by By Dan Ninham (Oneida)
“The Mohawk Nation and the Haudenosaunee Confederacy as a whole, have a deep connection with the game of lacrosse,” said Taylor Smoke. “Every male baby is given a wooden lacrosse stick at birth. It is revered to us as a medicine game in our communities, while also serving as a way to entertain the Creator.”
“These teachings are ingrained in the youth of our communities and everyone is expected to be ambassadors of the sport. We are taught through the game of lacrosse to have strong work ethics, a vivid imagination, and to work and play as one, which translates well into the multitude of life skills you require in every day life,” added Taylor.
“My organized lacrosse experience started in the Akwesasne Minor Box Lacrosse Association around 3 to 4 years old,” said Taylor, 33. “I continued to play throughout my youth and when I reached high school I played for the Salmon River Shamrocks where I was selected as 1st Team All-Northern my junior and senior year.”
“I was fortunate enough to start my international play with the Iroquois Nationals at the age of 17 placing 4th at the 2003 U-19 World Lacrosse Championships,” said Taylor.
After a brief post-graduate year at Vermont Academy Prep School, Taylor was recruited to play at Saint Michael’s College in Winooski, VT. He was honored during senior year as one of the teams’ captains and was selected as the first Saint Michael’s Lacrosse player to play in the USILA North/South Senior All-Star Game.
“After College, I travelled across the World and played for the East Fremantle Blues, located in Perth Australia in their Premier league, where I was given the opportunity to meet some amazing people,” said Taylor. “ I became involved in growing the game at the youth level through coaching the minor club team and holding various clinics in Western Australia.”
In 2014, Taylor played in the World Lacrosse Championships in Denver, USA where the Iroquois Nationals beat Australia for our first ever medal (bronze) in field lacrosse program history.
“I was fortunate to once again play for the Men’s Iroquois National team in the World Championships in Netanya, Israel, where the program once again beat Australia for its second bronze medal,” said Taylor.
“Through lacrosse, I have had the chance to meet with countless people from all walks of life and cultures, making friendships and connections along the way,” added Taylor. “I continue to play today and will do continue to do so until my body does not cooperate with my any longer.”
Lacrosse brought Taylor around the world, playing in tournaments in Australia, Israel, Latvia, Germany, Czech Republic and elsewhere. It has taken him places he undoubtedly would have never have experienced and people he would have never met.
“While I’m still very active in playing both box lacrosse and field lacrosse for various teams, I have recently taken on new responsibilities, coaching my son Cooper and daughter Zoe, attempting to connect them to a game that has done so much for me, in hopes they love it as much as I do,” said Taylor.
Taylor talked about his influences in the game of lacrosse: “I have a number of role models that have shown me how to appreciate the game and give back to it. Obviously my dad, Doug Smoke, has had a huge impact on my athletic career, not only was he present either on the sideline as a coach or a supporter in the stands, he was also an accomplished athlete. My dad played on the first ever Iroquois National team and played in World Championships into the 90’s. He was also an excellent hockey player playing at St. Lawrence University/Plattsburgh State.”
“Growing up, I was always in an arena or at a field to watch my dad play either hockey or lacrosse,” said Taylor. “This involvement allowed me to the experience the culture of team sports, which I really enjoyed.”
“My dad was always involved in my athletic experience. He has coached me for the better part of my youth and still offers advice to this day about what needs to be improved upon and what was done well. This constant feedback has allowed me to evolve and learn how to become a better player, a better leader and a better teammate,” added Taylor.
“My role, as a father, was to provide as many positive opportunities as possible,” said Doug. “When I was an active player Taylor was always at my games, both field and box lacrosse. As he progressed up into college lacrosse my wife and I were fortunate to be able to attend most of his games. I think our attendance strengthened his desire to play well and succeed in the classroom.”
“I have also had great coaches throughout my time playing lacrosse,” said Taylor. “I had the honor of playing for one of the greatest goalies in lacrosse history, Paul Schimoler, at Saint Michael’s College, who unfortunately passed away after a battle with cancer. Paul played at Cornell and then played for Team USA against my Dad in the World Championships.”
“My high school coach Dave White also was a great role model for me,” said Taylor. “Dave played for Brown University and the Iroquois Nationals. Dave was one that really focused on allowing us to use our imagination to make plays and did not fault us for trying something new.”
“I am like the majority of this team that are St. Regis Akwesasne Mohawks,” said Dave White. “Taylor watched me play box lacrosse, and later field lacrosse, with his father Doug. I have had a very successful career in both forms of the Creators game. I played with the Iroquois Nationals representing the Haudenosaunee on the World stage. I also was one of the first Mohawks from Akwesasne to attend private boarding as an ABC (A Better Chance) student. I attended Mt. Hermon School in Massachusetts and later was the first Division 1 lacrosse player from our Reservation when I played at Brown University and incidentally Dom Starsia was my junior year roommate. I enjoyed numerous post-season honors in both box and field but significantly I lost my right thumb and two forefingers at age five which makes such achievements unlikely.”
“I took Taylor, as well as many other students, to visit various prep schools and eventually Taylor made his mark at Vermont Academy. You see, after graduation from Brown, I returned home and worked and coached at Salmon River where I was the first Boys Varsity lacrosse, and later soccer coach. I think that for many athletes I was living proof that scholarship and athletics could be a good partnership and I proactively promoted both when there were still many first generation college prospects in our community. Taylor has followed the path that I blazed and he too now proudly serves our community as a law enforcement officer. He is an outstanding young man and I am proud to say that he wears #11 in lacrosse which is the number that I wore on our local Sr. Box Lacrosse team as well as the Iroquois Nationals,” added Dave.
“I’ve always viewed Dave to carry himself in a very respectful, calm and collected way and made me want to emulate the way he carried himself on and off the field,” added Taylor.
Oren Lyons is probably every Iroquois Nationals player’s biggest influence. Oren is the developer and the heart of the Iroquois Nationals.
He has spent countless hours on behalf of this team to be able to be the first and only indigenous team to compete in a World Championships.
“I will always remember when Oren would speak to us before games In the locker room and when he spoke, every player and coach would immediately stop what they were doing and intensely focus on every word he said,” said Taylor. “It really summed up how respected he was within our organization.”
“I owe a lot to this man, and if it was not for him, I would not have had these unreal experiences and play on a world stage for my Nation. He has made it possible for me to make friendships all over the world that I will cherish forever,” added Taylor.
“As far as Taylor giving back to lacrosse I think it’s a natural progression from playing at an elite level and then realizing how fortunate he was to be afforded that opportunity,” said Doug. “Many of the Iroquois National players had similar thoughts when they played at the World Championship in Israel last year. Many of the players returned to their communities eager to tell of their experience at the World Games and make themselves available to younger players. Taylor assisted at a couple lacrosse clinics and continues to play in various lacrosse tournaments. His children are beginning to play lacrosse and I’m sure, if his police job allows, he will be coaching them as well.”
