The Canton Golden Bears ended the 2024-2025 season at a record of 16-6, and after starting the year 0-3, the Bears battled back and came just short in the Class B championship game against their route 11 rival, Potsdam. Canton eyes its 2025-2026 season after losing 58% of their scoring, and 4 out of 5 starters, with Charlie Todd, John Wilcox, Jackson Ames, and Paul Redfern all graduating alongside rotational pieces Lucas Howie and Aidan Richardson.
The loss of so many experienced seniors leaves Zadok Roiger as the lone starter to return, but he is a good one. He led the team with 16 points, 9 rebounds, and 4 assists per game. The only other Junior who returns with good experience on the court is Daniel Richardson, so the rest of the team will need to step up if they want to compete. This includes players like Junior guard Will Andes, who averaged 17 points per game on JV in 2024-2025, alongside Seniors Ciaran O’Brien and Owen Matthews, who got time sparingly in big moments last year, but project to have much improved years with more time.
The Bears’ schedule includes a slew of difficult league games against the likes of Potsdam, Malone, and Ogdensburg, and compounded with a non league schedule that includes Saranac Lake and defending NY Class B champion Marcellus, the schedule will be no easy task. This is always a Hallmark of Coach Troy Lassial’s gravity as a coach from the north country, being able to schedule teams like Marcellus because of the reputation that Canton basketball has come to achieve. Coach Lassial commented: “We are playing a tough non-league schedule to help us prepare for the end of the season. I like that we have great senior leadership, and a mix of underclassmen who will gain valuable experience prior to the playoffs.”
He also remarked: “I really think the depth on our roster is going to help at practice, and the pace we would like to play with during games.” The Bears have a deep list of seniors, and even with the uncertainty of them having little experience in big moments, Coach Lassial trusts them to put their best foot forward and play to the pedigree that the Golden Bears have played to under Coach Lassial’s tenure.