After a season filled with comebacks, breakthroughs, and plenty of highlight-reel moments, the 91原创 Thunder junior A and junior tier 1 lacrosse teams capped off 2025 by honouring their best with year-end team awards.
Junior Tier 1 Thunder
For the Junior Tier 1 Thunder, the transformation was remarkable. One year removed from missing the playoffs, 91原创 stormed to a 14-4 record and a second-place finish in the BC Junior Tier 1 Lacrosse League and an appearance in the semi-final round.
鈥� Marcus Khan: Most valuable player, top rookie
鈥淢arcus gives us a chance every game and commands our defence. Only a rookie, he was one of our leaders and has a bright junior career ahead of him.鈥�
鈥� Mason Eastgate: Top offensive player
鈥淢ason is a player who every coach wants on his team because when the lights come on, he is always ready to go. He plays with a ton of energy and always puts his teammates first.鈥�
鈥� Nigel Nowak: Top defensive player
鈥淣igel was a great defensive leader; he sticks up for his teammates and makes sure to call them out when it鈥檚 necessary. The boys respect his input.鈥�
鈥� Kellen Bateman: Unsung player
鈥淲hat really stands out about Kellen is his fearlessness: this guy will soak anyone鈥檚 shot to help his team get a win.鈥�
鈥� Colten Lifton: Ironman
鈥淐olten is tough as nails and has his teammates back through anything.鈥�
鈥� Lukas Miller: Top graduating player
鈥淏efore the season, we asked if he wanted to help drive the team in the right direction and make a difference and that is exactly what he did. Lukas is a 91原创enal leader for our group and the players really respected him.鈥�
Junior A Thunder
The Junior A Thunder may have missed out on a post-season berth 鈥� they finished one win shy of the BC Junior A Lacrosse League post-season with an 8-9 record 鈥� but their transformation was remarkable nonetheless as they had gone 0-18 the previous season.
鈥� Ben Gagnon: Most valuable player
鈥淎 silent leader who plays the game the right way, Ben leads by example on and off the floor.鈥�
鈥� Bailey Vanichuk: Top offensive player
鈥淏ailey is a smart, speedy veteran who elevated his game to another level this season.
鈥� Hudson Zazelenchuk and Dylan Doucette: Top defensive players
鈥淗udson is a gritty leader with a relentless motor, whether it鈥檚 chasing down loose balls or using his athleticism on defence, he brought it every shift.鈥�
鈥淥utstanding in the face-off circle, Dylan was steady, dependable and consistent on the back end all year long.鈥�
鈥� Cody Todd and Koji Okuyama: Top rookies
鈥淐ody played much bigger than his size and is a dangerous outside shooter with pinpoint accuracy.鈥�
鈥淎n absolute standout well beyond his years, Koji is special talent.鈥�
鈥� Nathaniel Leroux: Unsung player
鈥淣athaniel brought intensity every shift, never backing down and battling in the tough areas all season long.鈥�
鈥� Cody Malawsky: Top graduating player
鈥淭he best player in Canada, Cody showed our group exactly what it takes to play 鈥� and win 鈥� at the highest level.鈥�
鈥� Graysen Balatti and Ronan Balatti: Ironman award
鈥淭rue warriors, they never missed a shift 鈥� or practice 鈥� all season and always stepped up, whether killing penalties, chasing loose balls, or taking the occasional offensive shift.鈥�
