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CELEBRATE! Women's Lacrosse Day
Celebrate! began in 1996 and was originally known as "All-Star Weekend". The event was created to showcase all levels of the game, including the High School All-Star Game, Club teams in pre-season play, Provincial Teams in exhibition play, and National Teams preparing for International competition.
The event was renamed in 2001, with the passing of one of Women's Lacrosse greatest supporters and friend, Wes Patterson. A permanent monument was unveiled at the Oshawa Civic Field 3, along with a tree-planting ceremony. The inscription on the monument reads: Thank you Wes for sharing
your love of the game with us.
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John Wesley Patterson
That man is a success who has lived well |
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Comments from players & friends:
"Last June, we lost our good friend, Wes Patterson. In Ontario, we were so fortunate that he took such an interest in our programs and gave us so many opportunities to meet and get to know him. After all, he was a lacrosse legend."
"During the events here at the Civic, we can all remember Wes working at his bench fine-tuning the sticks that he had originally hand-crafted. It was incredible how he could work on the sticks and keep an eye on the field so he could give the players encouragement and advice afterwards."
"Wes had a way of making everyone feel very special. As coaches, we enjoyed introducing new players to “Mr. Patterson” and then watching how they grew to respect and adore him for his special qualities."
"Wes was here when many of us started out in our lacrosse careers, watched us through our successes and challenges, and was still there after our playing days were over."
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Oshawa Civic Fields
The Civic Fields were selected as the site of the Patterson Memorial, as they have, for many years, been a gathering place for Women’s Lacrosse in Ontario.
1993 – Canadian Women’s Field Lacrosse Championships 1993, 1999, 2001 – Canadian Team Training facility 1995,96,97,98,99, 2001, 2002 – High School All Star Games 1997,1998 – LOSSA High School Championships 1999 – Ontario University Earlybird Tournament 1999 – Ontario U-20 Provincial Championships 2000 – Ontario U-15 Provincial Championships 1997-2003 – OWL International Tournament
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After serving four years in the Navy during World War II, Wes decided to further his education at Springfield College in Springfield, Massachusetts, where he earned his BA in Physical Education. While at Springfield, he played football, basketball, lacrosse and skiing. Twice he was selected as an All New England lacrosse player. He scored a record 25 goals in two days; 13 against Dartmouth and 12 against Tufts.
His playing career continued for over 30 years, playing on the reserve, at college, and in Canada.
After 20 years of teaching and coaching in Maryland, Wes returned home to the reservation. His hobby of stick making and his love of lacrosse created 'Tuskewe Krafts', a business that has since grown into one of the top worldwide manufacturers and distributors of custom made wooden lacrosse sticks.
Wes was an avid fan of all lacrosse: women's field lacrosse, men's field lacrosse and box lacrosse, and felt that each game required the basic stick skills of throwing, catching and cradling ... the skills a wooden stick develops to the highest level. The Patterson Wood Lacrosse Stick combines strength and balance with the tradition and touch which is the best!
John was inducted in the WNY/Rochester Lacrosse Hall of Fame, Springfield College Athletic Hall of Fame, Native American Sports Hall of Fame, the Ontario (Canada) Lacrosse Hall of Fame (1998) and the US Lacrosse Hall of Fame (2000).
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