Fort Erie Minor Lacrosse Association: The “Medicine Game” That Brings People Closer Together
Christine Whelan, FEO, August 6, 2026, Volume 7- Issue 24
The Fort Erie Hawks are now wrapping up their 2026 season. In July, the U9 1 and U11 teams won their zone championships and brought the big banner home.
Jace Sowden, head coach of the U9 team, shared proudly, “Our U9 team winning the zone championship this year is the highest level of lacrosse for that age group. This is only the second time since 1993 that Fort Erie Lacrosse has won a zone championship at the highest level for that age group.”
The message these seven- and eight-year-olds are getting is, “If they trust themselves, work hard and work as a team, you can accomplish things.”
“The U11s, who have only been playing for one or two years, have been shown that, within that short period of time, to win a ‘C’ Championship, they get the same message,” Jace said. “Whether or not they’re new, being in a position to play in a game like that speaks volumes about the development of Fort Erie Lacrosse and the environment it creates for kids to trust themselves and feel safe enough to do so while being competitive. This allows them to do their best.”
At the time of this interview, all five teams were in the midst of preparing for the Ontario Provincials at the beginning of August.
Sowden has played lacrosse since he was three years old. “This is something I’ve always been a part of, and I’m incredibly passionate about. Lacrosse has given me so much. Now I’m in a position to give back to others.” When he talks about the kids’ experience, he’s also reflecting on his own. He knows how the kids feel.
While also working at DSBN, he coaches these seven- and eight-year-olds. “I have been coaching for eight years. I’ve coached in Fort Erie. I’ve also coached for Team Ontario.”
Lacrosse in Fort Erie
The Fort Erie Minor Lacrosse — the Fort Erie Hawks — was established in 1993. It’s dependent on arena availability. The ice comes off in May and goes back on in August. Jace says a season goes by really fast.
“The sport, even when I was growing up, was always a way to strengthen relationships with the Port Colborne community and the upstate New York community. Those kids from both sides of the border would come to Fort Erie to play lacrosse.”
Sowden says you can see the growth in lacrosse in Fort Erie recently, and this is due to growing awareness in the community. “Volunteers have been going into schools and sharing more about the game. I think this has played a major role in the growth.”
The organization is now focusing its initiatives on educating families about the sport and giving them opportunities to try it. “That’s by being more visible at schools and community events, as well as partnering with other non-profit organizations.”
Lacrosse: What is the draw?
“Excitement. I would say that’s what’s been capturing most of the families.” The registration numbers, he stated, have doubled. Every year, they double.
“Lacrosse is known as the fastest game on two feet. When the parents experience their child’s first game, seeing the fast pace, feeling the energy and the atmosphere, they find it captivating. It grabs them right away. That’s why they get excited about it. That’s why they stick around.”
Jace said this environment can start as young as three years old. More than 100 three- and four-year-olds registered for the U5 team category, known as the Soft Lacrosse program.
He explained that in lacrosse, the “U” in the team categories means ‘under’. So, U11 is a team for kids 9-10 years old. “We have a U13 team and a U11 team. We have two U9 teams. We had enough for a U7 and a house league U7.”
When the U7 team plays at Crystal Ridge arena, it’s like standing room only because the parents come out, bringing aunts and uncles, and grandparents come out, and that place is packed.
“It’s incredible to see kids between the ages of six and ten develop so quickly. I would attribute it to their still being at an age when they’re willing to try something new without fear of being judged. They play with so much freedom and confidence; it’s something to admire. And it makes coaching these age groups really fun.”
Speaking as a coach, he noted it’s a matter of trust. “The second they get it, it’s like you’ve almost unlocked their potential because now they trust you because you told them they could do it if they tried it a certain way, and they did. Now it’s like, ‘What else can you teach me?'”
The 2nd Annual Coaches vs. Alumni Evening
The arena was packed on July 3. Those who used to play for Fort Erie who now live hours away made the trip to come and play. Family members travelled from upstate New York to come and watch this game.
“Deeply rooted in the Indigenous communities — in the Haudenosaunee community — lacrosse has been called the medicine game, which refers to its ability to bring people together. It emphasizes community and a way of giving thanks.”
“The evening is a way for all the players to come out and watch, for past players to come back and reconnect. It’s a way for new coaches to be part of a new community. It’s a way for the organization to acknowledge its history. And it’s a chance to share a little bit of what its true intentions were, even for many Indigenous communities, the importance of community and the importance of giving thanks. It’s tying all those together into one specific event.”
The Fort Erie Hawks 1st Annual Golf Tournament
This fundraising event, on Saturday, August 15 at the Fort Erie Golf Course, is an all-day affair.
Sowden explained, “The tournament is a way for the sport itself to connect and provide a platform for other companies in the area to support youth lacrosse. The event is to set the organization up for success in 2027 and to continue building that experience for the kids.”
Registration for the next lacrosse season will open in January 2027, and the season will begin in April.
To learn more about the golf tournament and to keep up with updates throughout the year, follow the Fort Erie Minor Lacrosse Association on Facebook and Instagram.
Website: forterielacrosse.com provides the history of lacrosse, the registration process and cost.
