Lacrosse Legends

There are a number of families that are synonymous with the game of lacrosse. The Thomas family is one of them. Join Steve and Ron Thomas as they tell stories of their lacrosse careers at the local to international levels as both amateurs and professionals.Steve ‘s playing career went from 1960 -1984. He played for Akwesasne/St. Regis through Bantam,Midget, Junior and Senior. During this time he helped to organize the St. Regis Lacrosse Program. He was offered a full scholarship to Syracuse University in 1967. Steve played on championship teams with the St. Regis Jr. Braves in 1969, 70 and 71 and was a Canadian Jr. B finalist in 1971.He was known as a “hardroc k” defenseman playing for Ross Powless in 1971 and 1972 on the Rochester Iroquois in the Can-Am Pro League.In 1974 he was drafted by Montreal in the National Lacrosse League.Steve continued to play on many Championship teams in the Quebec Sr. League for the Akwesasne Warriors.He was presented with the John Ferguson Best Defenseman Trophy 3 times.After h

Walter “Butch” Goodleaf received his first lacrosse stick at age 7 from his Grandmother. This humble start lead to his well-deserved induction into the Ontario Lacrosse Hall of Fame. He would display unique leadership skills as a Player, Coach and Builder in the Kahnawake community along the way. “Butch” is known for being a team player and possessing great defensive skills, with the ability of creating offense for his Minor and Senior teams. He played on teams that won Quebec Provincial Championships and participated in President Cups and the Commonwealth Games. Goodleaf collected team and league awards that include MVP and All Star team selections. He was well respected by his teammates and was selected Captain many times. He is representative of a by-gone era of Mohawk players that earned their living as steel workers on the eastern seaboard of the USA. Goodleaf is proud of working on the original World Trade Center in New York City and traveling back to Quebec and Ontario overnight on the weekends to play

Joe Curotte is known as one of the toughest defensemen to come out of Kahnawake. His playing career stretched from 1965 through 1980 for both the Junior and Senior Caughnawaga Indians teams.He played against the best including Gaylord Powless, Johnny Davis, Bruce Roundpoint, Frank Benedict and Mike Benedict. As a Junior he received the Best Defenceman Award in 1966 and 1968 and a similar award as a Senior player in 1976.He was a Junior All Star in 1967 and 1969. Joe was a member of the Junior team that won the Provincial Championship in 1966. He also won Silver with the Seniors in 1969.A crowning achievement was capturing the Thorpe Longboat Trophy at the North American Lacrosse Championship in Vancouver in 1969.This accomplishment and his career in general led to his induction into the Ontario Lacrosse Hall of Fame in 2018.

Dennis Joseph descends from a long line of lacrosse players. His father, Willard Joseph, played box and field lacrosse for the famed North Shore Indians teams. Dennis Joseph’s grandfather , Andrew Paull was inducted into the Canadian Lacrosse Hall of Fame.Paull was the founder/coach/manager of the North Shore Indians and the Squamish box and field teams. Paull was able to build capacity crowds of over 10,000 fans in the historic Denman Arena in the 1920’s and 30’s.Outside of lacrosse Paull was the well known activist and lawyer who battled for First Nation rights and advancement. Dennis Joseph followed these footsteps with class and dedication.His minor years were with the North Shore Indians. He has played box and field lacrosse for over 54 years. He has almost exclusively played goalie and continued to star in Masters and Grand Master divisions years after others had retired.A most memorable moment in a colourful career was playing against Gaylord Powless and his father Ross Powless who coached when Joseph

Barry Powless has made his mark in lacrosse on both sides of the border as a player, coach and manager in both the box and field versions of the game. While at Lafayette H.S. near Syracuse he was named a USLA High School All American. He went on to play attack at Syracuse University. After Syracuse he played in the 1980 World Lacrosse Championship and won the Silver Medal as part of the Can-Am Warriors squad in Vancouver. After getting a taste of West Coast life he would play for the next decade in the Vanocuver area. In 1981 he would play and star for both the North Shoe Indians and the New Westminster Salmonbellies who would win the Mann Cup. In 1984 he captured a Presidents Cup with the North Shore Indians. He would join the Vancouver Burrards and the Coquitlam Adanacs during that time.He even made his mark in Field Lacrosse playing for the Vancouver Field Lacrosse Club and won a Provincial Championship and made the All-Star Team. In 1990 he would head back east and he helped propel the Fergus Thistles to

As our interview team conducted dozens of interviews across Canada over the last 4 years onename kept popping up – Jim Bishop. Bishop is one of the most well-known names in the game.He is deceased, but his influence and work lives on. We have put together a number of formerplayers and coaches who knew him to discuss the lacrosse life of one of Canada’s mostimportant contributors to the game.He was involved with lacrosse for 58 years, making his mark as coach and builder of the game in Ontario and throughout Canada.Jim began coaching minor lacrosse in Toronto in 1946 and in 1957 he founded the HuntsvilleMinor Lacrosse Association. One of his greatest accomplishments was building the OshawaJunior A Green Gaels - the legendary lacrosse organization that competed in and won 7consecutive Minto Cups.This record of 7 consecutive titles from 1963 to 1969 has not beenequalled since and likely won’t be matched.Bishop was involved in establishing the initial National Lacrosse League in 1968 and coached theDetroit Olympi

After leading the B.C. Junior A Lacrosse League in scoring in 1954, Bob Parry went on to anoutstanding Senior A career with the Vancouver Burrards, winning the Inter-City LacrosseLeague outstanding Rookie award in 1955 and becoming an integral part of three VancouverMann Cup winners.It was after his playing days when he really excelled. As Burrard General Manager for 1970 - O76he was largely responsible for moulding the team that was a success both on the floor, going toMann Cup in 1971, 1975 and 1977, and at the gate.In the late 1980's Bob was again there tohelp resurrect them. He brought the team back to the top with a Mann Cup appearance in 1990.He has been a tireless behind-the-scenes worker with the Burrards.

Gary Bottomley was introduced to the game in 1968 and began to play in 1969.He has continued to play, coach, coordinate leagues and run skill development programs for Tyke to Senior players over the past fifty years. Bottomley retired from playing in 1996 at the age of 43.He played in 13 Canadian Championships and in some years he was a player-coach. In addition,Bottomley was the coach of the 1999 Nova Scotia Field lacrosse team that played in the Canadian Championship that were held in Halifax of that year. Other highlights include being a member of the 1973 Nova Scotia Canada Games Lacrosse Team that received the Silver Medal.In 1975 he was drafted to the Quebec Caribou’s of the National Lacrosse League Later that summer he played in in the Canadian Senior B championship and won a Silver Medal.In 1977 he was selected to coach the Nova Scotia Canada Summer Games Junior Lacrosse Team. In 1978 he was asked to play with the Crossbow Inn Capitals in Edmonton.They won the the Alberta championship and went to the

Our interview with Jojie Engemann is unique in that he is a son talking about his parents and their legendary contributions to the game.And Jojie was a fine player in his own right. Rose and Joe Engemann were inducted into the Canadian Lacrosse Hall of Fame as Builders – for their tireless efforts in the creation and operation of the Spartan Athletic Club.It all began for their family when the Engemanns registered Jojie to play minor lacrosse in St. Catharines.That is how an amazing story of building a sports community was initiated. The Spartan program began in 1963. During its peak in the 1970’s and 80’s as many as 2,000 boys and girls were playing in five different sports including lacrosse. The most notable achievement, besides the joy of sports provided to thousands of youth, was the success of the 1981 and 1996 St. Catharines Spartans in winning Founders Cups.Jojie Engemann tells the inside story of the dedication and sacrifice his parents made to create a laudable lacrosse organization.

Monty Slingerland learned his lacrosse on the dirt floor of an outdoor rink within view of the Niagara Escarpment and Wine Country.He loved being involved in all facets of the game, adding coaching to his resume almost as soon as he began playing. He embraced Management as well with the Niagara Warriors Junior B Team and becoming a co-owner at a fairly young age. 1973 was a dream year for Monty and his Warriors.The team won the Ontario Summer Games, the Canadian Summer Games, the Founders Cup, and ended the summer beating an excellent Whitby squad for the Ontario Championship. He kept playing up to 1980 through participation in the Port Dalhousie Men’s League. Slingerman’s final coaching stint was in 1988-1989 in the Niagara-On The-Lake Minor Lacrosse Association.

Wayne Shuttleworth is known as a fine scorer and a rugged competitor. He was a member of four Mann Cup Championship teams for three different clubs.He had been a late starter to lacrosse, coming from a soccer background. The delayed start didn’t seem to matter.He was selected to the Intercity League All Star Team on three separate occasions. In 1971 he won the League Scoring Title with 61 goals and 82 assists.His career led him to a Canadian Lacrosse Hall of Fame induction in1992. He also was a member of the 1968 Salmonbellies World Lacrosse Championship Team that was inducted into the B.C. Sports Hall of Fame in 2019.

The Maritimes is an area for growth for lacrosse in Canada. There are some important individuals thatbrought it forward.Wayne Finck can easily be referred to as the “Father of Maritime Lacrosse”.We had hoped Wayne could tell his own story but he tragically entered into a struggle with life-ending cancer before his interview could take place.We are proud to bring Wayne Finck’s story to you through the words of his daughter Julie and others who knew him well.Wayne was involved as a player, a coach, a builder, administrator, a referee – pretty well any role you can think of.Wayne is regarded as the person who saved the sport in Nova Scotia in the 1990’s. He was eventually inducted into the Nova Scotia Sports Hall of Fame as recognition for his many efforts.This is one of just a few interviews we have undertaken regarding a Legends of Lacrosse who has passed and we do so as a tribute to Wayne Finck’s legacy in the game.

Troyhann Santos is a trailblazer.She was made a Canadian Lacrosse Hall of Fame inductee this past fall.It was just one of a number of inductions for her which include the Ontario Lacrosse Hall of Fame and the Whitby Lacrosse Hall of Fame.As a player, Troyhann was a natural leader, having been named Co-Captain of Team Canada twice.She also was Captain of her NCAA team at James Madison University.She played on many Team Ontario squads over the years.She took this knowledge and mindset into coaching znd served as Head Coach of a number of Team Ontario Girls Box squads.Add volunteering in roles which improved the technical aspects of the game, and the proprietorship of the Lax Shack and you have a full life in lacrosse.Join us as we hear Troyhann Santos’ story.

It is one thing to launch a program.Eventually that energy dissipates and some important work begins in order to keep the program going. Cheryl MacNeill really stepped up after the great beginning provided by those associated with Team Canada ’82.You need players, coaches, managers, builders and officials to grow the game and in one way or another MacNeill contributed at all those levels.As a player she rose to Canadian National Team Level for both the 1989 and 1993 World Cups. She has coached in Canada and the USA in secondary schools, universities, rep teams, provincial teams and national teams.She has been a clinician, an assessor, and an Umpire at the highest levels of theInternational game and has been a key contributor or Chair for a number of international events andWorld Championships held on Canadian soil.You want to hear MacNeill’s story – a tale filled with effort and excellence.

Last week we heard the unlikely story of Canada sending a women’s team to compete in the inauguralIFWLA Brine Women’s Lacrosse World Cup in Nottingham, England.The collective will of coaching staff and players was enough to get the team over to England to represent Canada.The team was predicted to finish last in the six team field. The Canadians were considered unorthodoxin their style of play by their international opponents. Their box lacrosse style of play was frowned upon.Join us in Episode 2 as these Proud Canadians enter the tournament as massive underdogs. The result would be historic and surprising and it is a great story!

Women’s field lacrosse in Canada had very humble beginnings. There were two small programs operating out of British Columbia and Ontario. The women who played in these programs were mainly versed in box lacrosse.One day, a huge opportunity presented itself. Brine had stepped up to sponsor the first Women’s World Lacrosse Championship. The Canadian women wanted to be part of this historic event – The IFWLA Brine Women’s Lacrosse World Cup. Members of that storied team were brought together to tell their story in celebration of Women’s History Month. The interview is an exclusive two-part presentation that will take the viewer through the incredible story of committing to England, forming the team and being labelled the team most likely to finish last in the tournament. Part 1 provides all the background leading up to tournament play in Nottingham, England.Part 2 will pick up as the official games begin and it will air the following Wednesday. The whole story is compelling and “must” viewing for all those who h

Jim Price can quite possibly claim the title of “Father of Canadian Field Lacrosse Officiating”. Hewould not think of himself in that way but the hundreds of officials he developed in Canada andaround the world would feel the title was justified. He started out with the game through hisson playing Tyke Level Box Lacrosse around Canada’s Centennial in 1967. He would coach andeventually referee box lacrosse.He received his calling to officiating Men’s Field Lacrosse when Canada won its first World FiledLacrosse Championship in 1978 and the need for officiating in the burgeoning field game wasurgent. He would become a Master Clinician in Canada and after traveling to Baltimore for the1982 World Field Lacrosse Championships he began to get very involved at the internationallevel. He became an Assesor in 1986 when Canada hosted the World Championship in Torontoin 1986.He was known for training officials across Canada, often on his own dime, staying in the campingtrailer that he would pull behind his car. He would

Craig Moore is a Maritimer who has given and received a great deal from his involvement with lacrosse.He started out participaing in the Sackville Minor Lacrosse Association and played on the All New Brunswick Team that participated in the annual Lobster Trap Tournament. When he advanced to the Junior ranks he played for Sackville, Ottawa and Alberta teams as well as in the Canada Games.He may be the only Canadian to play for Team USA in the 1980 World Box Lacrosse Championships. Moore went on to coach at Springfield College in the USA and the team went on to become ECAC Champions.He eventually returned to Canada and coached boys and girls in box and field lacrosse, both Club and H.S., from 2000 to 2021. He served at the Board level with Lacrosse Nova Scotia and has been a member of the Canadian Lacrosse Foundation Board since 2012.Craig Moore can easily be included in the short list of those who have built Maritime Lacrosse.