Ham beefs up A’s offence
Liam Ham has fit in perfectly with the St. Catharines Athletics.
The 22-year-old Newmarket native played only a handful of games with the A’s back in 2019 and 2018 while concentrating on his hockey career with the Niagara IceDogs and Mississauga Steelheads.
But with his time in the Ontario Hockey League over — he is continuing his hockey career with the Guelph Gryphons — Ham has found his way back to the lacrosse floor.
“It’s been so much fun,” he said. “ It’s been something I wasn’t really expecting. It kind of fell into my lap and I just want to run with it.
“We’re playing well so that’s even better.”
Ham became eligible when players born in 1999 were permitted to play one final year of junior A after last season was lost to the pandemic.
“I think for me it was just getting the stick into my hands and if I had enough time to prepare for it,” he said. “It was pretty last- minute but I was fortunate enough to be able to step back into it and feel OK.
“Every game I’m getting better and feeling a little bit better and that’s always nice.”
Ham has more than held up his end, scoring nine goals and 14 points in seven games for the A’s at the Ontario Junior Lacrosse League tournament in Oakville.
“It was weird with him because he’s just an athlete,” A’s coach Steve Toll said. “He has gone above expectations scoring goals. He’s a natural leader with the things he does and he really takes a beating inside. He initiates physical contact inside which opens up the outside for us.”
Toll said Ham relishes his role.
“He’s played very well. He knows what he does well. He has a tendency once in a while to hold on to the ball too long but he’s getting into better habits with that.
“He’s a great teammate. The guys love him and he’s such a great kid.”
Toll coached Ham previously with Team Ontario.
“He was our captain. We knew he could score. He has good hands. He has very soft hands and from what I’ve heard a lot of NLL teams are trying to sign him to a contract.”
Ham is enjoying his last hurrah at the junior level.
“With this group, it’s a little bit more special because I grew up playing with six or seven of them on Team Ontario so we all knew each other previously before this season,” he said. “We’re a good group and hopefully it all comes together for us.”
Ham also said it has been special to finish up in St. Catharines, where he played two full seasons with the IceDogs.
“I love the city. It will always be a second home to me. It’s pretty cool being able to play both hockey and lacrosse with both junior teams here. I’m pretty grateful for that.”
The A’s take on the Mimico Mountaineers Saturday at 5 p.m. in semifinal playoff action at the Toronto Rock practice facility in Oakville. The Whitby Warriors and Brampton Excelsiors meet at 3 p.m. in the other semifinal. The two winners advance to the Ontario championship Sunday at 8 p.m.
Toll is well aware the Mountaineers will provide a stiff test for the A’s.
“They have two of the best players in junior in Thomas McConvey and Peyton Cormier on offence and they made a trade for a couple of great defencemen from Orangeville,” he said. “They already had a stacked defence. We know they have a big tough defence and have some guys up front that can score.
“They are a very good team and we expect nothing but a run-and-gun game from them.”
The one-game playoff gives neither team a chance to have an off night.
“It’s not winning a series, that’s why it’s all hands on deck right away,” Toll said. “It’s one game, winner take all so there’s no saying we can get them next time. There’s no next time, especially for the 99s.”
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