Six Nations Lacrosse Senior C Tomahawks brought home the Nobile Cup to Six Nations Reservation on Sunday August 20th afternoon after a big victory against the Wellington Aces.
The Nobile Cup (named after league founder Shelly Nobile) is awarded to the winning team of the Senior Series Lacrosse (SSL). This year, the SSL Championship tournament took place at the Brampton Memorial Arena. The Six Nations Tomahawks finished the season with an outstanding record of 15 wins and only one loss during the regular season which led them to their final showdown in the SSL against the Wellington Aces on Sunday afternoon where they came up with the victory over the Wellington Aces 7-2 for the final championship game.
The Six Nations Senior C Tomahawks are no stranger to being under pressure in the finals as it was only back in 2019 pre-pandemic when they had their last championship season where they defeated Lakefield Rage in the SSL for the 2019 Legends Cup Championship.
The 2023 head coach for the Tomahawks, Jay Smith was formally the head coach back in 2019 when the Tomahawks had previously won the SSL Legends Cup.
When asked how it feels to bring home the Nobile Cup home to Six Nations after a successful season and win in the championships, Smith said "We we're given one goal at the beginning of the year and it's been mission accomplished."
Smith spoke about the feeling in the locker room before games and the process of getting the team prepared and motivated to play, saying "I told the guys, I don't expect you to be 'that team' [referring to the Senior C Tomahawks season 2019 team-roster] but you have big shoes to fill."
Smith also went on to say he's very proud of the team as some players have not played together before, whereas some have played together their whole life.
The Six Nations Senior C Tomahawks was amongst the few leagues that continued to play partially during the COVID 19 pandemic in 2021.
When asked about the process of getting the team ready for a full scheduled season of lacrosse for the 2023 season post-pandemic Smith said "As covid lightened up and eased up, the guys were playing in pick up leagues. Getting the rust off, getting a stick back in their hand, at try outs, we had an unbelievable turn out as far as guys wanting to be on the team and it made it really tough. I kept 25 guys and probably cut 25 or 30 and it was difficult but I tell them it's nothing personal -- I got a job to do and I'll see you next year. I'm still friends with a lot of the guys that got let go, I don't see them as often as if they made the team but that gives them something to drive harder for next year."