A Voice from the Eastern Door
A Voice from the Eastern Door
From left, Jeremy, Lyle, Haina and Miles Thompson.
The Thompson brothers plus some of the many campers pose for a group photo at the conclusion of the Thompsons' two-day lacrosse camp at Generations Park Oct. 6 and 7.
Jeremy Thompson, left, and Miles Thompson draw raffle tickets for lacrosse equipment giveaways.
Brett Bucktooth, left, and Randy Staats give speeches after drills and skills clinics on Oct. 7. They have both played for local senior B teams. Bucktooth was on the St. Regis Braves last season. Staats plays in Major League Lacrosse for the Atlanta Blaze.
Two campers wind down among a sea of equipment after scrimmages on Oct. 7.
Two players practice lacrosse skills on the afternoon of Oct. 7.
By Andy Gardner
Four professional lacrosse player brothers from Onondaga came to Akwesasne to help pass down the game to younger generations at a two-day lacrosse camp.
The Thompson brothers - Lyle, Miles, Haina and Jeremy, hosted the camp at Generations Park Oct. 6 and 7, which drew more than 100 young players from around the northeast.
This is the brothers' fourth year bringing the camp to Akwesasne. They ran the players through drills and skills clinics for two days, fed them lunch and hosted speakers from local professional and semi-pro lacrosse teams.
At the end, the brothers gave away lacrosse equipment, shoes and a trip to see a professional lacrosse game.
Brett Bucktooth and Randy Staats, two Indigenous men who have played at the semi-pro and professional levels, spoke at the camp. Bucktooth this past season played for Akwesasne's St. Regis Braves. Lyle Thompson said they included the speakers because "we think it's important to share journeys, to pass it on." Bucktooth told the youths, mostly elementary and junior high age, about the importance of maintaining good grades in school alongside playing lacrosse.
Randy Staats, who plays for the Major League Lacrosse Atlanta Blaze, talked about being persistent and related his story of dealing with a torn ACL in his knee for two seasons in high school and thinking he was done for. He told the players to practice what he calls "the three Ds -- dedication, determination, and discipline."
All four Thompson brothers play pro lacrosse in the National Lacrosse League and have all been on teams that have won the league's Champions Cup. Lyle was the 2017 MVP and overall points leader.
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