Mike Thompson Honored at Sticks with Jersey Retired Hung

On Thursday, Mike Thompson was honored with a dinner at Sticks Restaurant. Accompanying Thompson was the Mann Cup, which people in attendance were allowed to see. The cup, which predates the Stanley Cup, harks back to 1910 and is said to be made of solid gold. Thompson signed his jersey, which will be displayed in Sticks, as well as a painting that was given to him for his achievements by the Burns family. Surrounded by his friends and family, the event marked a local hero being recognized at the Sports themed restaurant at the Akwesasne Mohawk Casino.

Retiring his jersey and showing off the Mann Cup were not the only reason Thompson was out on Thursday, though. He was also there to raise awareness for his minor lacrosse program and get registrations kicked off.

“Our minor program is Akwesasne Minor Lacrosse and right now we’re expecting two teams per age group, so we are really trying to fund-raise for the second team, my wife and I. We are also trying to prepare for having a second team.” This year marks a bit of a change in the registration push. Last year registration may have only been a few weeks, but this year it is almost two full months.

Thompson is also holding a clinic for the “youngsters,” as he says, running from 6 to 11 years of age. There is also a goalie clinic being held, which Thompson says is a first for him.

Of the goalie clinic he said, “This is something new, and we’re trying to make that an annual event.” The youth clinics will run the entire month of March.

Continuing his efforts to push for registration, Thompson will be bringing the Mann Cup to the schools in the area. He also went to the Boys and Girls club on Friday afternoon, as well as open gym at the Mohawk School Friday evening.