Tehoka Nanticoke

Tehoka Nanticoke was born on January 18, 1998, on the Six Nations Reserve in Ontario, Canada. His lacrosse skills were cultivated from an early age by his elder brother, Chancey Hill. Nanticoke’s distinctive playing style, which incorporates nontraditional moves and trick shots, gained him significant attention, leading to his recruitment by the IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida. He quickly became a standout player there, garnering recognition for his unique approach to the game. In 2017, Nanticoke committed to play collegiately at the University at Albany and was rated as the number one recruit in college lacrosse for his class.

Nanticoke’s collegiate career at the University at Albany began with a strong performance in 2018, where he tallied 49 goals and 32 assists in his freshman season. Despite his initial success, Nanticoke faced challenges, including a period of non-enrollment in 2018 for personal reasons and ultimately his dismissal from the UAlbany men’s lacrosse program on March 31, 2021. Following his collegiate experience, Nanticoke transitioned to professional lacrosse. He was drafted third overall in the 2021 NLL Draft by the Buffalo Bandits, where he has been instrumental in the team’s success, contributing to three consecutive championships from 2023 to 2025. His talents were also recognized by the Premier Lacrosse League, with the Carolina Chaos claiming him from their player pool on March 5, 2022.

Beyond his playing career, Nanticoke has also entered the coaching realm, serving as an assistant coach for the Niagara University Purple Eagles women’s lacrosse team. In this role, he contributed to the team achieving a 16-4 overall record, securing their first conference championship, and making their first NCAA tournament appearance. His personal background as a member of the Mohawk Nation and his adherence to the Longhouse Religion deeply influence his life, including his commitment to cultural traditions and his holistic perspective on lacrosse as the “Medicine Game.” He emphasizes his cultural heritage by maintaining traditional long hair and speaking fluent Mohawk, embodying a strong connection to his roots.