Athletics double Orangemen
When Jake McNabb says he knows what it takes to win, he’s not just talking to hear himself speak.
The 21-year-old native of Owen Sound has a Minto Cup championship under his belt as a member of the 2015 Six Nations Arrows, and feels his experience could be a factor to help the St. Catharines Athletics to a championship of their own.
“I’d say the biggest thing I learned in Six Nations was the game-to-game thing,” McNabb said. “Not taking any game for granted, whether it be regular season or playoffs. We prepared the same way all the way through.
“Even these games later in the year setting you up for who you are going to play later in the year are bigger than anything and maybe even bigger than the first round.”
McNabb sees similarities between the Arrows and this year’s Athletics.
“For sure. This biggest thing is our goaltending. We had Dougie Jamieson and Nick (Damude) here compares to him a lot and we have a tough back end,” he said. “It starts in the back end and we’re creative up front.
“All around, we shape up the same way as the team I played with in Six Nations.”
A’s coach Steve Toll said McNabb’s big-game experience is invaluable.
“Like I always say, the junior A championship is the hardest to win in the world because you only get five years to do it,” Toll said. “To win one like he did was a thrill for him. He brings that experience. You can see on the floor. He never really gets too rattled and he knows when to get excited and play the role that way.
“He shows leadership on the off the floor. The younger guys look up to him and when you know you have a Minto, everyone is going to look up to you for that too.”
The A’s dealt for McNabb two years ago when the Arrows were a strong club and the Athletics were still in a rebuilding mode.
“Initially it was tough because I got traded from a team that was supposed to win it,” he admitted. “It was tough to swallow. You put in half a year with a team and think you’re going to win it and then get traded to a team that doesn’t make the playoffs.
“I knew it was going to be one of those things that if I buy in right from the start, it was going to be worth it.”
McNabb is having another strong season with 23 goals and 48 points despite missing four games with an upper-body injury.
“He’s just one of those guys who’s a pure goal scorer with a great shot,” Toll said. “To make it to the next level — and we’ve had this talk many times — he has to work off ball. If you play with Buffalo or whatever, you’re not going to have the ball. You need to learn to pick guys and get open and get in the middle. He’s getting much better at it this year. I want to see him score goals from the middle, not just on the right side and ripping it top cheese.
“He wants to get better and he wants to get to the next level.”
McNabb, who has completed two years of school at Onondaga Community College in Syracuse, is hoping to turn pro next season.
“The biggest thing in the off-season is to put on 10-15 pounds and get a little bigger and work on some speed,” he said. “It’s little things you pick up along the way and I’ve had good coaches. I’m setting myself up but there’s still a long process.”
The Athletics doubled Orangeville Northmen 12-6 in Ontario Lacrosse League junior A action Wednesday at Jack Gatecliff Arena to improve to 13-5.
Alex Simmons paced St. Catharines with four goals and two assists while Liam Mcdonald added two goals. Kealan Pilon, Brayden Mayea, Owen Friesen, McNabb, Kyler Kilgour and Bradley Fannell added singles.
Damude made 46 saves in net for the win.
The A’s are in Peterborough Friday and host Barrie next Wednesday to wrap up the regular season.
“I think we’re pretty close to where we want to be,” Toll said. “My big thing is you want to win eight of 10 at home and five on the road and finish 13-7 and we’re hopefully going to beat that.”
The A’s have battled injuries and players away all season. Simmons missed 13 games at school while McNabb, captain Latrell Harris and Tyler Brown also missed time.
“I’m really proud of these guys for their consistency with bringing guys in an out of the lineup,” Toll said. “We’ve battled and still won a lot of big games with a make-shift lineup.”
A’s acorns: Riley Curtis (foot) and Gavin McGregor (concussion) did not dress for the A’s.
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