Iroquois Nationals

The Iroquois Nationals are the national lacrosse team of the Six Nations of the Iroquois League and compete in international competition.[1] The team was admitted to the International Lacrosse Federation (ILF) in 1990. It is the only Native American/First Nations team sanctioned to compete in any sport internationally and is ranked among the top five in lacrosse.[1] Lacrosse was historically a traditional Native American game among the Lenape of the mid-Atlantic area, and it was played long before the European encounter.

Background

The Iroquois Nationals are the national lacrosse team of the Six Nations of the Iroquois League. Lacrosse was a traditional Native American game that preceded European contact. Its popularity has been growing in Canada and the United States, as well as internationally.[1]

They have competed internationally since 1990, when the team was admitted to the International Lacrosse Federation (ILF). They are the only Native American/First Nations team to compete in international sports.[1]

In 2008, the Iroquois Confederacy, under the name Haudenosaunee Nation, became a full member of the International Federation of Women's Lacrosse Associations at that organization's final meeting. The women's organization merged with the ILF to form the sport's new unified governing body, the Federation of International Lacrosse.

2014 team

Name College Hometown Note
Myan Adams, D Cornell '13 Akwesasne, NY (Mohawk Nation territory in northern New York)
Adam Bomberry, M Onondaga Community College (OCC) '17 Akwesasne, NY (Mohawk Nation territory in northern New York)
Brendan Bomberry, M University of Denver '18 Vaughan, Ontario Graduate of The Hill Academy[2]
Brett Bucktooth, M/A Syracuse '06 Nedrow, NY (south of Syracuse) Won NCAA championship in 2004
Kevin Bucktooth, D Onondaga Community College (OCC)
Vaughn Harris, M Onondaga Community College (OCC) '16 Six Nations, Ontario National Junior College Athletic Association 1st Team All-American in 2014[3]
Alexander "Kedoh" Hill, M[4] Six Nations, Ontario Experience in Major Series Lacrosse (MSL) league and the indoor National Lacrosse League (NLL)[5]
Travis Hill, D Canisius Sanborn, NY
Warren Hill, G Syracuse '16 (at OCC in 2014)[6] Oshweken, Ontario On the Iroquois 2012 U-19 men's lacrosse team, named to All-World team and named most outstanding goalie after tournament[7]
Cody Jamieson, A Syracuse '10 (transferred from OCC in 2008) Six Nations, Ontario Won NCAA championship in 2009, on NLL's Rochester Knighthawks roster at time of selection to national team[8]
Mike Lazore, M Hobart '10 Carthage, NY On MLL's Rochester Rattlers roster at time of selection to national team[9]
Zach Miller, M/A University of Denver '17 Steamburg, NY (southwest New York, Allegany Reservation[10])
Tom Montour, D Brantford, Ontario[11] On NLL's Buffalo Bandits roster at time of selection to national team[12]
Craig Point, M Onondaga Community College (OCC) Oshweken, Ontario Won NJCAA National Championship in 2006,[13] on NLL's Rochester Knighthawks roster at time of selection to national team[8]
Jeff Shattler, M
Sid Smith, D Syracuse '09 (transferred from OCC in 2007) Oshweken, Ontario Won NCAA championship in 2008 and 2009
Taylor Smoke, D Saint Michael's '09 Akwesasne, NY
Randy Staats, A Syracuse '15 (transferred from OCC in 2013) Six Nations, Ontario
Oakley Thomas, D Onondaga Community College (OCC) '17 Akwesasne, NY
Lyle Thompson, A University at Albany '15 Onondaga Nation, NY (south of Syracuse) Co-Tewaraaton Trophy recipient in 2014 with older brother Miles; two other older brothers on team are Jeremy and Jerome[14]
Jeremy Thompson, M Syracuse '11 (transferred from OCC in 2009) Onondaga Nation, NY Brother of Jerome, Lyle and Miles; cousin of Brett Bucktooth[15]
Jerome "Haina" Thompson Jr., M Onondaga Community College (OCC) Onondaga Nation, NY Brother of Jeremy, Lyle and Miles
Miles Thompson, A University at Albany '14 Onondaga Nation, NY Co-Tewaraaton Trophy recipient in 2014 with younger brother Lyle; two other older brothers on team are Jeremy and Jerome[14]
Ty Thompson, A University at Albany '14 Onondaga Nation, NY
Roger Vyse, A Oshweken, Ontario
Marty Ward, G Limestone College '07 Head coach of Florida Southern
Jeff White, G Le Moyne '13 Buffalo, NY

Corporate deal

In 2006, the Iroquois Nationals Lacrosse Program signed a partnership with Nike, Inc. in which Nike will provide the Nationals with their brand uniforms, clothing, footwear, and other equipment. The company is to develop programs to "promote wellness-and-fitness activities in Native American communities throughout the region", and team members may go to speak to local groups.[1] Team members will also assist in testing of sustainably produced sportswear, for Nike's research and development of processes to use non-toxic dyes and biodegradable organic cotton.[1]

Nike is the only Fortune 500 company to have such a relationship with a Native American organization, and the Iroquois Nationals are the only such group.[1][16]

Box lacrosse

Iroquois Nationals
Medal record
World Indoor Lacrosse Championship
Silver 2003 Toronto
Silver 2007 Halifax
Silver 2011 Prague

The Iroquois Nationals have been competing in the World Indoor Lacrosse Championship since the first one, in 2003. They reached the final on all three championships, but they lost to Canada on all three occasions. They were very close to a gold medal in 2007, when they lost in overtime.

2011 FIL World Indoor Lacrosse Championship roster

Position Player Team
Goalie Mike Thompson United States Buffalo Bandits
Goalie Angus Goodleaf United States Buffalo Bandits
Goalie Jeff Powless Canada Ohsweken Warriors
Defense Sid Smith United States Rochester Knighthawks
Defense Brandon Francis United States Buffalo Bandits
Defense Isaiah Kicknosway United States Buffalo Bandits
Defense Ron Cogan United States Onondaga Redhawks
Defense Holden Vyse United States Buffalo Bandits
Defense Brandon Swamp
Transition Tom Montour United States Buffalo Bandits
Transition Jeff Shattler Canada Calgary Roughnecks
Transition Travis Hill United States Minnesota Swarm
Transition Mike Lazore
Transition Cody Johnson United States Rochester Knighthawks
Transition Kedoh Hill Canada Edmonton Rush
Forward Brett Bucktooth United States Buffalo Bandits
Forward Cody Jamieson United States Rochester Knighthawks
Forward Roger Vyse United States Buffalo Bandits
Forward Stu Hill Canada Ohsweken Warriors
Forward Dean Hill Canada Edmonton Rush
Forward Cory Bomberry
Forward Andy Secore Canada Edmonton Rush

Field lacrosse

The Iroquois Nationals began competing in the World Lacrosse Championship in 1998.

They first competed in the Under-19 World Lacrosse Championships in 1999.

See also

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 Fryling, Kevin (2006-07-27). "Nike deal promotes Native American wellness, lacrosse". University of Buffalo Reporter. Retrieved 2006-07-28.
  2. ↑ http://www.insidelacrosse.com/article/iroquois-nationals-tryouts-session-two-takeaways/21281
  3. ↑ http://www.onondagalazers.com/news/2014/5/13/MLAX_0513144656.aspx
  4. ↑ http://www.bandits.com/newsX.asp?type=News&aID=363
  5. ↑ http://www.insidelacrosse.com/article/weapon-of-choice-rochester-s-kedoh-hill/28121
  6. ↑ http://blog.syracuse.com/sports/2014/05/vaughn_harris_warren_hill_lead_occ_mens_lacrosse_to_sixth_consecutive_title_with.html
  7. ↑ http://www.laxmagazine.com/teamusa/u19men/2011-12/news/072112_us_u19_men_rebound_to_win_world_title
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 http://www.knighthawks.net/roster?order=title&sort=asc
  9. ↑ http://www.rochesterrattlers.com/roster/
  10. ↑ http://www.denverpost.com/kiszla/ci_25773732/du-lacrosse-star-zach-millers-grandfather-embodies-family
  11. ↑ http://www.bandits.com/newsX.asp?type=Features&aID=241
  12. ↑ http://www.nll.com/roster/show/398482?subseason=58066
  13. ↑ http://www.22lax.com/index.php/athletes/2012-10-08-20-19-15/item/107-craig-point
  14. ↑ 14.0 14.1 http://www.insidelacrosse.com/article/mag-archives-thompson-family-s-quot-symbol-of-pride-quot-/18862
  15. ↑ http://cuse.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=7903
  16. ↑ Nikebiz.com (2006-05-04). "Nike Begins Historic Partnership With The Iroquois Nationals Lacrosse Organization". Press release. Nike, Inc. Retrieved 2008-06-30.

External links