Peterborough Natives Help Canada Rally to Pan-Am Gold in Jamaica
/By Scott Arnold
Peterborough natives Owen Hiltz and Wyatt Wiggins are Pan-American champions after Canada erased a three-goal fourth-quarter deficit to defeat the United States 9-8 in Sunday’s gold-medal game in Kingston, Jamaica.
Team Canada celebrates after winning gold at the 2026 Pan-American Men’s Lacrosse Championship. Owen Hiltz is third from the left in the front row, wearing number 7, Wyatt Wiggins is seventh from the left in the back row, wearing number 22, and dan carey is third from the right in the back row, with the white hat. (Photo via Instagram @lacrossecanada)
Canada trailed 8-5 early in the fourth quarter before scoring four unanswered goals to complete the comeback and claim the Pan-American Men’s Lacrosse Championship.
Hiltz scored once and added an assist in the final, while Wiggins was part of Canada’s defensive group as the Canadians held the Americans scoreless for the entire fourth quarter.
Alex Simmons celebrates Canada’s Pan-American championship win in Jamaica by striking the iconic pose made famous by Jamaican sprinting legend Usain Bolt. (Photo via Instagram @lacrossecanada)
Alex Simmons tied the game with 1:32 remaining and then provided the game-winning goal with just 20 seconds remaining, completing a four-goal performance for Canada.
Simmons is a familiar name for local lacrosse fans. He played for the Oakville Rock, who were eliminated by the Peterborough Lakers in the Major Series Lacrosse semifinals earlier this month.
Owen Hiltz had a strong tournament for Canada, finishing with nine goals and seven assists on the way to the Pan-American championship. (Photo via Instagram @lacrossecanada)
Hiltz finished the tournament with nine goals and seven assists for 16 points, which was fourth-most on the Canadian team and seventh-most in the tournament.
Meanwhile, Wiggins helped anchor the Canadian defence throughout the championship, holding their opponents to just eight goals in five games, including a shutout win against Argentina.
Wyatt Wiggins was a key part of Canada’s defensive effort throughout the tournament as the team battled its way to Pan-American gold. (Photo via Instagram @lacrossecanada)
