Neal Powless facts for kids

Neal Powless is a famous Iroquois lacrosse player. He comes from the Eel Clan of the Onondaga Nation, which is a Native American group near Syracuse, New York. His father is Chief Irving Powless Jr. Neal also has two brothers, Barry Powless and Bradley Powless.

Who is Neal Powless?

Neal Powless is a well-known figure in the world of lacrosse. He is part of the Onondaga Nation, one of the original groups of the Iroquois Confederacy. Lacrosse is a very important sport to the Iroquois people, often called "The Creator's Game."

College Lacrosse Star

Neal Powless was a fantastic player in field lacrosse during his college years. He played for Nazareth College in New York. He was so good that he was named an "All-American" three times. This means he was recognized as one of the best college players in the entire country for his position.

Playing for the Iroquois Nationals

Powless also played for the Iroquois Nationals. This special team represents the Iroquois Confederacy in international games. He played in the World Lacrosse Championships four times: in 1994, 1998, 2002, and 2006. These championships are like the World Cup for lacrosse, where teams from all over the globe compete.

Professional Box Lacrosse

Besides field lacrosse, Neal Powless also played professional box lacrosse. Box lacrosse is played indoors in a rink, similar to ice hockey. He played for several teams, including the Six Nations Chiefs of the Ontario Lacrosse Association. He also played for the Rochester Knighthawks in the Major Indoor Lacrosse League in 1997. That year, his team won their very first championship title!

Coaching and Beyond

Neal Powless continues to be involved in the game of lacrosse. He coaches box lacrosse teams. He also travels across the United States. He helps run field lacrosse camps, teaching young players new skills.

Since 2017, Neal Powless has been coaching the Dutch Box Lacrosse program. He coached them at their first European Championships in 2017. At the 2019 World Lacrosse Men's Indoor World Championship, the Dutch team placed 8th. This was a big improvement, as they were ranked 17th before the tournament.