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NLL Albany FireWolves

Albany FireWolves to Celebrate Indigenous Heritage Night

March 3, 2023 - National Lacrosse League (NLL)
Albany FireWolves News Release


ALBANY, NY - The Albany FireWolves of the National Lacrosse League (NLL), today announce that the team will celebrate Indigenous Heritage Night this weekend as the team takes on the Georgia Swarm. The game will be on Saturday, March 4 at 7:00 p.m. at the MVP Arena in Albany. Former University at Albany standout and brother of Albany's Hiana Thompson, Lyle Thompson, will be in the Capital Region as a member of the Swarm. Hiana's oldest brother Jeremy will also take the floor this weekend for Georgia.

"We are extremely grateful to be able to play the game of lacrosse in the Capital Region and celebrate the indigenous heritage of the sport," said Chris Porreca, President of the FireWolves. "The FireWolves have worked to make this night special and eventful, while paying respect to the indigenous heritage of lacrosse through a collaboration with the indigenous community."

Before the game, there will be a land acknowledgement by WNYT's Chris Onorato, followed by a ceremonial faceoff with the Thompson brothers. Both Albany head coach Glenn Clark and Georgia head coach Ed Comaeu will be presented with traditional wooden lacrosse sticks by indigenous players from each team. At halftime, a ceremonial drum dance will take place on the turf.

Throughout the game, Haudenosaunee music will be integrated within the playlist. Fans are also encouraged to walk the concourse and visit special guests from the Museum of Howe Caves, New York, the Haudenosaunee Lacrosse Program, and Jack Johnson, a traditional wood stick maker.

Unique merchandise will be sold throughout the game by Elevation 10K. A selected number of game-worn jerseys will be auctioned both during and following the game, and a traditional handmade wooden indigenous stick will be auctioned as well. Once the game has concluded, FireWolves players will come back onto the turf to sign autographs for fans.

The FireWolves will be wearing Indigenous Heritage specialty jerseys this weekend. Designed with artwork by Jordan Thompson, a Mohawk artist from Akwesasne, New York, the jerseys will feature unique designs to pay homage to the origins of the game. Thompson has previously been featured by the NLL for artwork he did for their Indigenous Artist Series in July of 2021.

The front of the jersey will show two silhouettes of traditional lacrosse players around the FireWolves logo. The right sleeve will have representation of sky domes that are shown often in Haudenosaunee designs. The left sleeve will display the creator's game legend which depicts one of the first lacrosse games played between the four-legged creatures and the winged creatures. The forearm design on both sleeves mimics a traditional Haudenosaunee tattoo that was often given to warriors. The bicep on each sleeve will show a turtle with a flint arrowhead to represent the legend of Turtle Island, the Haudenosaunee creation story of how the Earth was created on the back of a turtle. The front of the belt will display a paw print that represents the nine clans of the Haudenosaunee. And finally, the back of the belt will show the Haudenosaunee flag, used to represent the unity of the five original nations.

The FireWolves are back in action this weekend hosting the Georgia Swarm on Saturday, March 4. For more information regarding tickets and Indigenous Heritage Night, visit www.AlbanyFireWolves.com or call/text the FireWolves front office at 518-362-4900.

About Albany FireWolves The Albany FireWolves is the Capital Region's very own Professional Box Lacrosse team, playing in the National Lacrosse League out of the MVP Arena in downtown Albany, NY. For more information, contact the Albany FireWolves Front Office at (518) 362-4900 or visit AlbanyFireWolves.com. Follow the team on Facebook at facebook.com/AlbFireWolves, Twitter @AlbFireWolves, and Instagram @AlbFireWolves.

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