Congrats Darris

As a player and coach, most lacrosse fans know Darris Kilgour's accomplishments as part of the Buffalo Bandits. While his efforts have been tireless for the organization, they were not the focus Oct. 20 when Kilgour was inducted in to the Ontario Lacrosse Hall of Fame.

This time, Kilgour was recognized for some lesser-known feats outside of the NLL.

The list includes an array of championships, beginning with two Minto Cups in 1990 and 1991 when Kilgour played for the Junior A St. Catharines Athletics.

He then went on to win five consecutive Mann Cups in Major Lacrosse, first with the Brampton Excelsior's in 1992 and 1993, and then three championships with the Six Nations Chiefs in 1994, 1995 and 1996.
 
"Everywhere Darris went he won," said long-time teammate and player John Tavares. "That includes playing in Buffalo as well."
 
As if seven trophies were not enough, Kilgour has also collected three NLL Champions Cups as a player for the Bandits in 1992, 1993 and 1996- all of which overlapped with the Excelsior's and Chief's success.

"He has the ability to play at all ends," Tavares said. "He was able to excel at all aspects of the game whether it was goal scoring, roughing it up a little bit or playing defense. He did everything really well and he always played with a lot of intensity no matter what the score was or the situation. Darris always gave his all."
 
That characteristic was rewarded when Kilgour was named MVP of the Athletics in 1991. In that same year, and the season before it, he captured the St. Catharines scoring title as well.

"Darris is one of my all-time favorite players I ever played with," Tavares said. "He definitely made me a better player. His toughness opened up my game a lot and his ability to shoot the ball from the outside opened up my inside game. I credit him for a lot of goals that I got... he definitely helped my career."
 
Tavares is not the only member of the Buffalo Bandits to feel that way. Forward Mark Steenhuis also credits Kilgour for his success.

"He was a great all-around player and could do whatever you asked him, whether it was score, bring a physical aspect in or even play some defense now and then," Steenhuis said. "He was looked upon as a great leader when he played the game and it was just a natural progression for him to coach. We all look up to him... He is very knowledgeable lacrosse-minded person.

"I think he has helped me develop because I kind of started a little later. He's definitely helped my knowledge of the game where I was unfamiliar with certain things and used to using more of my athleticism and not so much my brain really. He kind of slowed the game down a little bit for me and helped me realized what I should be looking for out there."
 
His ability to break down the sport stems from his days as a player.

Kilgour continued to compete until 2000, retiring with the Albany Attack in the NLL. He was a three-time All-Pro and the first player ever selected by the Buffalo Bandits when he was drafted in 1992. He was appropriately also the first player to have his jersey number retired when the Bandits hung 43 from the rafters.

His resume continues to grow more than seven years after his retirement, now in the form of an induction to a hall of fame. With a history like Kilgour's, and a promising future as a coach, it appears that induction will not be his last.

Source: www.bandits.com