Tehoka Nanticoke

Tehoka Nanticoke
Born (1998-01-19) January 19, 1998
Six Nations, Ontario
Nationality Iroquois
Height 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
Weight 230[1] pounds (104 kg)
Shoots Right
Position Forward

Tehoka Nanticoke is a lacrosse forward who plays for the Iroquois national team and the Albany Great Danes at the college level. Nanticoke has become popular on the internet due to his trick shots and skill.

Early life

Nanticoke was born on the six nations reservation in Ontario. From an early life he was taught to play lacrosse by his brother Chancey Hill, 10 years his senior.[2] Hill taught Nanticoke many nontraditional moves and shots that the player is now recognizable for.[2] Early on he was scouted and recruited to the IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida, where he became one of the team's standout players.[3] In 2016 he committed to play for the University at Albany.[4] Nanticoke was considered the number one recruit in 2017 for college lacrosse.[1]

College Career

Nanticoke initially did not consider going to college to play lacrosse, but chose to after encouragement from his mother Catherine. He chose UAlbany as he was drawn to the attack minded playing style of coach Scott Marr.[1] Nanticoke finished his first season at UAlbany with 49 goals and 32 assists.[5]

International Career

Nanticoke is a member of the Iroquois Nationals and has represented the under-19 side at the 2016 FIL U-19 World Championship.[6]

Style of play

Nanticoke is known as an extremely skillful and talented player. He has gained popularity online even in his highschool days for his moves and trick shots.[7] In 2017 he made ESPN's top ten plays for a one handed behind the back and between his legs to score while at the IMG academy.[1] He is also known as an extremely physical player as weighting more than 200 pounds he is often capable of outmuscling opposition defenses.[2]

At times however Nanticoke had been criticized for overly physical play and taking cheap shots at opponents, with his cross-checking penalty in the third period was described as one of the turning points in UAlbany's quarterfinal defeat to Yale in the 2018 championship.[8]

Personal life

He is a member of the Mohawk Nation.[9] He was one of 8 Native Americans on the UAlbany roster for the 2018 season.[10] Nanticoke comes from a deeply political and cultural family with many in his grandparents being faith keepers, or stewards of culture, language, and tradition in Mohawk society. His grandfather took part in the protests at Wounded Knee, South Dakota. His mother spent a year of her childhood summer at the occupation at Alcatraz Island.[11] Nanticoke himself is profoundly influenced by his cultural heritage as he refuses to cut his hair, believes in the spiritual qualities of lacrosse or the "Medicine Game", is a practitioner of the Longhouse Religion, and is fluent in Mohawk.[11]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Singelais, Mark (13 September 2017). "Nanticoke had emotional journey to join UAlbany lacrosse". Times Union. Retrieved 28 May 2018.
  2. 1 2 3 Kelly, Micheal (25 May 2018). "Freshman helps lead Great Danes into national semis". The Daily Gazette. Retrieved 28 May 2018.
  3. ↑ Barnett, Josh (25 May 2017). "Meet IMG Academy's Tehoka Nanticoke, the 'wizard' of high school lacrosse". USA Today – High School Sports. Retrieved 28 May 2018.
  4. ↑ Govel, Gary (10 July 2016). "NEXT: UAlbany Commit Tehoka Nanticoke". Capital District Lax. Retrieved 28 May 2018.
  5. ↑ Singelais, Mark (23 May 2018). "Hard to bring down UAlbany lacrosse's Tehoka Nanticoke". Times Union. Retrieved 28 May 2018.
  6. ↑ DaSilva, Matt (29 September 2017). "The Tehoka Nanticoke Show Comes To The Carrier Dome". US Lacrosse Magazine. Retrieved 29 May 2018.
  7. ↑ Dill, Jason (29 September 2016). "Lacrosse Star Tehoka Nanticoke Builds Career One Highlight At A Time". IMG Academy. Retrieved 29 May 2018.
  8. ↑ Preston, Mike (28 May 2018). "Preston: Albany lacrosse freshman Nanticoke could become a star. Will his behavior hold him back?". The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved 28 May 2018.
  9. ↑ "Tehoka Nanticoke (Mohawk) has been honored as the Baltimore Sun Men's Lacrosse National Player of the Week". NDN Sports. 20 February 2018. Retrieved 28 May 2018.
  10. ↑ "Final Four Bound UAlbany has eight Native Americans on the roster, including the top freshman in the nation, Tehoka Nanticoke". NDN Sports. 25 May 2018. Retrieved 28 May 2018.
  11. 1 2 O'Connor, Joe (13 September 2017). "Their Game". National Post. Retrieved 28 May 2018.
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