Cam Bomberry - A Quiet Elite Leader Who Wins Championships

Editor's Note - The pandemic has resulted in activities across the World being delayed or cancelled for the past 20 months, including countless events in the Canadian lacrosse community. However, on Saturday, November 13, 2021 - the Canadian Lacrosse Hall of Fame held a double cohort Induction ceremony for the years 2020 and 2021. A total of 4 players, 2 builders, 1 veteran and 1 team were inducted for each year.

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This is the 9th of 16 feature articles pertaining to the most recent teams, players, builders, or veterans inducted into the Canadian Lacrosse Hall of Fame. The following article highlights the player Cam Bomberry who won 1 Minto Cup and 2 Mann Cup championships with Six Nations. He was also an accomplished field lacrosse player playing for Canada and recognized as an NCAA three time All American midfielder.  Cam Bomberry was inducted into the Canadian Lacrosse Hall of Fame in 2020 honoured in the Player category.

As a Mohawk, Cameron “Cam” Bomberry grew up in the Six Nations community of Ohsweken.  Cam is part of the legendary Bomberry lacrosse family. His father, the iconic Oliver “Cap” Bomberry was induced into the Ontario Lacrosse Hall of Fame in 1997 and the Canadian Lacrosse Hall of Fame in 2001 in the Builder category.

Not a boisterous person, Cam is highly respected by both teammates and opposition players and he had a career of winning. For lacrosse fans, Cam Bomberry was one of those players you wanted to watch play.  He was so skilled, a game breaker, a genuine star player.  Bomberry played six seasons of OLA Junior “A” lacrosse where he scored 199 goals, added 286 assists for a total of 485 points.  He played his first three season with the St. Catharines Athletics.  In 1991, Cam opted to play for his home town Six Nations Arrows to complete his junior career.  In 1992, Cam Bomberry won the Most Valuable Player award as he captained the Arrows to the Minto Cup championship.  

Being the offensive power he was, Cam went onto have a stellar career playing twelve seasons of Senior Lacrosse in the MSL of Ontario. (He also played one season with the Mohawk Stars in 2008 in the OLA Senior “B” league).

Cam was a member of two Mann Cup championship teams, - the Six Nations Chiefs in 1994 and 1996.  Weighing 200 pounds and standing 5’10”, playing with drive and determination, Cam Bomberry was tough to stop.  Over 242 games, Bomberry sniped 281 goals, tallied 335 assists for an impressive total of 516 points.  He was inducted into the Ontario Lacrosse Hall of Fame in 2016.

Cam Bomberry was also an accomplished field lacrosse player.  He was outstanding in the first ever U19 Championship when Team Canada earned a Silver Medal.  During an accomplished college career, Bomberry was a three-time All-American midfielder for Nazareth College, and a member of the NCAA Division III National Championship Team in 1992.  In addition, Cam played for the Iroquois National team four times.  Not surprisingly, he was a key player on the 2014 Bronze winning Federation of International Lacrosse champions.

Furthermore, Bomberry played in the National Lacrosse League.  He was the first overall selection in the 1994 draft.  His career included playing for the Buffalo Bandits, New Jersey Storm and Rochester Knighthawks.  Cam was instrumental in Rochester winning the NLL Championship in 1997.  In fourteen NLL seasons, Cam Bomberry netted 256 goals, collected 464 assists for 720 total points in 206 games.

When informed he was to be inducted into the Canadian Lacrosse Hall of Fame, Cam stated, “It is a big honour and I have to admit, I did not see it coming. It is very special, particularly because my Dad is in the CLHOF. He was the first person I contacted to let him know when I heard the great news”.

As a member of several championship teams over his career, when recalling any particular team, Cam spoke about the 1992 Minto Cup team - “You only get a certain amount of time to win the Minto Cup.  It was a thrill to win a national crown with a team from my home.  And, mostly with players I grew up with. Even today, I consider it to be a great honour to have been part of that team”.

Like so many of lacrosse’s great players, Cam Bomberry gives back to the game.  He has coached and played for several First Nations teams at both the National and International levels, including the Iroquois Nations in field and box lacrosse. Cam is often part of lacrosse clinics and lectures giving back and helping to continue to grow the game.

Cam Bomberry is well aware he benefited from the support of many others during his lacrosse career.  He acknowledged the trainers and medical staff who helped with injuries. And certainly, Cam is grateful to coaches who recognized his skill, helped him develop his game to become the player he was.

But for Cam, the most important people in his life and lacrosse career are his parents.  The quiet leader proudly stated – “Without hesitation, my parents - my father Cap (Oliver) and my mother Eleanor - the time and effort they gave managing not only my sports career, but my siblings' athletics as well, cannot be overstated.  They worked so hard to be able to provide us the opportunity to play and grow in a way that we could experience the best of what was possible. And having the abundance of community members that devote their time to this great game and guiding us as young individuals. We became a very close-knit Family, all on account of SIX Nations of the Grand River Territory passion for Tewaaraton (Lacrosse).  But it is my Mom and Dad, the ones who initially involved me in this great community of Lacrosse, I have so much love and respect”. 

Cam Bomberry - an elite lacrosse player, an elite person - inducted into the Canadian Lacrosse Hall of Fame in the Player category – Class of 2020.

(Written by Rad Joseph - Member of Major Series Lacrosse Media team)