Kevin White Memorial Tournament

The third annual Kevin White Memorial Tournament kicks off this Friday, April 5th!  Teams and players from all over the region show-up and put on a display of hard hitting, fast paced box lacrosse.  

The Tournament is being held at the Gil Lay Arena.  Games go from Friday night at 6:00pm all weekend long till Sunday at 2:00pm for the Championship Game.

You can catch your Golden Eagles at 7:30pm Friday night, and at Noon and 6:00pm Saturday.  Championship Sunday begins at 9:00am.

Fans can check to tournament's facebook page and the NGE facebook page for scores and updates.

Meet the NGE: Preston Lay

All-Around player & 50 pt. man
Preston "Press" Lay

#52 Preston Lay

Position: Forward

Shoots: Left

Height: 6'1"

Weight: 205

2012 Stats:
15 games - 29 goals - 21 assists - 12 pim - 50 points

When did you first start playing lacrosse?

I first started playing when I was 2 years old.  I could run, shoot, and score before I could read. 

What is your favorite lacrosse memory?

My favorite memory would have to be winning the OLA Zone 9 championship as a peewee. We only had 9 guys against a St. Catherine's team with a full bench. We won 9 to 4 and my coach carried me off the floor. Even better... they put St. Catherine's name on the trophy before the game even started!

Who were your favorite players growing up and why?

My favorite players growing up were Paul Gait and John Tavares. Pretending to be one of them in the backyard playing against your friends was the best.  My father as well! One of the best goalies of all time: hands down!

What does it mean to you to play for Newtown?

Playing for Newtown means a lot. I take pride in putting on that green and yellow. It's a tradition. You're really part of something special when you are on this team. We have a rich lacrosse history full of tragedies and triumphs, championships and titles. I hope to carry that on for our future Eagles.

How did it feel to put up 50 points this season?

50 points?! Wow really?! That's it? (laughs) I didn't even know I had that many. Wish I could have netted more goals. We would've been representing CanAm at the Cup.

What are your thoughts on this year's team and the upcoming 2013 season?

This year's team is going to be good. We have a lot of talent returning. We know what it's going to take to get to the Cup... and we're running those steps to get there. Still have a bitter taste in my mouth because of how we finished last season. We are hungry for a title. Nothing is getting in our way but ourselves.

Meet the NGE: Jake Davis

2012 Kevin White Memorial
Award Winner (Unsung Hero)

#92 Jake Davis

Position:Defense

Shoots: Right

Height: 6'0"

Weight: 175

2012 Stats:
16 games - 5 goals - 14 assists - 12 pim - 19 points





When did you first start playing lacrosse?

I first started playing when I was 13 years old for Newtown Minors.

What is your favorite lacrosse memory?

My favorite lacrosse memory would be winning the 2011 CanAm Champions Cup and going on to play in the Presidents Cup.

Who were your favorite players growing up and why?

My favorite player growing up would be Mike Stevens.  He was my minors coach and I always went to the Newtown Sr. games to watch.  He has basically taught me everything I know about lax.  Ironically, he is our coach again.

What does it mean to you to play for Newtown?

It means a lot to play for the NGE.  It was always my goal as a Newtown Minor to play for the men's team after.  I've had the chance to play with players like Trace White, Brian Stevens, Clint Jones, Glen Lay, and Mike Stevens.  Not to mention the many great players before us.

How did it feel to win the Kevin White Memorial award as the team's Unsung Hero?

It felt great to win the Kevin White Memorial award.  Kevin was a player that always hustled an gave 110%.  To recieve an award in his honor means a lot to me.  That being said, I would trade any personal awards for a championship.

What are your thoughts on this year's team and the upcoming 2013 season?

For the 2013 season we have very high expectations, as usual.  Everyone is practicing hard to regain the title of CanAm Champions.

Meet the NGE: Donald Stevens

2012 Emerson "Buck" Stevens
Award Winner (High Scorer)

#7 Donald Stevens

Position: Forward

Shoots: Left

Height: 5'9"

Weight: 165

2012 Stats:
16 games - 30 goals - 34 assists - 12 pim - 64 points



When did you first start playing lacrosse?

When i first started playing lax i was 3 years old and of course for NGE. That was the very first time I ever picked up a lax stick, and now I consider it my third arm.

What is your favorite lacrosse memory?

My favorite lax memory is when we went on to win the CanAm Championship in 2011 and then going to Akwesasne for my very first presidents cup.  Also playing with the same group of guys I've grown up with all my life.

Who were your favorite players growing up and why?

Well I only had one favorite player when I was growing up and that is my older brother, Mike Stevens. He has taught me everything I know about the game and how it is to be played since i was 3 years old. As his little brother I hope to accomplish the things he has done, even though those are some big shoes to fill.

What does it mean to you to play for Newtown?

It means a lot to me to play for Newtown.  I've been born and raised in Newtown and still reside there. Newtown is my life an there's nothing in this world that can change that. Green and gold is what I sweat an bleed: enough said!

How did it feel to be the NGE leading scorer for the 2012 season?

It felt good to be leading score for NGE in 2012. Ever since i can remember I've always been a goal scorer. I've always told myself I can be that guy to help the team as much as possible on the offensive side of the floor and put points up when we need them most.

What are your thoughts on this year's team and the upcoming 2013 season?

My thoughts on the team for the 2013 season are looking good, very good. We have a lot of talent and skills and we are running hard, harder then ever. The CanAm teams this year better be ready for us.  CanAm championship and Presidents Cup here we come!

Meet the NGE: Clint Jones

Veteran Netminder
Clint "Jonesy" Jones

#2 Clint Jones

Position: Goalie

Shoots: Right

Height: 6'3"

Weight: 210

2012 Stats:

16 games - 1 goal - 20 assists - 4 pim - 21 points

When did you first start playing lacrosse?

I started playing at the age of 5. I played my first year on the floor and got put in goal the following year, been in goal ever since. It wasn't by choice, but I'm glad I stuck with it. 

What is your favorite lacrosse memory?

There are too many to choose from but one would be winning two gold medals in the Fred Conradi Intermediate Tournament with my father as coach. Also, Presidents Cup in 2000 because Newtown has won many silver and bronze but never gold. To win it made me feel like I helped win it for all the past players.

Who were your favorite players growing up and why?

My favorite players would be my father, Jim Jones, who was a great defensive player as well as Edger Lay, Howard Lay, Greg Lay, and Marty Jimerson. All great goalies. I still look up to them to this day and try to use a little from their game in my game.

What does it mean to you to play for Newtown?

It means a lot.  My heart is with this organization.  I've been playing here my whole career.  There's no other team I'd rather play for.

What is it like being a goaltender in a fast-paced, high-scoring league such as the CanAm?

It's Tough.  The goals are bigger and the players are faster.  It's really important to be in shape in this league.

What are your thoughts on this year's team and the upcoming 2013 season?

I believe we're going to have a successful season.  We have a great core of players returning and a few new faces that I know will work well together.  Definitely going to make a run for Presidents Cup.

Meet the NGE: Linden Stevens

2012 Tom Lay Jr. Memorial
Trophy Winner (MVP)

#89 Linden Stevens
Position: Forward
Shoots: Right
Height: 5'11"
Weight: 210

2012 Stats:
18 games - 25 goals - 33 assists - 34 pim - 58 points



When did you first start playing lacrosse?
I started playing lax for Newtown when I was 4 years old for Peanuts and I’ve been playing ever since

What is your favorite lacrosse memory?
My favorite moment is when our Bantam team went to Provincials.  It was the first big tournament I went to as a young lax player in the Newtown Minors system.

Who were your favorite players growing up and why?
My favorite lax players growing up would have to be my uncles, older cousins, and elders because they were all I watched growing up. That's who I learned from.  Ever since I was real young I can remember sitting and watching NGE games at the Gil Lay Arena.

What does it mean to for you to play for Newtown?
It means everything to play for Newtown because that's my hometown and where it all started for me.  As far back as I can remember, Newtown was always winning CanAm Championships and making a run for the Presidents Cup.  It would mean everything to me if I could win a Pres Cup with the team I always looked up to.

How did it feel to be honored as the team MVP for 2012?
It felt pretty damn good to win MVP last year because we had a great team and it could’ve went to anybody on our team.  We all worked hard and played harder.  It was special to me because getting the MVP votes from our coaching staff was very humbling.

What are your thoughts on this year’s team and the upcoming 2013 season?
My thoughts on this year’s upcoming season are we’re going to come out strong and never let up on any team.  We have been coming out hard and running like never before in practice so far in this 2013 year.  I just see us coming out better than ever before. It’s going to be a good year and a solid squad once again. Presidents Cup, here we come!

2013 Preview

2013 promises to be an exciting season for the NGE.  Coming off a championship loss, almost the entire '12 squad is back and hungrier than ever.  Some new faces are to be expected, but cannot be confirmed till paperwork is in and rosters are set.

Two practices into the season, it is evident that Newtown isn't looking to ease into the year, but rather hit the ground running... and running a lot. With a renewed focus on conditioning, the Golden Eagles have opened up the preseason with a vengeance. Returning to the bench is head coach Mike Stevens, who says "The NGE men are working hard during practice and have been running and playing during the off-season."  A former standout player for the NGE, Stevens knows what it takes to get to the President's Cup.  "This 2013 season should be a big turnaround for us with returning players and some possible new faces. I expect big things on both ends of the floor, and from both returning goalies."

The new conditioning regiment may take some getting used to as players shake off the rust, but everyone is on board, and excited for the upcoming year.  "We've had a great turnout for tryouts and we know all this hard work will pay off," said 2012 Kevin White Memorial Award winner Jake Davis, a defender for the Golden Eagles.  "We have high expectations this year and we won't be satisfied with anything less than a championship."

Newtown will open their season April 5-7th in the 3rd Annual Kevin White Memorial Tournament held at the Gil Lay Arena on the Cattaraugus Reservation.  The tournament has quickly become a major preseason event that is sure to be an entertaining weekend with many talented teams and players on display.