BUFFALO — Rich Kilgour notices the looks. The smiles. The random high fives as he’s picking up his son at Tuscarora Indian School.

Along with his brother Darris, Kilgour has become an icon — to a point throughout Western New York, but most certainly on the reservation where he was born and raised.

And as he approaches his eighth National Lacrosse League championship game in a 17-year playing career, Rich Kilgour still marvels at the unifying effect the game he loves has had on a community that boasts less than 1,200 people.

“I won’t even know some of them,” he said of his Tuscaroran Reservation neighbors. “They’ll just walk up to me and say ‘good luck.’ It’s been like that all week.”

Plenty has been made of the two brothers — another sibling, Travis, also played with the Bandits for a time — although their direct impact on the game isn’t nearly what it once was. Darris, now in his sixth season as the team’s coach, hasn’t seen game action since 2000. Rich’s offensive contributions are minimal as he scored just once in 15 games this season, and as he joked at Friday’s press conference, he entered the league just a year after Portland’s Pete Jacobs — with whom he’ll square off in tonight’s National Lacrosse League championship game at HSBC Arena — was born.

But the lasting impression they’ve made on lacrosse fans is obvious.

Along with John Tavares, the Kilgours are the Sabres equivalent to Gilbert Perreault, Jim Schoenfeld and Don Luce.

It’s a thought that makes Rich Kilgour proud, yet uncomfortable.

“It’s such a huge thing out there, and the fans are so passionate,” he said. “Hopefully, some kid wants to be the next Kilgour some day. It’s a great feeling.”

Although he’s one of the most recognizable faces in the history of the franchise, don’t ever expect nepotism or favoritism from Darris, who was known as one of the league’s most rough-and-tumble players during his tenure.

For example, relatives Elijha and Emmett Printup have shined this season with the Niagara-Wheatfield team that Darris and Rich once starred on.

But Darris doesn’t see himself as a pioneer. And if the Printups are to ever achieve the same success as the Kilgours, Darris expects just as much hard work.

“I just never think of it like that,” he said when asked if he was a trailblazer. “I look at (the Printups) and they’re good high school players. I would never want to put pressure on anyone, even if they do have the tools. And if they stick to the gameplan, there could be opportunities. But I’ve coached cousins and family before, and the first thing I say is ‘you’re not getting anything special.’ I probably would make them work harder.”

Darris still marvels at the game’s popularity, and the fact that Buffalo has perennially been one of the league’s attendance leaders. The advantage has certainly made a difference — since the franchise started, the Bandits have gone 75-41 at home.

But we really enjoys is the resurgence the game has had on the reservation where he works and was raised.

“The other day, I’m just driving home and I see kids with their sticks throwing it around,” he said. “I remember when I was in high school there were like eight, nine or maybe 10 teams. Now there’s 20-something and they’re adding more each year. It’s really gratifying to see this happening to the sport you love.”

And if the Bandits beat Portland tonight, capturing the title for the first time since 1996, how will that play out on the reservation?

“The last time we won was the funnest week ever,” Rich Kilgour said.

“I hope we can do it again. I really can’t wait. I can’t sleep. I’ve been just like a kid at Christmas time all week.”

Contact sports editor Tim Schmitt at 282-2311, ext. 2266.



GAME NIGHT

• WHO: Portland Lumberjax at Buffalo Bandits

• WHAT: NLL Championship

• WHEN: 7 p.m., tonight

• WHERE: HSBC Arena

• TV: ESPN360, replayed on ESPN2

• NOTES: Buffalo won seven of its last eight at home, and should have a decided advantage in front of a raucous HSBC Arena crowd, that’s expected to be near capacity. ... But Portland won twice on the road in the playoffs to get to NLL title game. ... With 87 points, John Tavares led the Bandits in scoring while Dan Dawson (81 points) led Portland.