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 7 ..read more

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 le ..read more

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 ..read more

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 Jo ..read more

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 W ..read more

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As our interview team conducted dozens of interviews across Canada over the last 4 years one name 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 former players and coaches who knew him to discuss the lacrosse life of one of Canada’s most important 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 foun ..read more

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 La ..read more

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 ..read more

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