Mitch Dumont is one of the more unheralded defensive players in all of the Ontario Sr. B loop. He’s a player that does everything well; he doesn’t stand out but he’s effective, and for a defensive player that’s a good thing. Dumont was as surprised as anyone to hear the Knighthawks where interested in offering him a contract.
He said, “It’s exciting. It’s something that you’re not expecting to happen. It comes out of the blue, you get an opportunity and you have to jump at it.” Dumont has been labeled a great team guy, a quiet and modest guy, yet a great leader with outstanding transition and defensive skills. St. Catharine’s Saints assistant coach and GM Dave Colbourne has said Dumont is “a team leader, a team guy and one of the safest guys on the floor with the ball, You know when the ball is in Mitch’s hands, he’s not losing it to the other team. He’s our most stable ball-handler on the defensive side.”
Dumont is a journeyman of sorts, he’s suited up for three Sr. B teams, two CLAX teams, and one Major team since 2009. He’s a player that gives 100% every time he touches the floor, a guy who leads by example and a guy you’d love to have as part of your team. Standing 6’2 and weighing 190 pounds, the left shooting Dumont has great physical attributes. He combines his excellent lacrosse IQ, floor vision, speed and agility to excel as one of the best defensive/transition players in both the Ontario Sr. B loop and the Canadian Lacrosse League (CLAX.)
Dumont played his Junior lacrosse with the St. Catharines Spartans Jr. B club, his last season of Junior was in 2006, where he appeared in 20 regular season games, racking up 5 goals & 8 assists for 13 points. He also so action in 9 playoff games in 2006, tallying 4 goals & 3 assists for 7 points. Dumont took the 2007 and 2008 season’s off before retuning the game in the summer of 2009. In ’09 Dumont suited up for the Niagara Hawks of the Can-Am Sr. B league. In 22 total games, regular season and playoff, Dumont potted 6 goals and 9 assists for 15 points, to go along with 10 penalty minutes. In 2010 Dumont decided to try his hand with the Rocky Mountain Lacrosse League’s Spruce Grove Slash.
In 22 games with the Slash, playoffs include, Dumont recorded 9 goals and 24 assists for 33 points. 2011 was Dumont’s first season in the Ontario Sr. B loop, he appeared in 14 regular season games with the expansion St. Catharines Saints, where he recorded 4 goals and 15 assists for 19 points. In the Saints 18 game playoff run, Dumont tallied 1 goal & 5 assists for 6 points. 2012 saw Dumont make his pro lacrosse debut with the Canadian Lacrosse Leagues, Durham Turfdogs.
Dumont saw action in 14 regular season games and 1 playoff game with the Turfdogs, racking up 5 goals & 8 assists for 13 points. That summer Dumont again toiled with his hometown St. Catharines Saints, appearing in 15 regular season games and 16 playoff games, recording a combined 5 goals and 9 assists for 14 points, on route to his second Ontario Sr. B Championship. In 2013, Dumont again returned to CLAX’s Durham Turfdogs, in 14 games Dumont racked up 1 goal & 15 assists for 15 points, come playoff time Dumont appeared in both of the Turfdogs playoff games, recording 1 assist. Dumont missed the 2013 OLA Sr. B Regular season, but returned in time to appear in 13 playoff games, racking up 3 goals & 4 assists for 7 points on route to his 3rd consecutive OLA Sr. B Championship. 2013 would be the season the Saints got the monkey off their back, winning that elusive first Presidents Cup.
Last season was Dumont’s third season in the Canadian Lacrosse league, however it was his first with the Niagara Lock Monsters. Dumont appeared in 6 regular season games and 2 playoff games for the Lock Monsters, recording 4 goals & 5 assists for 9 points. The Lock Monsters won the Creators Cup as CLAX’s top team, giving Dumont his 2nd championship ring. The 2014 OLA Sr. B season saw, Dumont’s St. Catharines Athletics, miss out on their 4th straight Ontario Championship, despite the early playoff exit, Dumont appeared in 13 total games, recording 1 goal & 7 assists for 8 points.
It’s great to see the soon to be 29 year old Dumont finally getting a crack at the NLL, he has been arguably one of the best all around defenders outside of the NLL the past few seasons, in my opinion its a great signing for the K-Hawks and Dumont has as great shot to crack the teams practice roster at the very least.
