Familiar face to power team

Page 17

The Washington Power is an expansion club in the National Lacrosse League, but the club will have a rather familiar face in lacrosse circles behind the bench for its inaugural campaign.

Darris Kilgour, who hails from the Tuscarora reservation near Niagara Falls, N.Y., has been appointed the Power's first bench boss.

The Power will play its home games in Washington, D.C. at the MCI Center, which is also the home rink of the National Hockey League's Washington Capitals.

Kilgour, 30, had been a star in the NLL since 1992. He was one of the key players for the Buffalo Bandits when they won league championships in 1992, '93 and '96.

During the past two seasons he spent the majority of his time with the Albany Attack. He also played two games with the Rochester Knighthawks during the 1999 season before being traded to Albany.

A rather bothersome arthritic hip, however, prematurely ended Kilgour's playing days. After putting out a few feelers for an assistant coaching job in the NLL, Kilgour was rather surprised when the Power called him to be their head man.

"I've always wanted to coach," he said. "But I didn't think it would happen this quick."

But this isn't Kilgour first attempt at coaching. Two years ago he was a player/coach for the Buffalo Gamblers, which competed in the Ontario Lacrosse Association's Major circuit.

Kilgour vows he won't be hitting the floor with the Power.

"I have no intentions of being a player/coach," he said. "If I could, I'd still be playing. But (my hip) is pretty bad. I just can't play any more."

"The doctor told me if I was over 35, he'd do it [hip replacement] tomorrow," he said. "That's how far along I am."

Kilgour said his hip has been a nuisance for him since 1990.

"Doctors know what they're talking about," he said. "Two years ago they told me I wouldn't be able to play anymore if I kept playing then. And they were right on."

As for Kilgour's two brothers, Rich, 31, and Travis, 27, both are still playing in the NLL with the Buffalo Bandits. Darris Kilgour said he doesn't foresee any problems coaching against his brothers.

"It was harder playing against them," he said. "Last year when I was in Albany we played two games against them. There was one time where Travis and me got into a bit of a thing and were exchanging words. Rich stepped in as the mediator."

It won't take long before Kilgour has to coach against his brothers this season. Washington will play host to Buffalo in its regular season opener scheduled for Dec. 30.

The nine-team NLL this season will also include the two-time defending league champion Toronto Rock, New York Saints, Philadelphia Wings, Ottawa Rebel (which relocated during the off-season from Syracuse, N.Y) and the expansion Columbus Landsharks.

Kilgour, who has always been popular among his teammates, realizes he has to change somewhat now that he is a coach.

"You do have to distance yourself from the players because you do have to make some tough decisions," he said. "If you become friends (with the players) it will muddle your decisions."

And Kilgour will also have to learn to control what he calls his "flash temper." As a player he was known to snap at the slightest provocation. But he knows he can't do that now if a call goes against his side or if he sees something out on the floor that he doesn't approve of.

"If I let little things get to me, it will trickle down to the team," he said.