I remember seeing these in game use.

My dear wife Karen and I thought it was a good time to revisit The Preserve, one of our favorite Central New York restaurants, for a relaxing weekday lunch.

While we chatted at our high top, sipped our drinks and eagerly awaited our food, I spotted a wood lacrosse goalie’s stick behind the bar.

I asked our server if anybody in house might be able to tell me its story.

Former restaurant owner Doug LaLone came out of the kitchen with the tale.

A former lacrosse player at famous CNY high school West Genesee, he carried a fondness for vintage sticks made by the Onondaga Nation Jacques family.

For the score …

He gladly purchased the goalie stick, and an attacker’s stick for display on the other side of the bar.

Going way back.

A real pice of history, a stick in the style used at the inception of the sport found at Cornell University, hangs at the center of the bar.

The three sticks so important to the sport that’s been with me my whole life — my three foundation spots of Long Island, Maryland and Central New York I’d say are the three hot spots of the game — gave me a jolt as I follow my alma mater Maryland and hometown school Syracuse as they enter their conference lacrosse tournaments and battle for positioning in the NCAA tournaments.