"We play for those who can't."
COACHING US TO VICTORY IN 2024
Motivators. Educators. Mentors.
TROY LYONS
Coach
CHRIS GEORGE
Coach
2023 Coaching Staff
MIKE BENEDICT
Coach
TRAVIS COOK
Coach
Coach Benedict brings a level of box lacrosse knowledge that is imperative to the growth of the game and the success of our club. He played the game with a fire and intensity that made him one of the most exciting professionals to watch. Many players have described him as being their
"favorite player growing up" and "the most fun to watch".
Mike has a decorated career of
playing and coaching high level box lacrosse.
As a player, Mike played 9 seasons in the National Lacrosse League which includes a
Championship Season with the Rochester Knighthawks (1997) and he has been part of 2
Presidents Cup teams which is the Canadian National Senior B Championship (1995, 2011). He
also represented the Haudenosaunee Nationals in 2 World Championships (1994, 1998).
As a coach, he has been part of the Akwesasne Minor Lacrosse Association since 2011 and he was
part of the coaching staff for the Gold Medal winning Haudenosaunee U18 team in the 2022 IlJL World Indoor Championships this past Summer.
Being a graduate of Salmon River Central and growing up on the shores of the St. Lawrence River, he understands the Spirit of the Thousand Islands region and is ready to get to work on building our NABLL program as well as growing box lacrosse in the area.
Coach Cook is a member of 8 Hall of Fames. That’s right, EIGHT Hall of Fames.
Travis started playing lacrosse in 1962 just up the river in Cornwall. Travis attended SUNY Oswego where he was an All American Football player and an obvious Lacrosse standout. In 1974, he was drafted to the Original NLL by the Syracuse Stingers. The team was moved to Quebec in 1975 and they won the Championship that same year. Travis led the team in scoring during his MVP and championship run. In 92 games as a professional, he scored 141 goals and assisted on 128 more.
Here are the Hall of Fames Coach Cook belongs to: (Credit to Road Trip Dad, Dan Witmer)
1997 Ontario Lacrosse Hall of Fame
1997 Akwesasne Lacrosse Hall of Fame (“Legends of the Game”)
2001 Oswego State Athletic Hall of Fame (charter member)
2002 Upstate New York Chapter US Lacrosse Hall of Fame
2004 Canadian Lacrosse Hall of Fame
2006 Greater Syracuse Sports Hall of Fame (“1967 Lafayette HS Team”)
2015 Akwesasne Lacrosse Hall of Fame (“The Pros”)
2017 Lafayette High School Hall of Fame (charter member)
Travis was one of the greatest athletes of his time and he is the most humble Hall of Famer I have ever spoken to. He has played a huge part in the development of box lacrosse and we are honored that he wants to assist us on our journey. He joins the staff eager and ready to help grow the game in our region.