The best rivalry in lacrosse is renewed on Sunday as the Jr. Knighthawks and Jr. Bandits play for the annual I-90 Cup. This year’s event will be played at the Onondaga Nation. Tsha’ Hoñnoñyeñdakwha (Where they play games) will host its first game at 10:00 a.m.
The Western NY foes will compete for championships at the U13 (Pee Wee), U15 (Bantam), and U17 (Midget) levels. Teams will play a two-game series, with the winner taking home the coveted I-90 Cup. If teams split the first two games, a 10-minute mini-game will take place immediately following Game Two.
Jr. Knighthawks teams will be coached by current and former NLL players as well as other box experts. Coaches include Knighthawks players Brad Gillies, Riley Hutchcraft, and Ethan O’Connor; Upstate Collegiate Box Lacrosse League (UCBLL) coach Jordan Jarvis, and Roots Box Lacrosse coach Cory Holbrough.
Once again, the Jr. Knighthawks are presented through a partnership between Roots Box Lacrosse and the Rochester Knighthawks. This year’s co-presenting sponsors of the Jr. Knighthawks are UR Medicine Sports Medicine and Zweigle’s.
After this weekend, the Jr. Knighthawks will compete against other youth teams from other National Lacrosse League franchise cities in the prestigious Jr. NLL Tournament, which will be held from August 16 to 18 in Oakville, Ontario.