Good morning. Here’s the latest from around the lacrosse world:
1. Professional lacrosse leagues are honoring the sport’s Native American heritage.
The National Lacrosse League preseason concluded Saturday with an exhibition between the Georgia Swarm and Philadelphia Wings at Onondaga Nation. Georgia won 14-10.
“The love for the game in this community is unmatched,” Swarm forward Lyle Thompson previously told NLL.com. Thompson and his brothers — including Swarm teammates Jeremy and Miles Thompson — are Onondaga citizens. “I’m excited to be a part of bringing the NLL to Onondaga and I’m excited to come home.”
The Premier Lacrosse League, meanwhile, announced a partnership with Anishinabe Baagaadowewin Inc. “to continue the education around and storytelling of Indigenous culture in the lacrosse space.”
2. The NLL wrapped up its preseason with four exhibition games Saturday. In addition to Georgia’s victory over Philadelphia at Onondaga, Panther City defeated Rochester 18-10, Saskatchewan edged Calgary 9-8 and Toronto beat New York 12-10.
Here are the preseason results. The regular season starts Friday with Philadelphia at Halifax. With five additional games Saturday, all but three teams (Calgary, Las Vegas and Panther City) will be in action Week 1.
WHAT WE’RE READING
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From Inside Lacrosse, its annual countdown of the top 50 players in college lacrosse (Men: 50-41 | 40-31 Women: 50-41 | 40-31 | 30-21) and a Thanksgiving follow-up on John Holcomb, the Clemson men’s lacrosse player who survived a seizure on the field due to a cancerous mass in his brain.
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From the Los Angeles Times, a story on the Whittier College student-athletes (including lacrosse players) who feel jettisoned by the university after it cut three sports.
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From “Coffee or Die” (and occasional USA Lacrosse Magazine contributor Matt White), the lacrosse story behind the “I believe that we will win” chant popularized the last time the U.S. men’s soccer team competed in the World Cup.
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From The Comeback, an article about the partnership between Lacrosse Unlimited and “Peanuts” to feature Snoopy and other characters from the famed Charles M. Schulz comic strip on limited-edition apparel and lacrosse balls.
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From WAER, how the making of lacrosse sticks goes deeper into Onondaga culture than just a tool to play the game.
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From News 12, a segment and article about Sticks for Soldiers, a Thanksgiving lacrosse event in Connecticut that included more than 350 athletes from 24 Connecticut high schools competing at Fairfield Ludlowe High School and over the years has raised more than $1 million for wounded soldiers and their families.
WHAT WE’RE WATCHING
Ohio State attackman and noted YouTuber Mitchell Pehlke watches and comments on highlight videos of the Buckeyes’ current freshman alongside teammate James Hogan. Suffice it to say, Johnny Maccarone will be fun to watch in Columbus.
WHAT’S ON TAP
The release of our December edition cover and contents.