Local part of Classic winners
For the second year in a row, Kaniataroton Deer has joined the Indian Athletic Club of Buffalo in winning the Masters Division of the Chuck Baranowski Winter Classic. Courtesy Kaniataroton Deer
For the third year in a row, Kaniataroton Deer has been a member of the team that won the Chuck Baranowski Winter Classic lacrosse tournament in Laval, winning with the Woodsmen in 2024 and now the Indian Athletic Club of Buffalo in 2025 and 2026.
Deer even pulled double duty this year, winning first place with Buffalo and third place with the Kahnawake Masters, who were short on players for their last game.
“I’m a bit sore today, but it’s always fun to play,” said Deer the day after the tournament finals.
“Especially in the Masters division, it’s a little less serious than the Senior side, but it’s definitely a lot more fun.”
Deer has played in six of the last eight Chuck Baranowski Winter Classics.
“I’ve been playing lacrosse since I was a little boy, and as old as I’m getting now, I still enjoy playing. So just the love of that Creator’s game, the medicine in the game, it’s always fun to go there,” said Deer on why he has played in the tournament as often as he has.
He’s also happy to participate in something that honours Baranowski, a longtime lacrosse referee.
“I remember him being a referee in the Senior division as a kid, when I was a little boy coming out and watching games,” said Deer.
In some of those previous tournaments, Deer had played for Kahnawake Masters teams, but he had been invited by some people on the Buffalo team he knew from playing together that invited him to join them at LAXNAI five years ago.
Then, in 2024, he was asked to join them at the Winter Classic, when they were the Woodsmen team. He’s been going with Buffalo at the Winter Classic ever since, now having won three years in a row with the group.
“It’s always nice to play with the Western Door guys, it’s a different atmosphere,” said Deer.
Four teams fought to get their name on the trophy – Chuck’s Cup – in the Master Series, with Buffalo and Kahnawake being joined by Club 24 and Chèvres Lacrosse.
The Kahnawake Masters won bronze over the Chèvres 10-7, and Buffalo defeated Club 24 14-8 to claim the championship.
Buffalo started the finals game on the wrong foot, with Club 24 getting an early lead, 3-0.
“I was a little bit worried there for a bit,” said Deer. “But we came out flying after that.”
Going into halftime, Buffalo was already up 7-5.
“We took control after that,” said Deer.
He has been grateful to have been able to take part this year, and he’s glad the tournament is still going strong almost a decade after it first started, going through the pandemic and a venue change.
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“I’m just very thankful for them to have found a new place and still have the two divisions going. I just really much appreciate the organizers for still putting this on, especially for Chuck. He was a good guy,” said Deer.
