Ross Powless
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
September 29, 1926
Ross Powless | |
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| Born | Alexander Powless September 29, 1926 |
| Died | May 26, 2003 (aged 76) |
Alexander "Ross" Powless (September 29, 1926 – May 26, 2003) was a Mohawk lacrosse player from the Six Nations of the Grand River First Nation near Brantford, Ontario. Broadly, Ross was positioned as an ambassador for lacrosse and for native people.[1] Powless is also considered one of the best lacrosse athletes in Canadian history and the father of modern lacrosse.[2] His exceptional play has been credited with reviving interest in box lacrosse in the 1950s.[2] He was the father of lacrosse player Gaylord Powless. He was awarded the Order of Sport, marking his induction into Canada's Sports Hall of Fame, in 2020/21 as a builder for lacrosse.[3]
He played with the Peterborough Timbermen when they won four consecutive Mann Cups from 1951 to 1954, during which time he lived for a while with his wife Wilma and son Gaylord in a tent at Fairy Lake, near Peterborough. He won the Mike Kelly Memorial Trophy for most valuable player in the series in 1953.[2] In 1956, as player-coach for a Hamilton team, he won the league scoring championship and every Ontario Lacrosse Association trophy except for best goalie, for which he did not qualify.[4] Following his playing career, Powless coached various All-Indian teams to three national titles, including leading the Rochester Chiefs to the Can-Am Lacrosse League title in 1969.[5] He also coached a team featuring six of his sons to the championship at the North American Indian Lacrosse Tournament, which he later said was one of his biggest thrills. He twice won the Tom Longboat Award as Canada's outstanding First Nations athlete, and was inducted into the Canadian Lacrosse Hall of Fame in 1969. Ross is also a member of the Ontario Lacrosse Hall of Fame.[2]
His last season as a player was in 1967 when he played for the Hagersville Warriors and in one game played in Whitby had the opportunity to play against his son Gaylord who was with the Oshawa Steelers.[6] Ross and son Gaylord, are the only father and son inducted into the Canadian Lacrosse Hall of Fame.[2] They are also both inducted to Canada's Sports Hall of Fame; Gaylord in the athlete category (2017), and Ross as a builder in lacrosse (2020).[3]