Randy Staats
| Born | 23 November 1992 Six Nations, Ontario |
|---|---|
| Nationality | Six Nations of the Grand River |
| Height | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) |
| Weight | 200 pounds (91 kg) |
| Shoots | Right |
| Position | Attack |
| NCAA team | Onondaga Community College Syracuse University |
| NLL draft | 6th overall, 2015 Georgia Swarm |
Randy Staats (born November 23, 1992, in Six Nations, Ontario, Canada) is an Iroquois professional lacrosse player with the Halifax Thunderbirds in the National Lacrosse League (NLL) and the Six Nations Chiefs of the Major Series Lacrosse (MSL). He was drafted 6th overall by the Georgia Swarm in the 2015 NLL Entry Draft. He also played in the Premier Lacrosse League (PLL) and Major League Lacrosse (MLL), drafted 29th overall in the 2015 MLL Entry Draft.
Early career and education
[edit]Randy Staats began his collegiate lacrosse career at Onondaga Community College (OCC), where he was a standout player.[1][2] He joined the Syracuse Orange in 2014 after two years with OCC.[3] At Syracuse, he earned USILA Honorable Mention All-American, Inside Lacrosse Preseason Second Team All-American, and ACC All-Tournament Team honors.[4]
Professional career
[edit]Drafted 6th overall by the Georgia Swarm in the 2015 NLL Entry Draft, Staats quickly established himself as a key player. He made a significant impact in his rookie season, earning the 2016 NLL Rookie of the Year award after producing 95 points, setting a rookie point record at the time..[5][6] Throughout his career, Staats has played for several teams, including the Swarm, Panther City Lacrosse Club, and most recently, the Halifax Thunderbirds[5]
In the PLL, Staats was a two-time All-Star (2016, 2019) and won the 2020 championship with the Cannons.[7]
He is the brother of fellow professional lacrosse player Austin Staats. In 2021, his brother's off-field altercation with Matt Gaudet was widely publicized, leading to an indefinite suspension, after which Austin was eventually reinstated.[8][9][10]
Personal life and advocacy
[edit]Staats is also a prominent figure in promoting the sport, especially among Indigenous communities.[11] He has been an advocate of the inclusion of the Haudenosaunee, who lack International Olympic Committee recognition, in the 2028 Olympics.[12]
References
[edit]- ^ "Randy Staats - 2013 - Men's Lacrosse". Onondaga Community College Athletics. Retrieved 2024-07-28.
- ^ dwebb@syracuse.com, Donnie Webb | (2012-08-21). "OCC's Randy Staats has Syracuse, Denver and North Carolina on his recruiting radar". syracuse. Retrieved 2024-07-28.
- ^ "Dome Bound: Randy Staats' Long Journey to Syracuse". Retrieved July 28, 2024.
- ^ "Randy Staats - Men's Lacrosse". Syracuse University Athletics. Retrieved 2024-07-28.
- ^ a b "Randy Staats - NLL Profile". Retrieved July 28, 2024.
- ^ "Randy Staats Wins NLL Rookie of the Year". spectrumlocalnews.com. Retrieved 2024-07-28.
- ^ "Randy Staats". Premier Lacrosse League. Retrieved 2024-07-28.
- ^ "PLL News: Gaudet, Austin Staats Suspended Indefinitely; Chrome Add Tommy Palasek". Retrieved July 28, 2024.
- ^ "San Diego player gets 7-game suspension for incident with FireWolves". Retrieved July 28, 2024.
- ^ "THE STAATS BROTHERS ARE THE NLL'S NEWEST SIBLING STARS".
- ^ "RANDY STAATS REFLECTS ON THE HISTORY AND TRAGEDY OF RESIDENTIAL SCHOOLS". Retrieved July 28, 2024.
- ^ "Indigenous lacrosse players battle for 2028 Olympics spot". CTVNews. 2023-12-29. Retrieved 2024-07-28.