The Upstate Lacrosse Foundation (ULF) Committee proudly announces that beginning in 2025, the Service of the Game Award will be renamed the Alfie Jacques Contributor Award. The newly named award will be presented annually at the ULF Hall of Fame Ceremony, with the first presentation scheduled for November 9, 2025.

Honoring a Legacy That Advanced the Game

The ULF Contributor Award recognizes individuals who dedicate their lives to advancing the growth of the game of lacrosse. Few embody that mission more fully than Alfie Jacques. Renaming this award ensures that his legacy continues to inspire future generations who serve the game with passion, purpose, and respect for its roots.

Alfie Jacques: A Life Dedicated to Lacrosse

Alfie Jacques (1949–2023), of the Onondaga Turtle Clan, remains a revered figure in the lacrosse community. He is a member of both the Upstate Lacrosse Foundation Hall of Fame and the Ontario Lacrosse Hall of Fame. His life’s work bridged tradition, competition, craftsmanship, and cultural preservation.

Jacques began his playing career as an attackman at LaFayette High School during the 1960s. He later transitioned to goalkeeper for the Onondaga men’s box lacrosse team, where his exceptional skill in net quickly distinguished him. His performance led to a professional career as a goaltender with the Syracuse Stingers, further cementing his impact on the sport.

Preserving the Craft of the Wooden Lacrosse Stick

Alfie’s influence extended far beyond the field. Alongside his father, Louis “Louie” Jacques — also a member of both the ULF and Ontario Lacrosse Halls of Fame — Alfie began crafting lacrosse sticks when he needed one of his own to play. What started as a necessity soon evolved into mastery.

Together, Louie and Alfie became renowned stick makers for both box and field lacrosse. At their peak, the Jacques family workshop produced more than 10,000 wooden sticks annually, prior to the introduction of the plastic lacrosse head in the mid-1970s.

Even as plastic sticks became dominant at the high school and collegiate levels, Alfie continued to craft traditional wooden sticks. The Medicine Game requires players to use wooden sticks, and many box lacrosse players still prefer them today. Alfie remained steadfast in honoring tradition while educating others on its significance.

Sharing the Roots of the Medicine Game with the World

In 1990, when the Haudenosaunee Nationals competed in their first World International Games in Perth, Australia, Alfie Jacques traveled with the team. As the Nationals took the field, the lacrosse world took notice. The players carried Alfie’s handcrafted wooden sticks — each measuring an extraordinary six feet in length.

Those sticks were more than equipment. They were a statement. Alfie used that moment to remind the world that lacrosse is rooted in culture, ceremony, and history. His work reaffirmed the game’s identity as Dehoñtshigwi’ehs (lacrosse), the Medicine Game.

A Legacy That Continues to Grow the Game

Following that historic moment, individuals, teams, organizations, and event organizers across Turtle Island sought Alfie’s knowledge and expertise. He traveled extensively, sharing stories, demonstrating stick making, and teaching the deeper meaning of lacrosse wherever he went.

Alfie Jacques dedicated his life to honoring the game’s past while nurturing its future. By renaming the ULF Contributor Award in his memory, the Upstate Lacrosse Foundation ensures that his contributions — and his spirit — remain a guiding force in the growth of lacrosse for generations to come.

Help support the Upstate Lacrosse Foundation with a generous donation in honor of the great game of Lacrosse, as we celebrate its origins and rich history in Upstate New York! All donations support the Upstate Lacrosse Foundation and help us to continue our work in honor of the game.

The Upstate Lacrosse Foundation’s tax id number is EIN 83-2192663.