OSWEGO – The Oswego River Hawks’ second edition rolls out this Saturday in Utica as they take on both the Utica Yeti and the Collar City Kings at the newly opened Nexus Center. The exhibition game versus the Yeti is scheduled for a 10:00 a.m. face-off, followed later by a 1:00 p.m. contest against the Kings, who are based out of Troy, NY.
In the River Hawks’ inaugural campaign last summer, they went 1-2 against Utica, even as the Yeti advanced to the North American Box Lacrosse League (NABLL) championships in Columbus, Ohio.
The River Hawks begin their second year as a member of the Upstate Division of the NABLL, which boasts more than 30 teams nation-wide. This year, the River Hawks will play two home-and-home divisional games against the Yeti, the Salt City Eels, and the newcomer Thousand Island Spirits.
The General Manager duties for the River Hawks are being divided up by Doc Nelson, Jason Webb, and Brian Witmer, and the coaching duties are being shared by Chris Brim, Ken Kimpel, Webb, and Witmer. All five have decades of lacrosse experience at the youth, high school, college, club, and international levels.
Last year, local River Hawks players included Garrett Besaw, Jack Rice, Derek Kohut, Isaac Annal, and Geoff Taylor from Oswego; Evan Kistner from Fulton; and Cory Tilton from Central Square. This year’s roster is still being determined, but more local participation is anticipated.
The River Hawks open their home schedule a week from Friday, on June 9, when they host the Spirits at 7:30 p.m. for a non-league game. All home games will be played at the Crisafulli Rink at Fort Ontario. There is an admission fee for adults; those 17 and under are free.
Operating under the umbrella of the Oswego Lacrosse Club, the River Hawks hope to expand box lacrosse offerings in the Oswego area by offering a youth program for boys who are still in high school as well as a “pick-up” night for men over the age of 35. Look for more details soon.
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