Hill Brings Cup and Lax Skills to Festival

"I am glad I had an opportunity to come to another Reserve and share my knowledge and experiences in lacrosse," said Hill, who is from Six Nations. "It is something I have always wanted to do. I want to get the youth more interested in lacrosse."

Hill educated the kids on the National Lacrosse League and the Champion's Cup. For most of the kids it was the first time they has seen the wooden and silver trophy. Hill noted that they must have done their homework because by Friday, they were crowding around the Cup to get pictures.

The weeklong event celebrated the Creator's Game and featured lacrosse vendors, Iroquois food and crafts, country music, a youth development camp, and box and field lacrosse games.

The Tewa'á:raton Festival was organized by Diome from June 24-30. The daily schedule included lacrosse sessions from college and professional lacrosse players like Hill for each age group and featured strength, cardio and cultural training, as well as skill development for both runners and goalies. The biggest thrill for the kids was the evening "Introduction to Field Lacrosse", hosted by brothers Lyle and Jeremy Thompson for ages 10 and up.

"I initiated last year's festival to help our kids develop their skills, to become better lacrosse players," Diome told Kahnawakenews.com reporter Greg Horn. "Organizing last year's camp I realized Tewa'á:raton is much more than a sport; it is a celebration of our culture, a connection shared by all Iroquois nations to each other and a vehicle to higher education. In all my work I have found that Tewa'á:raton is truly a gift from our Creator that can be played to restore our individual and collective well-being."

On Thursday, Hill and Jeremy Thompson spent their second day with the NLL Championship trophy, on the Reserve near Montreal, talking to youth lacrosse players before putting their skills to work in an All-Star Game at the Kanawakhe Sports Complex .

The contest pitted the Eastern Door All-Stars against the Iroquois Pro Stars. Hill was joined by current NLL players Jeremy Thompson, Brandon Francis and Angus Goodleaf of the Buffalo Bandits, along with Washington Stealth's Brett Bucktooth, former Knighthawks draft pick Logan Kane, and Knighthawks legends Cory and Cam Bomberry. Hill had six goals and six assists in the Pro Stars win. Festival organizer Deidre Diome was especially impressed with Hill, who attended the festival for three days.

"You are an enthusiastic and thorough coach, our kids learned so much from you," she wrote to Hill. "We were all very impressed to see your speed and skill in our All-Star/Pro game. You are truly a great role model."

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National Lacrosse League Stories from June 29, 2012

• Hill Brings Cup and Lax Skills to Festival - Rochester Knighthawks
• Govett Named Chairperson of the NLL's Board of Governors - Colorado Mammoth

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