franchise’s 10th provincial championship in its history.

When key players went down with injuries, others stepped up. Everyone on the roster contributed when called upon. That goes for the team’s core, 21-year-old veterans, key trade deadline acquisitions, even those who bounced in-and-out of the lineup.

“We used a lot of different rosters,” Codd said. “I think that is why we were able to win.”

Next Friday (Aug. 16), the Northmen will travel to Langley, British Columbia in search for the Orangeville franchise’s seventh Minto Cup championship.

We decided to ask Codd what each of his players brings to the team. We fired name-by-name at him. He barely flinched. Here is the role each player filled for the silver and black.

GOALTENDER RYLAN HARTLEY

Rylan is just a massive piece. He was named MVP of the Ontario playoffs and rightfully so. He is the backbone of our team. We knew we had a shot going into this year because we had Rylan Hartley. He was just a phenomenal goaltender and a guy that the guys just love in the dressing room as well.”

GOALTENDER SAMUEL CRISPO

“He got into one (playoff) game versus Brampton, gave us a great game. Sammy is always there to support the boys and do whatever is asked of him. It was good to see him get his first start in the playoffs and perform very well.”

JONATHAN DONVILLE

“He was a trade deadline pickup (from Mimico) — just absolutely, a possessed man. He really stepped his game up. He was incredible during the playoff run. He scored five goals in the championship game. He was an inspiration to our team.”

KYLE WATERS

“He was second in the league in scoring. Kyle just continued his dominant play out front. Scored a lot of big goals along the run.”

DYLAN WATSON

“A carbon copy of what I just said about Kyle Waters. Dylan had some big games as well, some very timely goals throughout the playoffs.”

CURTIS BUKTA

“He plays a very solid game. He is a young man who really elevated his play in the playoffs.”
 

TANNER BUCK

“Taylor was another offensive guy. He kind of bounced in-and-out of the lineup a bit but certainly, Tanner had some big games along the way offensively.”

TESI OAKES

“Another late season addition. He had some big games — a three- and four-goal game in the playoffs. He gave use a little bit of depth heading into the playoffs.”

ZACK DEAKEN

“Zack is our captain, just an insatiable work ethic. Great leader on and off the floor; just a great defender too.”

MIKE MCCANNELL

“Mike was just a real steady player at both ends of the floor. He’s a very hard-nosed defender. He gets the other team’s top guys most nights and plays in a lot of key situations for us.”

JEREMY SEARLE

“Another young guy, a very versatile player. He plays both ends of the floor. If we need him, he can do everything.”

JORDAN CASKENETTE

“He is one of our 21-year-olds, a veteran guy. He does a really good job in terms of offensive loose balls. He plays a very smart game.”

JORDAN MCKENNA

“He transitioned from being an offensive player to a defensive player and really thrived in the defensive role. He was great in transition for us.”

CAM MCDONALD

“An offensive guy, he really elevated his game in the last two series in the playoffs. He set a lot of great picks, did a lot of great things on the floor, being aware of transition going the other way.”

MIKE FIEGEHEN

“Another late season addition from Owen Sound. He provided us with another option on the right-hand side, a big body. He filled in and had some big moments for us along the way as well.”

SAM FIRTH

“He scored some big goals. Got the winner in game four of the Ontario finals and had an assist on the winner in game six. He had some key moments as well.”

TRAVIS BROWN

“Another 21-year-old. Played a lot of real solid minutes at the back door for us. Just another one of those veteran presences.”

TY THOMPSON

“He scored the winner in game five of the Ontario championship. He just gave us another big body and an offensive threat that we really needed to get over the hump with Burlington.”

DUSTYN PRATT

“Unfortunately, he got hurt in our final series but he was our IQ at the back end. He is probably our smartest defender, played the most minutes whenever he was healthy. He was just a massive part of our team.”

LOGAN SWANTON

“Logan is really good in transition and solid defensively. Just an energy guy with great feet, so he covered a lot of the other teams’ shiftier players.”
 

CHRIS WEIER

“He was a huge late season pickup as well. When Dustyn Pratt went down, all his minutes went over to Chris. Great shutdown defense — did a lot of stuff in transition as well. Just another great, great defender.”

TYLER HALLS

“A beast on the face-offs, scored a couple big goals along the way and very solid defensively.”

DAWSON TAIT

“Another late season pickup; came from Nepean. He gave us another speedy, right-handed offensive weapon. He scored a big goal in game three of the series in the Ontario final.”

TY MIKULIK

“Another 21-year-old, an old warhorse veteran. He did whatever we needed from him. … Just a war horse, just an inspirational leader.”

CURTIS ROMANCHYCH

“Soild on defence — he missed a good chunk of the playoffs because he was injured, came back and didn’t miss a beat. He is a very physical presence for us.”

BRODY CASKENETTE

“He was a draft pick two years ago. Played a game and did some good things when he was there. Obviously, him and his brother got to play together, which is kind of neat too.”

JAMIE HUNT

“He didn’t play a lot until the final series when Pratt went down. He jumped right in and played phenomenal shutdown defence.”

ZACH BELTER

“Another late season pickup. He played a lot of games early in the playoffs and gave us solid minutes and worked extremely hard. He was also a good presence in the dressing room.”