All-Native pro lacrosse team considered

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It might sound like a rather lofty dream. But Kevin Sandy is hoping his wish becomes reality, maybe within the next four or five years.

Sandy, the owner of All Nations Lacrosse, a sportswear retail company in Six Nations, is hoping to one day see a squad comprised entirely of Native players competing in the National Lacrosse League. This pro circuit, formerly dubbed the Major Indoor Lacrosse League, has seven franchises this season.

This marks the first season the league has had a club in Canada's largest city. The Toronto Rock lost its season opener on the road on Jan. 9, by a 21-10 count versus the Baltimore Thunder. The Rock rebounded, however, to edge the Buffalo Bandits 11-10 in its home opener on Jan. 22.

More than 11,000 fans took in that contest, held at the Rock's rink, the famed Maple Leaf Gardens.

Sandy does not have any official ties with the Rock. But he's helping out the franchise by trying to persuade as many people as he can, mostly from Six Nations, to attend the Rock games this season.

"Ultimately, I think we'd like to have our own team," Sandy said.

Though Sandy said no discussions have taken place with NLL officials, he'd love to get a few partners together and form an all-Native squad. He even has what he feels would be an ideal location to play out of, Hamilton's Copps Coliseum. This 17,000-plus seat facility was the home to the Rock franchise last year during its inaugural campaign when it was known as the Ontario Raiders.

Despite posting a six-win, six-loss regular season record and finishing in a tie for fourth spot in the league standings, the Raiders were denied a playoff berth a year ago due to a tie-breaking formula. Sandy believes battles between the Rock and a Hamilton-based Native squad would be very appealing.

"It would be a natural rivalry," he said.

The NLL this season also includes the New York Saints, Philadelphia Wings, Rochester Knighthawks and Syracuse Smash. About 20 Native players are spread throughout the league. The Rock features two Native players, brothers Kim and Rodd Squire. The two received limited playing time with the Raiders last season, a situation which did not sit too well with many Native fans. In fact, many members of the Native community stayed away from the Raiders' games in 1998 because on most nights the club did not have any Native representation.

Chances are that won't be the case this year. Both Kim and Rodd Squire are considered integral members of the Rock squad. Rock assistant coach/player Brian Shanahan said the Squires are fully deserving of their roster spots this season. He said club officials did not award the two players positions on the team this season just to appease the Native community.

Shanahan, who is also the color commentator for the Rock home games which will be televised on CTV's Sportsnet, realizes the club's attendance figures will now undoubtedly be boosted with plenty of Native support.

"The whole (Native) community does take it very seriously," said Shanahan, who played four seasons with the Six Nations Chiefs of the Ontario Lacrosse Association from 1994-97. "It means very much to them not only to have representation on the Toronto team, but also throughout the league as well."

Shanahan found out first hand how seriously they take lacrosse in Six Nations when he helped the Chiefs win back-to-back-to-back Mann Cup championships in 1994, '95 and '96.

Rock officials are also fully aware of how much the Native support means to them. No doubt that's why they had some Native dancers from Rice Lake, Ont. perform during an intermission at their home opener.

The Toronto franchise is also planning a tribute for Gaylord Powless, one of the top Native players ever, during an upcoming home match.