Who was Alfie Jacques and what was his contribution to lacrosse. How many wooden lacrosse sticks did he create in his lifetime. What made his craftsmanship unique and significant to the sport. How did Jacques preserve lacrosse tradition through his work.
The Life and Legacy of Alfie Jacques: Master Lacrosse Stickmaker
Alfie Jacques, a renowned Onondaga Nation stickmaker, passed away on Tuesday at the age of 74 after a long battle with kidney cancer. Jacques was a prominent figure in the lacrosse community, known for his exceptional craftsmanship and dedication to preserving the sport’s Native American heritage.
Throughout his lifetime, Jacques handcrafted an astounding 80,000 wooden lacrosse sticks, earning him the title of “national treasure of the Haudenosaunee” from Chief Oren Lyons, Faithkeeper of the Turtle Clan. His commitment to traditional stickmaking techniques and his role in preserving lacrosse culture made him an irreplaceable icon in the sport.
From Player to Craftsman: Jacques’ Journey in Lacrosse
Jacques’ involvement in lacrosse extended far beyond stickmaking. He had a diverse career as a player, participating in junior, senior, and professional lacrosse during the 1960s and 1970s. His versatility on the field was evident as he played nearly every position in both box and field lacrosse.
In 1974, Jacques took on the role of goalie for the Syracuse Stingers during their sole season in the National Lacrosse League. Later in his career, he transitioned into coaching and management, leading the Onondaga Red Hawks to a Presidents Cup championship in 2010 as their general manager.
The Art of Traditional Stickmaking: Jacques’ Unique Craft
What set Jacques apart was his unwavering commitment to traditional stickmaking methods. For six decades, he worked tirelessly in his workshop near his mother’s house at the Onondaga Nation, using time-honored techniques to create each stick by hand.
The Stickmaking Process
- Felling shagbark hickory trees from nearby forests
- Breaking apart the wood using an axe and mallet
- Sculpting the sticks with a carving horse
- Steaming the wood over a fire
- Bending the stick around a form
- Shellacking the wood
- Weaving in the gut webbing
Jacques’ dedication to his craft was deeply rooted in his cultural identity. He often stated, “I’m Onondaga, Turtle Clan, and I’m going to do this as long as I’m able to do this. It’s such a part of who we are as a people.”
Preserving Lacrosse Tradition: Jacques’ Cultural Impact
As modern lacrosse evolved with the introduction of metal and plastic sticks, Jacques’ wooden creations became highly sought-after collectibles. Each stick he crafted was a unique piece of art, signed and dated by the master himself.
Jacques’ workshop became a pilgrimage site for lacrosse enthusiasts from all walks of life. Visitors came not only to witness his craftsmanship but also to hear his stories and feel connected to the sport’s Native American roots. His presence at major lacrosse events, such as the USA Lacrosse Convention, drew crowds eager to experience his artistry firsthand.
Recognition and Honors: Celebrating Jacques’ Contributions
Jacques’ impact on lacrosse was widely recognized throughout his lifetime. He received numerous accolades for his contributions to the sport:
- Inducted into the Canadian Lacrosse Hall of Fame in 1999
- Enshrined in the Upstate Lacrosse Foundation Hall of Fame in 2014
- Honored with the 15th Spirit of the Tewaaraton Award in June 2023
These honors reflect the immense respect and admiration Jacques garnered from the lacrosse community for his lifelong dedication to the sport and its cultural heritage.
Jacques’ Sticks in Modern Lacrosse: A Bridge Between Past and Present
While wooden sticks have largely been replaced by modern materials in competitive play, Jacques’ creations continued to make appearances on the field, bridging the gap between lacrosse’s past and present.
Notable Uses of Jacques’ Sticks
- Kevin Bucktooth of the Haudenosaunee men’s national team used one of Jacques’ sticks in the 2014 world championship in Denver
- Virginia men’s lacrosse coach Lars Tiffany proudly wielded a Jacques-made stick during NCAA championship weekends in 2019, 2021, and 2023
- New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick, a known lacrosse enthusiast, had Jacques repair his wooden stick
These instances demonstrate the enduring appeal and respect for Jacques’ craftsmanship, even in the modern era of the sport.
The Legacy Continues: Passing Down the Art of Stickmaking
Despite facing health challenges in his later years, including a cancer diagnosis in 2015 and a heart attack in 2017, Jacques remained devoted to his craft. He continued to work tirelessly, passing down his knowledge and skills to apprentices like Jack Johnson.
Jacques’ commitment to preserving the art of traditional stickmaking ensures that his legacy will live on through future generations of craftsmen. His work not only produced functional lacrosse equipment but also served as a tangible link to the sport’s rich cultural heritage.
Remembering Alfie Jacques: A Lacrosse Icon’s Lasting Impact
Alfie Jacques’ passing marks the end of an era in lacrosse history. His dedication to preserving the sport’s traditional craftsmanship and cultural significance has left an indelible mark on the lacrosse community. As players, coaches, and fans reflect on his contributions, Jacques’ legacy serves as a reminder of the deep-rooted cultural importance of lacrosse and the value of maintaining connections to its origins.
The lacrosse world will undoubtedly feel the loss of this master craftsman, but his influence will continue to resonate through the thousands of sticks he created and the knowledge he passed down. Alfie Jacques’ life work stands as a testament to the power of tradition, craftsmanship, and cultural preservation in sports.
As the lacrosse community mourns the loss of this legendary figure, it also celebrates the incredible legacy he leaves behind. Alfie Jacques’ dedication to his craft and his role in preserving lacrosse’s Native American heritage will continue to inspire future generations of players, craftsmen, and enthusiasts for years to come.
‘National Treasure of the Haudenosaunee’ Alfie Jacques Dies at 74
‘National Treasure of the Haudenosaunee’ Alfie Jacques Dies at 74 | USA Lacrosse Magazine
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‘National Treasure of the Haudenosaunee’ Alfie Jacques Dies at 74
Thu Jun 15 2023 | Matt DaSilva and Paul Ohanian | Fuel
International
Alfie Jacques estimated that he made more than 80,000 wooden lacrosse sticks in his lifetime.
Alfie Jacques, the legendary Onondaga Nation stickmaker who handcrafted more than 80,000 wooden lacrosse sticks during his lifetime, died Tuesday after a nearly decade-long bout with kidney cancer and other ailments. He was 74.
A Canadian Lacrosse Hall of Famer, Jacques played junior, senior and professional lacrosse in the 1960s and 1970s. He played nearly every position in box and field lacrosse and was a goalie for the Syracuse Stingers during their one season (1974) in the National Lacrosse League. Jacques also coached and served as general manager for the Onondaga Red Hawks, leading them to a Presidents Cup championship in 2010.
Earlier this month, Jacques was honored with the 15th Spirit of the Tewaaraton Award.
“Alfie Jaques is a national treasure of the Haudenosaunee,” said Chief Oren Lyons, Faithkeeper of the Turtle Clan and the 2015 Spirit of Tewaaraton honoree. “His tireless dedication to his life’s work has earned him the recognition and respect he justly deserves.”
Jacques’ true legacy is that of a cultural icon who preserved centuries of lacrosse tradition in the workshop near his mother’s house at the Onondaga Nation, where for six decades he used an axe and a mallet to break apart the shagbark hickory trees he felled from nearby forests and a carving horse to sculpt them.
“I’m Onondaga, Turtle Clan, and I’m going to do this as long as I’m able to do this,” he said in a 2019 interview. “It’s such a part of who we are as a people. It is important, as it allows us to play the Medicine Game the way it should be, with all wooden sticks.
”
Jacques’ shop became a destination for people from all walks of lacrosse who wanted to hear his stories and feel connected to the sport’s Native American roots. He took his craft on the road, conducting demonstrations at major lacrosse events like the USA Lacrosse Convention, where droves of coaches, officials and fans flocked to his booth for a glimpse at his work.
Jacques started carving sticks with his father, Lou, a Mohawk citizen of the Akwesasne territory, in the 1970s. Together they developed a system for identifying the right trees, cutting them down, splitting the wood into pieces, trimming it with a band saw, shaping it into a crosse, steaming the stick above a fire, bending it around a form, shellacking the wood and weaving in the gut webbing.
As component sticks made of metal and plastic replaced wooden sticks on the field, Jacques’ creations became collectibles.
He signed and dated every stick he made. Several are displayed in an exhibit at the National Lacrosse Hall of Fame and Museum at USA Lacrosse headquarters in Sparks, Maryland.
Some still made it to the field. Defenseman Kevin Bucktooth of the Haudenosaunee men’s national team drew attention for using one of Jacques’ sticks in the 2014 world championship in Denver. He said it made him more imposing.
Jacques made a stick for Virginia men’s lacrosse coach Lars Tiffany, which he has wielded proudly during the Cavaliers’ trips to NCAA championship weekend in 2019, 2021 and 2023. He also repaired a wooden stick for New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick, who has long made known his love for lacrosse and its culture.
Jacques’ health declined in recent years, starting with his cancer diagnosis in 2015. He also suffered a heart attack in 2017, but Jacques’ devotion to his craft never wavered. There was never a template, no instructions or written procedures, just the ingrained knowledge initially passed down from his father and the delicate skills honed over a lifetime.
Jacques never stopped using his father’s knife, made in 1832, to carve each stick.
“It’s therapeutic,” Jacques said. “It’s a relaxing thing to do. Everything you do in this work has purpose to the end product. You don’t just cut for cutting sake. You cut with purpose. You saw with purpose, carve with purpose, drill holes with purpose. This is what I live for. This is my life.”
One of his apprentices, Jack Johnson, established a Go Fund Me page in March to assist Jacques with medical expenses. The lacrosse community responded by generating more than $40,000.
A 1999 Canadian Lacrosse Hall of Fame inductee, Jacques also was enshrined by the Upstate New York Chapter of USA Lacrosse — now the Upstate Lacrosse Foundation — into its hall of fame in 2014.
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Brennan O’Neill – 2023 – Men’s Lacrosse
2023 Men’s Lacrosse Roster
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Biography
Honors: 2021 ACC Freshman of the Year … 2021 & 2022 All-ACC … 2022 USILA All-America second team … 2021 USILA All-America honorable mention … 2022 USA Lacrosse Magazine All-America third team … 2022 Inside Lacrosse All-America third team … 2021 & 2022 All-ACC Academic Team … 2021 & 2022 ACC Academic Honor Roll.
2022: Started all 17 games at attack … Led the team with 53 goals and 21 assists for 74 points … Ranked fourth in the ACC and 12th nationally in goals (3.12/gm) … Ranked fourth in the ACC and 23rd nationally in points (4.35) … Tied for the ACC lead with six man-up goals … 53 goals rank ninth in Duke single-season history … Tallied at least one point in 16 games … Registered at least five points seven times … Scored at least three goals 11 times and had at least six in three games … Registered six goals in the season-opening win over Robert Morris (2/4) … Added three against Vermont (2/7) to earn the first of his four ACC Offensive Player of the Week awards … Netted six goals and three assists for nine points in win over Towson (3/19) for ACC Offensive Player of the Week honors … Earned ACC Offensive Player the Week accolades after scoring a career-high seven goals on just eight shots in win at North Carolina (4/2) … Scored four goals and dished four assists in win over Virginia (4/14) … Handed out four assists in triumph over North Carolina (5/1) … All-ACC Academic Team … ACC Academic Honor Roll.
2021: Started 16 of 17 games at attack … All-ACC … ACC Freshman of the Year … USILA All-America honorable mention … Led the team with 45 goals and ranked second in points with 55 … Finished the season with a team-high nine man-up goals, ranking first in the ACC and second nationally … Ranked first among all freshmen in goals per game (2.65) and seventh in points per game (3.24) … Ranked second in the ACC and 18th nationally overall in goals … Registered nine hat tricks and had five goals twice … Registered at least one point in all 17 games … Scored three goals and an assist in his first career game against Denver (2/5) … Recorded four goals at Towson (2/20) … Notched five goals in consecutive wins over High Point (3/10) and Jacksonville (3/14) … Notched three goals and two assists in road win at Virginia (4/15) … Had four goals and an assist in NCAA quarterfinal victory over Loyola (5/22) … All-ACC Academic Team … ACC Academic Honor Roll.
Before Duke: A four-year letterwinner at St.
Anthony’s … Started his high school career as an eighth-grader on Bay Shore’s varsity squad and scored 98 points … Recorded 49 points in his first season with the Friars … Registered 98 points from 64 goals and 34 assists as a sophomore and had 56 goals and 16 assists his junior campaign … His senior season was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic … His junior season, O’Neill scored seven goals to lead St. Anthony’s to a 14-13 victory over rival Chaminade in the CHSAA (Long Island/state) championship game … Named the USA Lacrosse National Player of the Year … Finished his career at St. Anthony’s with 219 points from 153 goals and 66 assists … Had 317 career points overall in four seasons of varsity lacrosse … Also played football at St. Anthony’s, lining up at outside linebacker his senior year.
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