SIX NATIONS – The Major Series Sr. A Six Nations Pro-Fit Chiefs proved they are serious about keeping the Mann Cup in Six Nations of the Grand River Territory for the third consecutive season with the signing of Johnny Powless, Alex Kedoh Hill, and Dhane Smith at the Pro-Fit Health Club on Sixth Line Road.
Coach and GM Dewey Jacobs is excited about having all three for the entire season when the Major Series Sr. A season begins, but to have the brightest young lacrosse star in the game for the entire Major Series season is just over the top.
“What do you say about Johnny Powless,” says Jacobs. “He has been most impressive in the Mann Cup the last two years and to have him full time brings another young and skilled player. This past season in the NLL, I give him a lot of credit for stepping out of a very comfortable situation in Rochester and I don’t know if he had the season he really wanted to this past year. Maybe it wasn’t a good fit in Vancouver and Minnesota, but getting back with a team that moves the ball allows him to utilize what he brings to the table. I expect Johnny is going to have a very good summer for us.”
Although Johnny Powless has been with the Chiefs for the past two Mann Cup playoff seasons, this will be his first full season with the club.
As a member of the Rochester Knighthawks of the NLL for the past two years, Powless has been unavailable for the entire Sr. A summer season as won the NLL’s Champion Cup. But after being traded to the Vancouver Stealth and then moved to the Minnesota Swarm this past season, neither of which made the final playoff round, Powless has become available to the Chiefs for the entire season. That has Jacobs very excited in deed.
“I try not to think about the three-peat, says Powless. “I just play it game-by-game and just focus on the little things. I’m pretty excited about my first fill season with the Chiefs.”
Dhane Smith is a 6’3” 195 lb. transition specialist with a lot of other tools in his shed as well.
Smith, will be playing his second full year as a senior, is excited about playing for a championship team with a chance to three-peat as Mann Cup winners.
“These guys are all tremendously skilled players,” says Jacobs. “To get a guys like Buffalo Bandits’ Dhane Smith, who does a lot of things well, is exciting. He has played with some of our guys before and should be a smooth transition for him. He is young, he is a dominant player and with us he is going to be even more dominant.”
Smith is grateful to be playing with a contender this year and intends to make the best of it.
“I am looking forward to playing with the Chiefs. They’ve been unbelievable the past two years and I am looking to win one with them.”
Smith is a utility kind of player who can fit in at pretty well any position, however, Jacobs
“I really don’t care where they want to play me this year,” says Smith. “I’m just ready to accept my role and help them win again. Playing with all these great talented players here will help be a lot.”
Alex Kedoh Hill will be starting his third season with the Chiefs.
“Kedoh is back after a season of being away,” says Jacobs. “He is coming off a breakout NLL season in Buffalo and he is carrying a great deal of confidence right now and will bring more youth and quickness. He is a welcome addition, that’s for sure.”
Hill is also stoked as the 2015 Major Series season is about to open.
“I am excited about the new season,” says Hill. “The Chiefs are the top dogs right now and I am looking to help them out in any way I can and bring another championship back to Six Nations. I am healthy and ready.”
Most of last year’s team will be returning as well but that gives the Chiefs brass a “good problem” by having maybe too much talent looking for a piece of the franchise’s run for another three-peat season like the franchise had in the 1990’s.
They have a lot of players still playing in the NLL, which will be added to the mix as well. There are at least five spots we are holding for them, according to Jacobs.
