Player of the Year - Pat Ward, Canton
Ward was one of the main catalysts behind the historic Canton season, which saw the Bulldogs go 18-2 and reach the East Division 3 Semi-Finals before bowing out to top-seeded Cohasset.
The senior attack netted a team-high 67 goals, almost double more than the next player on the team, and added 10 assists for a total of 77 points for his senior campaign.
"Pat Ward is a great lacrosse player and one of the best athletes I have ever coached," said Canton head coach Bill Bendell. "He thrives in competitive situations and always plays his best in the biggest games."
In Canton's first win over Foxboro since 2007, Ward scored a team-high five goals, and in the D3 East Semis, he tallied a pair of goals and an assist.
"He is a tremendous scorer and leader, but he is also smart and unselfish," said Bendell. "He rides, hits, picks up GBs, and moves well without the ball. He's a big reason we advanced to the D3 semifinals for the first time in school history."
Ward will attend the Kents Hill School in Maine for a postgrad year, playing both hockey and lacrosse.
Honorable Mention: Luc Valenza, Foxboro
Hock 5 First Team Tyler Ames, Attacker, Foxboro Michael Patjane, Attacker, Franklin Conor O'Brien, Defender, Canton Luc Valenza, Defender, Foxboro Pat Ward, Attacker, Canton | Hock 5 Second Team Kurt Leavitt, Midfield, Canton J.C. Marcone, Attacker, Canton Eric Overdahl, Midfielder, Milford Alex Pacitti, Midfielder, Foxboro Jake Sargeant, Attacker, Franklin |
Coach of the Year - Bill Bendell, Canton
Bendell guided the Bulldogs to a historic season, with Canton going 18-2 overall, with just one regular season loss before bowing out to top-seeded Cohasset in the Division 3 East Semi-finals.
Key wins for the Bulldogs included the program's first win over Foxboro since 2007. Kurt Leavitt scored in double overtime to give the Bulldogs the win. Bendell also guided Canton to two playoff wins, a 14-3 thumping of Mystic Valley and a 12-10 win over Watertown.
"He brings the 'leave everything out there' mentality to the field every day, whether it's practice or the biggest game of the year," said senior Pat Ward. "It rubs off on everyone. I'd say that was one of the keys to winning the Hockomock this year."
Honorable Mention: Kevin Young, North Attleboro
Underclassman of the Year - Mike Sullivan, Franklin
Dave Bascom/PhotoSullivan played a large role in the Panthers defense and was one of the key players that helped Franklin to a Kelley-Rex division title as well as reaching the second round of the Division 1 tournament. Franklin finished 13-7 overall, including 10-1 in the Hockomock.
Hockomock League coaches voted Sullivan a league all-star, one of four Panthers to make the list.
Honorable Mention: Johnny Piatelli, King Philip