The McGill Redbirds lacrosse team claimed their fourth consecutive win in the annual Legacy Game series, defeating the University of Ottawa Gee-Gees 13-9 on the evening of Sept. 30. Nearly 600 fans stood witness to the highly entertaining match-up at Percival Molson Stadium. While the scoreboard reflected another strong Redbirds performance, the Legacy Game carried a significance far beyond sport.

Held annually on Canada’s National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, the Legacy Game honours survivors of the residential school system and commemorates children who never returned home from these schools, promoting awareness of Canada’s history of violence against Indigenous Peoples and ongoing reconciliation efforts. For McGill, the game has become a way to blend athletics with thoughtful reflection, paying tribute to the Indigenous roots of lacrosse—the Creator’s Game.

The evening opened with inspiring remarks from Kanien’kehá:ka (Mohawk) Elder and Akwesasne Lacrosse Hall of Famer Mike Kanentakeron Mitchell, celebrated for his steadfast dedication to advocating for the rights and welfare of the Mohawk Nation and Indigenous communities at large. He reminded the crowd that lacrosse is more than competition: It is medicine, a gift from the Creator, and a way to resolve disputes without violence.

From the opening whistle, the Redbirds came out firing. Fourth-year attacker Rowan Birrell started their scoring, followed by tallies from midfielder Torsten Blodgett and attacker Zach Page. Page dazzled with a behind-the-back goal before adding two more to complete a first-quarter hat trick. By the end of the opening frame, the Redbirds held a commanding 6-1 lead. 

Ottawa, however, refused to retreat. The Gee-Gees battled back with three quick goals in the second quarter, capitalizing on a brief lull in McGill’s energy. By halftime, the Redbirds led 9-5, but momentum was shifting.

Halftime featured a performance from Kanien’kehá:ka artist DJ Pøptrt, who blended Mohawk sounds with contemporary electronic music, creating a lively atmosphere that emphasized Indigenous creativity and resilience.

McGill regained control in the second half of the match, sparked by Page’s fifth goal and a steady performance full of crucial stopping from goalie Henry Komosa. Admittedly, Komosa also had some luck on his side, as Ottawa struck the Redbirds’ goalposts an impressive seven times during the game. Blodgett added two more goals in the final minutes to seal McGill’s 13-9 victory. Despite Ottawa attacker Julien Belair’s stellar six-goal performance, the Redbirds improved to 6–1–0 and claimed the top spot in the East Division of the Canadian University Field Lacrosse Association. 

Redbirds head coach Nicolas Soubry, who is in his final year with the program, reflected on the importance of this game for his team in an interview with The Tribune. 

“We’ve been able to team up with McGill Athletics and the Office of Indigenous Initiatives to create an event that focuses on letting Indigenous voices speak and share, whether that’s a point of view, an anecdote, or even music,” Soubry said. “We’re lucky to play, but the bigger focus is learning and community.”

For Soubry, the Legacy Game is always about more than the scoreboard result. 

“No matter what we do in the season, once we get to this point, it’s about winning this game,” he shared. “But more importantly, it’s about honouring the game by working hard.”

In an interview with The Tribune, Benjamin Buzby, U3 Management student and Redbirds defender, highlighted a key turning point in the match.

“A big faceoff win from Luke Nickel, then a selfless play dumping it off to Page for the goal, that was a good moment,” Buzby described. “It got the boys fired up.” 

Midfielder Preston Norris, U2 Economics, emphasized the team’s unity during the game in an interview with The Tribune.

“From the defensive side, watching the offence move the ball really well as a unit and put it in the back of the net was huge,” Norris stated. “It reassured the whole team.”

Now in its fourth year, the Legacy Game has become a cornerstone of McGill’s Indigenous Awareness Weeks, aligning sport with the work of reconciliation. The handcrafted celebratory lacrosse stick awarded to the winning team stands as a symbol of community and respect for the sport’s Indigenous roots.

As fans filtered out of Molson Stadium after yet another Redbirds win, what lingered was not only the scoreline, but the sense of honouring something much larger. Lacrosse, at its core, heals through every movement, nurtures connection, and brings communities together.