WHITBY -- In the end, it was just not meant to be for the Whitby Warriors and their pursuit of a Minto Cup this season. Yet another year came to a close in disappointing fashion Sunday after a 16-8 loss to the Six Nations Arrows eliminated the Warriors from the post-season, but more notably ended the junior lacrosse careers of all but eight players from this year's roster.
In each of the five games against the Arrows, the Warriors came dragging out of the gate, and were only able to recover from that once. And it turned into a 13-9 victory in Game 4 Friday in Whitby to extend the series, albeit briefly.
That, in Warriors coach Jeff McComb's eyes, was the difference in the series.
"They got off to a really good start in Game 5 and seemed to for most of the series," he said. "Whether they were just a little bit better than us at the start of games or whether we just weren't ready to play. I don't really think that was the case as they were really pumped up at home there the other night."
And now unfortunately for all but Joel Weber, Jesse Gill, Alex Henderson, Justin Fox, Phil McIlhone, Luke Carson, Mitch McMichael and Cory Upshaw, there is no next year to atone for the disappointment. With that in mind, McComb said the words were difficult to come by as his team sat in the dressing room in Six Nations Sunday, dejected, with the realization that it was all over.
"I tried to put it into words the other night in the dressing room, but I didn't do a very good job of it," the coach admits. "I was pretty emotional. The time and the effort and heart and soul these kids put into lacrosse at the level is unbelievable. We are on the floor five or six times a week and these guys have been doing it for seven years with me from the time they were midget for most of them."
Although the team fell short of expectations, McComb was proud of the showing they provided throughout most of the playoffs, saying: "With a break here or there, we could still be playing."
At the same time, McComb didn't hesitate to take his hat off to Six Nations.
"We ran up against the three-time defending champs and I am pretty sure they are going to make it four-time defending champs here in a couple weeks," he says of the Arrows. "When you look back on it, whether they get a Minto Cup this year or not, in terms of Ontario lacrosse, they are obviously a dynasty."
With a such a massive roster turnover looming, many have speculated on the future of McComb and GM Bob Hanna. However, the coach says he is going to take a little more time before determining his future.