The Onondaga Redhawks, formerly the Onondaga Warriors, were able to take down the visiting Akwesasne Thunder for the Iroquois Lacrosse Association league championship in August 1993. It was game five of a best of five series. Winner takes all. The game was played at “The Box”, an outdoor arena on the Onondaga Nation, in front of hundreds of screaming fans.
The visitors started the scoring less than a minute into the game on their first possession. Jess Potack started the Onondaga scoring. The two teams then traded goals ending the first period with Onondaga holding a slim lead, three to two.
The second period started much like the first. The Thunder scored two quick goals in less than two minutes, but would not get another in that period. Onondaga saw four consecutive goals scored by “Ace” Stout, Mark Burnam, Neal Powless and Jake Lazore. The second period ended in a seven to four lead for the hometown Onondaga’s.
Penalties became a factor in the third period as the Thunder tried to mount a comeback. They scored two goals in a row, one on a power play, to bring them within two goals. Then penalty trouble plagued the Thunder. Mark Burnam, Barry Powless and “Ace” Stout each scored on power plays to put the game out of reach for the Thunder. The game ended with the Onondaga’s winning ten to seven. The inaugural ILA championship trophy was in Onondaga’s hands as well as a birth to the Presidents cup, the Senior “B” Canadian Championship.