By Kate Bartlett
The Ellicottville Lacrosse Festival returns for its 5th year September 24-25 with opening ceremonies Friday the 23rd. This event is organized by the legendary Rhino Lacrosse Company and put on in collaboration with the Ellicottville Chamber of Commerce. It has been deemed a ‘not-to-be-missed’ event for lacrosse players across the region.
Mike Riorden and Ryan Powell are the founders and organizers of the Lacrosse Festival. “Ryan and I came up with the idea for the Ellicottville Fall Lacrosse Festival about 6 years ago while coaching a youth clinic together. We were both coaching club teams at the time and wanted to offer both youth and adult players a low-pressure fun tournament that really celebrates the roots of the game. We chose Ellicottville after playing tournaments in Lake Placid and Vail, which are both ski towns and have hosted incredible Lacrosse tournaments for over 30 years. After meeting with Brian McFadden from the Chamber of Commerce, John Karassik, and Freddy P, then touring the town and Holiday Valley, we immediately knew Ellicottville was the place for us.”
“We call our events festivals instead of tournaments with good reason. They aren’t just lacrosse competitions, they’re unique experiences for players and family members alike that have a passion for lacrosse. Ellicottville fits the bill perfectly”, says Ryan Powell. Ryan is the founder of Rhino Lacrosse Company and was inducted into the National Lacrosse Hall of Fame in 2018.
This year, there are approximately 30 teams registered traveling from various regions, including upstate New York, Cleveland, Cincinnati as well as Canada and the Six Nations. Local teams are also competing, including the masters team Ohi:Yo. The Opening Celebration will take place on Friday, the 23rd with games commencing on Saturday and continuing through Sunday. Games will be played at Ellicottville Village Park, Ellicottville Central School Fields, and the Chamber Fields at Holiday Valley. Games consist of two, 22-minute running halves with a 5-minute halftime with 2 US Lacrosse Certified Officials managing each game. Various ages will play ranging from youth to Grand Masters (45+).
“Personally, my favorite thing about the festival is re-connecting with teammates, rivals and players I’ve coached through the years, while celebrating the game we all love. Whether you are a fan of the game or just a sports fan you can come out and see all levels of lacrosse from youth to adult. The game has a lot of action, high scoring and incredible stick handling. It is appropriately called the fastest game on two feet.”
“Lacrosse is currently the fastest growing sport in the country offering both indoor and outdoor professional leagues along with many Division 1 programs including St Bonaventure. Its roots are based in the indigenous communities where it is referred to as the medicine game. Ryan Powell and I are honored to bring Lacrosse to the town of Ellicottville and hope everyone enjoys the weekend.”
For full schedule visit https://upstatelacrosse.com/tournaments/ellicottville-lacrosse-festival/ or email info@upstatelacrosse.com.