The NLL season may be over, but that doesn’t stop over 200 fans getting together annually for a lacrosse tournament known as FANN CUP. This years host will be the city of Rochester and the Rochester Krewhawks fans of the 2012-13 Champion Rochester Knighthawks.
This yearly event started back in 2002 with 2 teams. A team from Toronto and a team combined of fans from Buffalo and Rochester getting together for a friendly game to raise money. Now in its twelfth year, the Fann Cup tournament and its participants have raised over $54,926. Charities from the American Heart Assoc, Domestic violence, Alex’s Lemonade Stand, to inner city youth groups, and also to friends of the participants in need.
The teams are named after your local NLL/MLL teams, and the players are very familiar to each other, as most are ones who go on the road trips to support there teams.
Participants pay between $60-$70 (if pay on time) to participate in this non-contact (some light stick checking allowed, but no hard hits) tournament to raise money. All that is needed to play is a stick, helmet and gloves. If you are under 18 full gear is to be worn.
This year we are raising money in memory of Tyler Kopp, a young boy who tragically passed away in February 2012 after being struck in the heart with a lacrosse ball. The money raised will go to facilities to purchase defibulator machines, to assist in any life threatening injuries until the paramedics arrive.
The fun starts on a Friday (some will arrive earlier) at the registration party where the schedule will be decided. Food and drinks will flow as these 200 players plus family and friends who come to watch will catch up on how thing have been over the past year, or even month. Participants will receive a “goodie” bag that will have some things from local lacrosse sponsors and even a souvenir glass that is designed by Philadelphia Wings fan Marcel Paillard. Items will be up for auction. These items are donated from the teams in the NLL, MLL, along with other sports. Fann Cup teams will even put together something to auction off; maybe a basket of cheer with selected wines & brews from the cities. They even have “The Wheel of Crap” for a dollar a spin you can win anything that you could find in a dollar store. And lets not forget the toonie toss. The toonie is a Canadian two dollar coin. This game is simple, or is it? Once you buy your toonie you slide it along the floor, the closest to the prize wins that prize. Again, all money donated goes to the charity.
Once Saturday rolls around the fun begins. It start early, wake up is around 6am so you can get a good breakfast in you, and opening ceremonies at 8am. They now start to live there dream of being a lacrosse player and immolating their favorite player. Some will even wear the number of the player. But if you think it’s a cut throat day, you are wrong. If a team is short players or some suffer an injury, you will see players from other teams jumping in to play. You may also see some of the professional players in attendance. Some players who have showed up in years past, Anthony Cosmo, Rich Kilgour, Jason Crosbie. The game is officiated with officials from the OLA (if available) along with local officials and even some players that have officiating experience, the game has a running clock, usually two fifteen to twenty minute half’s.
At the end one team will hoist the Fann Cup and have bragging rights, but there is also another award. The Spirit Award. This is given to the team that demonstrates the most fun, spirit during the tournament (winner of tournament can not win this)
You will have fathers, sons and daughters playing together, husbands and wives, etc.. We even have our own Wizard of OZ.
Regardless of the outcome at the end of the day, we are all winners along with the charities.
We have three players who have participated in every Fann Cup. Mac Razor from Buffalo, Corey Frantz (Rochester), and Donald Duclos (Toronto)
Kudos to John Donnelly (Rochester) and his staff for getting this organized, its not easy.
For the seventh time in the last eight years I will participate again.. I can not wait to see my lacrosse family and have a lacrosse weekend full of fun and excitement.
Be safe everyone in your travels to Rochester. Here are your 2013 Fann Cup Teams:
Buffalo Brigade (Bandits/NLL)
Rochester Krewhawks (white jersey/ …Knighhawks/NLL)
Rochester Krewhawks (black jersey/Knighthawks/NLL)
Phila Wingnuts (Wings/NLL)
Phila. Rage (Barrage/MLL)
Minn. Stingers (Swarm/NLL)
Chicago Cloverz (Shamrox/NLL)
Toronto Roadies (Rock/NLL)
Lacrosstitutes. Mainly female team
Spirit Lacrosse. Team comprised of extra players from other teams and team that are not in the tournament
For more information on Fann Cup go to www.fanncup.com
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