The
Crease Monkeys were formed in April of 1998 to promote the sport of
lacrosse by bringing together players from across the United States
and overseas to play in lacrosse tournaments and provide instructional
clinics.
In
their first attempt at tournament play, the Monkeys did not fare very
well. However, their performance off the field, in the social arena,
was legendary. They made many, many friends, as well as contacts through
out the lacrosse community. The basic philosophy of the Crease Monkeys
was born - Make great friends, Visit Great Places and Have Fun!! The
team name was instantly popular for its uniqueness and originality.
The
following year, because of their gregarious reputation, getting players
involved with the Crease Monkeys team and in tournaments was a bit easier,
and the second portion of the Crease Monkey creed was solidified - play
great lacrosse. Current and former Monkeys include some of the sport's
elite players, including World Team members from the U.S., Canada, the
Iroquois Nation, England and Australia, College All Americans and professional
all stars from Major League Lacrosse and the National Lacrosse League.
The
Crease Monkeys team set modest goals for itself in the early years.
The team has not only met those goals but far exceeded them. The popularity
of the team is unrivaled. No matter what city or country the team visits,
the locals want to interact with the players and lacrosse fans everywhere
highly covet Crease Monkey gear and apparel.
The
Crease Monkey Lacrosse Camp is a wonderful, non-profit, summer camp
held in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. In 2002 there were over 150 campers.
There are also numerous free clinics through out the season to teach
lacrosse to children from all walks of life. The emphasis of the camps
and clinics is on teaching basic skills and instilling a love of the
sport of lacrosse to the participants.
The team has won tournaments in Australia, Hawaii, Chicago, New Orleans
and Lake Placid. The Monkeys have toured Canada, England, Ireland, Amsterdam
and Japan playing exhibitions and spreading the good will of lacrosse.
The
Crease Monkeys have been featured in Lacrosse Magazine, Lacrosse Talk
Magazine, and Inside Lacrosse Magazine and on many lacrosse websites
including e-Lacrosse.com and AllLacrosseAmerica.com. The team's award
winning web site (www.creasemonkeys.com), which includes thousands of
pictures of all the Crease Monkeys games and events, went live on August
20, 1999 and was called the 'Worlds Best Club Lacrosse Website' by Lacrosse
Talk Magazine (UK's official lacrosse magazine). The current visitor
count is rapidly approaching 200,000.
In
the summer of 2002, the decision was made to expand The Crease Monkeys
phenomena into club lacrosse. Transforming what had previously been
a tournament and touring team, new clubs from Harford County, Maryland
and Seattle, Washington will begin play in the American Lacrosse League
and the West Coast Lacrosse League respectively. The new teams kicked
off their inaugural seasons in the spring of 2003.
The
club teams are patterned after the English and Australian style of club
sports whereby all members, from the pee wees (6-7 year olds) to the
grand masters (over 45), and their families, interact both athletically
and socially. Both new teams will be governed by a set of approved By-Laws
and a Board of Directors elected from the membership. There is a high
level of organization, with the each team's goal being long-term success,
on and off the field.
While
the tournament and touring version of the Crease Monkeys included all-stars
from all levels of lacrosse, the club teams include players of all ability
levels who are looking to have a good time playing "social lacrosse."
We want to be successful on the field, but not at the expense of having
a good time off the field.
The
club teams have been very successful from the beginning. And in 2006,
in just the 4th year of competing in the American Lacrosse League (www.americanlacrosseleague.com),
the Harford Crease Monkeys captured their first league championship
over Lacrosse Unlimited of New York. With the club's next championship
in mind, be assured that the Harford club team will continue to adhere
to the Crease Monkeys motto: Make Great Friends, Play Great Lacrosse,
Visit Great Places and Have Fun!!