Backyard Lacrosse Tournament

The Akwesasne Youth Leadership Group held a lacrosse tournament on June 9th, 2012 at Generations Park. With “aint no style like the old style” in mind, this tournament changed the rules up on a traditional lacrosse tournament. Teams of at least six played a 10-minute, running time game. Because a tennis ball, instead of a lacrosse ball, was used during the game, players did not have to wear equipment.

A skills competition was also held. Categories included Fastest Indian, Fastest Shot, and Top Cheese (hit the bottle.) Participants were split into groups of men, women and children.

After two games were played, the Fastest Shot competition took place as Rob White clocked in speeds of up to 129km. After a few minutes of technical difficulties, the kids started it off. Next up were the women, with only 4 competing. After a few more minutes of technical problems, as some shots were a little too fast for the radar gun to register, the men finally stepped up to the plate and delivered. Winners for each division were Colby Oakes, Teiosakentishon Elijah and Ryan White.

The next competition was Top Cheese and in this event, players had to hit a bottle that was hung from the crossbar and only had one shot to get it done. Kanehsatiio Thompson and Glenn Swamp were the winners in the Women and Men divisions. There was a 4-way tie between Tehokiokwathe Swamp, Taylor White, Colby Oakes and Otsi Oakes in the children’s division. Fastest Indian came next: Kaienkwironkier Phillips, Ienikonhriiostha Elijah and Otsi Oakes. Points were taken throughout all three events to determine who would win. Ryan White, Ienikonhriiostha Elijah and Tehokiokwathe Swamp each won $30. The kids with the most points each won a Gait mesh kit donated by Akwesasne Sports.

The championship game was played between Spiritual and 4 Skin-DNs. After 10 minutes of regulation time, the score was tied 7-7. After 4 rounds in a shootout Spiritual came out victorious with a score of 10-9. A $200 first place prize was awarded to Spiritual.

Teams that participated in the games include:

Hot Dogs, which consisted of Glenn Swamp, Will Swamp, Kahontineh Swamp, Tewenteneh Fox, Daniel Lazore and Truman Jock.

Spiritual: Aniataratishon and Kaienkwironkier Phillips, Teiosakentishon and Ienikonhriiostha Elijah, Kanehsatiio Thompson and Karonies Thompson.

Team White: Ryan, Orlanda, Louise, Vanessa, Taylor, Casey, Jake, Mason.

4 Skin-DN’s: Arohiaies Herne, Nihahsennaa Peters, Colby Oakes, Sose.

The Akwesasne Youth Group will be doing more fundraising in the future to attend the Youth and Elders Gathering in Montana to be held August 5th-10th. The Group would like to thank participants for their support.