by By Dan Ninham (Oneida)
Warren Hill is an international class field and box lacrosse goalie. He is Mohawk of the Iroquois Confederacy and is from one of the hotbeds of native lacrosse at Six Nations, Ontario, Canada.
Warren plays for the Iroquois Nationals men’s field and box lacrosse teams. He was a member of the 2013 and 2014 NJCAA National Champion Onondaga Community College. He continued to Syracuse University. Warren was a 2019 Canadian Senior B champion and currently is a member of the Halifax Thunderbirds professional lacrosse team of the National Lacrosse League.
“Lacrosse is a big part of the Iroquois and its tradition definitely lives on today in Six Nations,” said Warren. “Almost as a rite of passage, I’ve been playing lacrosse since I could walk like many others in the community. It’s something that I take pride in not only as a sport but it’s traditional and spiritual meaning. Lacrosse is a medicine first and foremost and I feel that when I get the chance to play if takes me to a different place outside of the real world and I can just live and play in the moment.”
“My uncles all played in the collegiate and professional ranks including Corey and Cam Bomberry and Roger Vyse. My older cousin Stew Montour has been my coach for the past five summers or so and has been a big influence on me in recent stages of my career. It’s definitely a family affair and in many native communities, family is everything so it’s really something special.”
“Well this is an honor to speak or praise my nephew Warren,” said Corey Bomberry. “Warren has really come into his own over the past few years. He cares about his job of his duty as a goalie. Almost to some point to where we as players or coaches may think it’s weird but most goaltenders are tagged as weird or odd. Man of few words but let him speak when it’s needed. Point be made he’s always looking for advice to be a better goalie. I know myself I believe he’s there. Believe me it’s a little hard to talk up my family when talk is cheap. Watch Warren play he will give you a great show.”
“One of the premier goalies on the planet,” said Cam Bomberry, Ontario Lacrosse Hall of Fame inductee. “Warren has grown up playing and always improving his IQ level as a goalie. His fearless stopping ability has grown, as he has into a respectful ongwehonwe (original man). Warren took a longer route in his college setting, but that is indicative to his determination and perseverance.”
“Warren is going to forever be a student of the game and always looking to improve,” said Stew Montour, head coach of the Six Nations Rivermen who Warren plays for in the summer and Iroquois Nationals assistant coach. “He asks for suggestions and looks at the game unlike many players his age, he’s always looking at the ways for his team to improve as well. He is very critical of his own performance and becoming more vocal and more of a leader every year. I believe he is one of the most underrated passers as a goalie in the leagues he plays in as well. Warren gives back to the youngsters in the community as much as he can, especially to young goalies.”
“Warren has come a long way in his development as a goalie,” said Roger Vyse. “He has had his share of growing pains and paid his dues sort a speak. With many championship seasons and some not so good ones he seems that he is really coming into his own over the last year. His confidence is growing every game and it’s awesome to watch. I’m happy for his success and I can’t wait to see what lies ahead for my young cousin who has a plenty of years left in him in my opinion. His leadership is shown through how hard he works off the floor just as much on the floor being a role model for our community youth and a true ambassador of the game.”
“Warren Hill is intelligent, honest, and driven,” said Gewas Schindler, Director of Men’s Box Lacrosse for the Iroquois Nationals. “He happens to be one of the best goalie’s in the world. Since he was 14 years old we have asked him to step up and play for our country (Haudenosaunee). He has never hesitated whether it was a U19 field lacrosse championship or a box lacrosse championship. Warren Hill has always been there for the Iroquois Nationals world program. Warren may be quiet in a room full of people, but the total opposite on the field. He is in full control and demands that his defense listens to his every word. He’s become an elite professional box and field goalie. This accomplishment is the most difficult task you can ask of any player on the field. Warren is a true warrior between the pipes. He makes the Haudenosaunee and his family proud every day.
Nyaweha Warren, for all your hard work on and off the floor.”
Mark Burnam, Iroquois Nationals U19 coach, said: “Warren Hill has been an all star since he was a young man playing on the U19 team and I believe he was a 15-year-old then. He has without a doubt someone with the quickest hands I’ve seen! He always stood tall from when he played way back in high school to when he played for the men’s team a standout had a great series in the U19 games as well as played unbelievable as our men’s team goaltender in Israel. He really stood on his head in a few games with some of saves kept his in the game. He was very instrumental in our wining the bronze medal. He had a great tournament. In his college days he was a standout at Syracuse. Warren is always a gamer plus a very tough kid and one hell of a competitor. One of the things I loved about coaching him he always had a smile on his face until game time then watch out because when he hits the switch it on!”
“Warren is a quiet leader,” said Freeman Bucktooth, Iroquois Nationals U19 coach and current spectator. “I’ve seen him take very hard shots and not even wince. Very intense with a great vision and like I said he’s a quiet leader, but when he speaks, everyone listens.”
“Currently trying to perfect my craft as a NLL goalie and help my team compete for a professional championship,” said Warren. “It’s the Stanley cup of the lacrosse world and is something I am currently striving for. Outside of that, I take a lot of pride competing on the international stage with the Iroquois Nationals. Being the solely all indigenous team to compete internationally, and to play our game, is something special and I would like to one day win a gold medal for our people.”
“Warren has had an amazing start to this season,” said Mike Accursi, Head Coach of the Halifax Thunderbirds. “His consistence and calm demeanour even when the game is close is hard to come by with goalies. He is a tremendous teammate and leader on the team. Our defence and team have a 100% confidence in him so it makes their job easier knowing that he will make the big save when we need it. Warren has truly established himself as an elite goalie in this league. And I believe that he is only going to get better.”
“I take a lot of pride in being the first of my family to graduate college,” said Warren. “Since I was young there were guys who went off to play college lacrosse and that was a goal of mine since I could remember. School didn’t come easy for me and I had to climb the ladder academically in order to reach that goal. From elementary school and freshmen year of high school I needed special assistants in some classes. By senior year I was in some college prep classes and ended up going to private school in Toronto for a post graduate year for both lacrosse and academics. From there I went to Onondaga community college for two years before reaching my ultimate goal of playing Division I lacrosse for Syracuse University. There was a lot of hard work and long nights of studying and homework but to finally graduate made it all worth it.”
“I believe in hard work and dedication to your craft,” said Warren. “It’s hard to grind out practices and your physical preparation but to study and keep up with your academics on top of that is a challenge in itself as well. But I will say not to be afraid to ask for help whether that be a parent, a tutor or a teacher. A lot of people are willing to give you a hand you just can’t be afraid to speak up. The same goes for sport. If things aren’t going your way or you feel you could be better ask for help or advice from your teammates or coaches on what needs improvement and how to achieve it. When I was younger I was shy and stubborn but it’s one of those areas I wish I knew then what I know now when it comes to both sport and academics. It sounds cheesy but hard work and asking for help when needed goes along way.”
Photo Credit: Trevor MacMillen/Halifax Thunderbirds
