New faces on lacrosse board 

The Kahnawake Mohawks Minor Lacrosse Association (KMMLA) has three new board members following a general assembly held Monday. 

They include Greg Horn, who’ll be rejoining the board as vice president, as well as Jay Goodleaf and Chris Bush, who now sit on its volunteer subcommittee.

"I'm very involved in lacrosse and want to see the sport continue to grow, so I was happy to jump on board with the rest of the great volunteers who make up the KMMLA board of directors,” said Horn, also the publisher of Iorì:wase “I think we all bring different viewpoints and experiences to the table and we all want to see the sport grow and our athletes develop.” 

Horn previously sat on the board in 2018, but this is his first time serving as vice president. 

“The previous board has done a lot of great work, and we're seeing the results of that today with the success of our teams at all levels,” he added. “I think we can just look at those things and build off of those successes."

Goodleaf has a son in minor lacrosse. Bush meanwhile is a U5 and U17 coach with the association. 

“They are passionate about the game of lacrosse, and I feel that just like any of the other board members, they just want to see the sport continue in our community and to develop and grow,” said Amanda Diabo, who’s now on the board for her third consecutive year, this time as secretary and treasurer. 

Noah Norton also sits on the board’s volunteer subcommittee alongside Goodleaf and Bush and has experience working on their fundraising committee, Diabo said. 

Also appointed to the board Monday was Kirby Joe Diabo as president, Kahsennenhá:wi Kirby as registrar, and Iakothahitáhkhe Diabo as scheduler, all roles they’re returning to. Ashley Jacobs is now director of managers, after having previously served as treasurer.

This fall was the first time the KMMLA took over organizing fall ball, a six-week pickup league they took over from another community member who no longer had time to run it. 

“That was pretty successful,” Amanda said. “The kids love coming out. They get to continue playing lacrosse for a little bit longer. It keeps the stick in their hands and gives them extra practice and playing time with different kids, because we blend the age groups.”

As for the board’s priorities for the next year, she said it’s fundraising and attracting more volunteers. She also wants to find ways to get former minor lacrosse players to mentor the youth, like Trey Deere, on the roster with the Orangeville Jr. A Northmen, or Teharonhiorens Mccomber, who plays with the Onondaga Lazers, a community college team in Syracuse, New York. 

“Just this past year alone there was so much success for lacrosse in our community. These individuals that are doing such great things now all came from the minor system,” Amanda said. “This year, I'm hoping that we could collaborate with the Hunters, and maybe get some of those guys.”

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