Gaylord Powless facts for kids

Gaylord Powless (1946–2001) was a legendary Haudenosaunee lacrosse player. He grew up on the Six Nations of the Grand River First Nation near Brantford, Ontario. His father, Ross Powless, was also a highly respected player. In 2017, Gaylord was honored by being inducted into Canada's Sports Hall of Fame.

Gaylord was the son of Ross and Wilma Powless. He was the oldest of their 14 children. He had three children: Michelle, Christopher, and Gaylene, and several grandchildren.

Gaylord Powless: A Lacrosse Legend

Gaylord Powless was known for his amazing skill and natural talent in lacrosse. He finished high school at R.S. McLaughlin Collegiate and Vocational Institute.

Early Achievements and Awards

When he was just 17, Gaylord won the Tom Longboat Award in 1968. This award celebrates the best First Nations athlete in Canada. In the same year, he also received the National Lacrosse Association's All-Star Award.

Rising Star with the Green Gaels

After his early success, Gaylord was recruited by the Oshawa Green Gaels junior lacrosse team. He played as a centre and forward, wearing jersey number 15. In his very first game with the Green Gaels, he scored 3 goals and made 5 assists! His incredible play earned him the nickname "the Marvellous Mohawk."

The Oshawa Green Gaels team won the Minto Cup championships from 1964 to 1967. Gaylord was chosen as the most valuable player (MVP) in the series in both 1964 and 1967. He also won the Ken Ross trophy for his skill and sportsmanship in 1965 and 1966. In 1967, he was selected for the first All-Star Team Centre in the O.L.A. Junior A Series.

Professional and Senior Career

Gaylord went on to have a long and successful career in professional and senior amateur lacrosse. He played for teams in many cities, including Detroit, Syracuse, New York, Montreal, Brantford, Coquitlam, British Columbia, and Brampton, Ontario. He also played with the Six Nations team.

In 1967, Gaylord played on Canada's national team. They won the Indian International Field Lacrosse Tournament at Expo 67 against the United States. His own father, Ross Powless, was the coach of that winning team.

Gaylord was also a top player for the Detroit Olympics in the National Lacrosse Association. In the 1968 season, he scored an amazing 63 goals! The next highest scorer on his team had only 30 goals.

Hall of Fame Recognition

Gaylord Powless and his father, Ross Powless, hold a special place in lacrosse history. They are the only father and son pair to both be elected into the Canadian Lacrosse Hall of Fame. Ross was inducted in 1969, and Gaylord followed in 1990. The arena in Ohsweken, Ontario is named after him, honoring his legacy. It was updated in 2005 to include separate gyms for different age groups.

Gaylord's cousin, Delby Powless, also became a professional lacrosse player.

After Retirement

After retiring from playing, Gaylord Powless coached minor lacrosse and hockey teams. He coached on the Six Nations Reserve, where he lived. He continued to coach until his passing in 2001, after a battle with colon cancer.