Barry Powless
Barry Powless is from the Onondaga Nation and is Eel clan. His elders told him Deyhontsigwa’ehs (They bump hips) is a medicine game given to the people for the enjoyment of the Creator.
In 1975, his senior year, he was a high school All-American attackman and then played at Syracuse University. He played in two World Championship tournaments: the 1980 World Box Lacrosse Championships, silver medal with Can Am Warriors, and the 1990 World Field Championships in Perth, Australia, with the Iroquois Nationals.
During his summers, he played box lacrosse at the amateur and professional levels throughout his career in the US and Canada. He was the first overall pick in 1991 with the Professional Canadian-based indoor lacrosse league (National Lacrosse League). He received his first pro title, the Major Indoor Lacrosse League (MILL) World Championship, when playing for the Buffalo Bandits in 1992.
Barry received multiple league awards for being a league High Scorer, MVP, Most Sportsman award, all-star teams, 1978 Cornwall Ontario Lions Club Player of the Year, and 1981 Presidents Cup tournament MVP. He won three Canadian National Championships, one Mann Cup, and two Presidents Cups. He participated in ten Canadian Championship tournaments and won six British Columbia Provincial Championships. He played senior lacrosse for four decades, starting in the 1970’s and retired at age fifty.
“Cornelius Special.”
He was a head coach at the high school, senior, and professional levels. He earned his second pro title in 1997 when leading the Rochester Knighthawks to the MILL World Championship and was the first Indigenous head coach to win a world title.
Barry is honored, proud and humbled to be inducted into seven Hall of Fames with those who also played the Creator’s game including Ontario Lacrosse Hall of Fame, 2013 Greater Syracuse Sports Hall of Fame, 2015 US Lacrosse Upstate NY Chapter Hall of Fame, 2016 LaFayette Central Schools Sports Hall of Fame, 2021 Canadian Lacrosse Hall of Fame-Team category, and the 2023 North American Indigenous Athletics Hall of Fame.
