ABOUT ME
In 1980, at the early age of six, growing up on Long Island, New York, I was blessed and fortunate to be involved in sports thanks to my wonderful parents Roberta and Ronald. I was first introduced to the game of lacrosse after playing pee wee football. I remember getting my first lacrosse stick that Christmas. It seems like only yesterday I was running around playing lacrosse whenever and wherever I had the opportunity. I was able to channel my energy in a positive manner as well as make a lot of new friends. The game of lacrosse, above and beyond its physical attributes, has taught me many valuable life lessons and now it has molded me into the person I am today.
As I began to see a real genuine love for the sport at an early age, I kept practicing and playing on travel teams with kids a lot older than me. I was a lot smaller at the time, yet was able to be very successful on the field, due to my God-given ability. In addition to my natural ability, was my desire and dedication to keep practicing my skills alone in my backyard, until it was dark. By the age of eleven, I really began to believe in my talent and see a future in this great game of lacrosse. I remember seeing my first professional lacrosse game and told my Dad after the game that I wanted to be a professional indoor lacrosse player in what was called at the time the Major Indoor Lacrosse League. This is what we know now as the National Lacrosse League. It was an action-packed, exciting game that I really fell in love with. It was my dream as a kid to persevere and reach the most elite level in this sport.
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AMATEUR CAREER
Getting to this level wasn’t easy by any means, but my work ethic, commitment, and desire to be successful were always in the forefront of my mind. As I made my way through Sachem High School on Long Island graduating in 1992, I was able to really hone my skills and develop my physical and mental part of my game earning a scholarship to Division One Hofstra University under Head Coach John Danowski. It was a long, tough road to get to that point, but I knew I still had a lot of work ahead of me. Throughout my college experience, I gained valuable lessons both on and off the field studying Psychology. It was a great atmosphere to study, play a sport at such a high level, and be a big part of my team. After my four years at Hofstra University, I was able to walk away having played in two NCAA tournament playoff games, as well being named to the All America East team twice. I received all of these athletic accomplishments, and an outstanding education. It really was a great experience in so many ways, but I knew I still had a lot of hard work to do if I wanted to play in the National Lacrosse League.
At this point in my life in 1997, I was finished with school and hoping to get drafted in the NLL. The start of my dream coming true came from a phone call from then Head Coach Ron Fraser of the Boston Blazers. We talked for a while, and he told me that they were very interested in drafting me. Then on draft day they did just that, drafting me fourth overall in the first round. To people who know sports, most would think that being drafted that high would come with high fame and fortune. However, the only thing that guaranteed me was an invite to training camp to tryout and showcase my skills. In fact, I would be going up against some exceptional talent, not to mention guys who were bigger and stronger than me at the time. I accepted the challenge, and made the team appearing in two games as a rookie. This was extremely rare, especially as an American, since about 75% of the league is comprised of Canadians.
Furthermore, indoor lacrosse, also known as box lacrosse, is actually Canada’s national game. Most people assume it is hockey, but lacrosse it is. So, as I took on the challenge of learning a new style of lacrosse, it made me even hungrier to make a bigger impact the following year. The only thing was that I needed to gain more box lacrosse experience, and the only way I was able to do this was to play up in Canadian summer league circuit, what most players in the league do to stay sharp and in shape for the NLL.
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PROFESSIONAL CAREER
My first taste of Canadian box lacrosse came in the summer of 1997 on a recommendation of then Boston Blazers teammate and current Minnesota Swarm General Manager, Marty O’Neill. He referred me to the Brooklin Redmen of the Ontario Lacrosse Association. From there I was able to tryout and was fortunate enough to make the team, picking up Rookie of the Year honors. I continued to play for them for the next summer as well, before heading out to Victoria, British Columbia to participate in the Western Lacrosse Association for the Victoria Shamrocks. It wasn’t a very tough choice, since I was going to a team with a rich tradition, not to mention getting the chance of a lifetime to play alongside my lacrosse idols, Gary and Paul Gait. It was an unbelievable honor to play with not only them, but with a team so experienced and talented. It definitely enhanced my game and took my commitment to another level. While playing for Victoria from 1999 to 2002, I was blessed to be a part of three Mann Cup finalist teams, winning in the Cup in 1999. It was the 50th anniversary of the organization which made it extra special. In addition, I was the only American on the team. It was an exhilarating experience to say the least, and I was proud of my accomplishments.
All the while, I was continuing playing back and forth from summer to winter playing Canadian summer lacrosse and winter in the National Lacrosse League. Most Canadians do this, but for an American to go to Canada and be so successful was extremely rare. I knew I needed to continue to get better and get more experience playing box lacrosse, so that’s exactly what I did.After taking the 2003 summer season off, I decided to go back to Canada to play for the Peterborough Lakers of the Ontario Lacrosse Association under Head Coach Jamie Batley from 2004-2006. Under his guidance and tutelage, I was able to be part of an outstanding organization participating in three more Mann Cups, winning the cup for two more times in my career, for a total of three Mann Cup Rings. For anyone unfamiliar about the Mann Cup, it’s basically the national championship of Canada. Its trophy is actually older than the Stanley Cup for all you hockey enthusiasts. So at this point in my career, I had the opportunity to play in six Mann Cups, winning three of them. Not bad for an American playing what is still considered a Canadian game.
Since 1997, throughout my professional career in the NLL, I’ve had the opportunity to play for a number of teams in the league. For a variety of reasons or circumstances, I’ve chosen to play for different teams and I’ve thoroughly enjoyed every franchise I’ve been a part of. It has given me a chance to live in different cities from time to time, and really enjoy broadening my horizons both geographically and culturally. To give you a chronological timeline of my NLL career, I’ve listed below my teams I’ve played for with the year, as well as the Canadian summer league teams I played on coinciding with that year. As you’ll see below, the commitment level and desire to play at this elite level as an American was extremely difficult and challenging, but I persevered and was very successful.
I still continue my playing career in the NLL, I’ve decided to give my body a much needed rest from the summer circuit and concentrate solely on playing professionally in the National Lacrosse League. It is very time consuming, not to mention very grueling on your body playing on concrete in the summer and Astroturf in the winter. Over my career in the NLL, I’ve had the opportunity to play in three World Championships with the Baltimore Thunder in 1998, Philadelphia Wings in 2001, and Arizona Sting in 2005, winning the coveted World Champions Cup in 2001 as a member of the Philadelphia Wings.
Having the opportunity to play in games of this magnitude, whether that be in the Mann Cup in Canada, or the World Championship of the NLL is truly amazing, but nothing can really compare to being selected to play for your country as I was in the World Indoor Lacrosse Championships. In 2001, I was selected for Team USA which participated in the Heritage Cup, which faced Team USA versus Team Canada in a one game- take- all competition. We took it to Canada and won 21-16, a game in which nobody gave us a chance. It was an exhilarating experience to say the least. From there, I was selected to the next two Team USA teams which compete every four years in the World Indoor Lacrosse Championships. In 2003 in Guelph, Ontario we won the Bronze Medal and in 2007 in Halifax, Nova Scotia again we fell short to Canada and Iroquois Nation taking home the Bronze Medal once again. I must say that being selected to be a part of Team USA on numerous occasions has really made me proud of myself and realize that all my hard work and dedication has brought me to the pinnacle of my life in lacrosse as well as life. I have made some outstanding friendships, played with the best players in the world, and have been coached by the best coaches in the world.
I feel at this stage of my life, based on my playing experience and accomplishments, I can honestly say I’m one of the world’s best lacrosse players. The road to success is never easy, but if you have the right mindset and are committed to yourself and your dreams, then anything is possible. I’m living proof of this, and I am committed to making you a better lacrosse player by training with me, Chris Panos.
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PROFESSIONAL CLUBS
YEAR
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
NLL Winter Season
Boston Blazers
Baltimore Thunder
Buffalo Bandits
New York Saints
Philadelphia Wings
Calgary Roughnecks
New York Saints
Anaheim Storm
Colorado Mammoth/Arizona Sting
Injured/Did not play
Chicago Shamrox
Chicago Shamrox
Canatian Summer Season
Brooklin Redmen (OLA)
Brooklin Redmen (OLA)
Victoria Shamrocks (WLA)
Victoria Shamrocks (WLA)
Victoria Shamrocks (WLA)
Victoria Shamrocks (WLA)
Did not participate in summer league
Peterborough Lakers (OLA)
Peterborough Lakers (OLA)
Peterborough Lakers (OLA)
Did not participate in summer league
Did not participate in summer league
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CAREER HIGHLIGHTS
1991 • All-Catholic League, St. John the Baptist, West Islip, N.Y.
1992 • All-Suffolk County, Sachem High School, Lake Ronkonkoma, N.Y.
1995 • All-America East, Hofstra University, Hempstead, N.Y.
1996 • All-America East, Hofstra University, Hempstead, N.Y.
1997 • 1st round, 4th overall draft pick, Boston Blazers, Major Indoor Lacrosse League
1998 • Team’s 2nd-leading goal scorer, Baltimore Thunder, National Lacrosse League
1999 • National Lacrosse League All-Star game participant (Buffalo Bandits)
• Mann Cup Champion, Victoria Shamrocks, Western Lacrosse Association
2001 • Undefeated regular season (19-0-1), Victoria Shamrocks, Western Lacrosse Association
• Western Lacrosse Association, 3-Star Award Winner (Victoria Shamrocks)
• 7th in league scoring, Western Lacrosse Association (Victoria Shamrocks)
• Team USA Heritage Cup Champion, defeating Canada 21-16
• World Champion, Philadelphia Wings, National Lacrosse League
2002 • Top 25 league scoring, Victoria Shamrocks, Western Lacrosse Association
• Team’s 2nd-leading goal scorer, Calgary Roughnecks, National Lacrosse League
2003 • Bronze Medal, Team USA, World Indoor Lacrosse Championships
• Team-leading goal scorer, New York Saints, National Lacrosse League
2004 • Team-leading goal scorer, Anaheim Storm, National Lacrosse League
• Mann Cup Champion, Peterborough Lakers, Ontario Lacrosse Association
2006 • Mann Cup Champion, Peterborough Lakers, Ontario Lacrosse Association
2007 • Team-leading goal scorer, Chicago Shamrox, National Lacrosse League
• Bronze Medal, Team USA, World Indoor Lacrosse Championships (2nd-leading goal scorer)
• ESPN SPORTSCENTER TOP 10 HIGHLIGHT OF THE NIGHT AT MADISON SQUARE GARDEN