Chris Massey (lacrosse)
Encyclopedia
Christopher G. "Chris" Massey is a retired lacrosse
attackman who played professional field lacrosse
in the Major League Lacrosse
(MLL). He starred as a member of the Princeton Tigers men's lacrosse
team from 1995 through 1998, where he earned three United States Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association
(USILA) All-American recognitions, four Ivy League
championships, and three national championships. He holds the Princeton lacrosse scoring records for consecutive games with a goal and ranks second in career goals. As a professional, he paid his way through law school as the MLL's only part time law student/lawyer. In high school he was a two-time All-American and a state champion.
. Massey was a member of the Garden City High School New York State Public High School Athletic Association
Class B lacrosse championship team in 1994. At Garden City, Massey was a two-time high school All-American in lacrosse.
and Jon Hess
. As starters, the trio of All-Americans, which retired second (Hess), third (Hubbard) and fourth (Massey) career points at Princeton, had a 43–2 record and combined for 618 points. He was a second team USILA All-American Team
selection in 1998 and third team selection in 1996 and 1997. He was also first team All-Ivy League in 1997 and 1998 and an honorable mention selection in 1996. The 1995 team, which earned the school's sixth consecutive NCAA Men's Lacrosse Championship
invitation, was Ivy League co-champion, while the 1996–1998 teams were 6–0 undefeated outright conference champions. These undefeated league champions won the 1996
, 1997
and 1998 NCAA Division I Men's Lacrosse Championship
s, becoming the first team to threepeat since Syracuse
from 1988–90 and the first to be recognized to have done so without an NCAA scandal since Johns Hopkins from 1978–80.
In the 1996 NCAA championship quarterfinals, he scored five goals in the 22–6 victory over . In the 1996 semifinals, he scored a game-high six goals in an 11–9 victory over Syracuse
, including a key goal after Syracuse tied the score at 9. In the 1997 semifinals, he scored a game-high three goals in the 10–9 come-from-behind victory over Duke
, including the tenth one as they erased a 9–7 deficit. He scored three goals in the 19–7 1997 championship game victory against Maryland. The 1997 team is regarded as the best in school history with a record number of wins during its 15–0 season. He served as co-captain
of the 1998 team, and he scored a goal during the 1998 Championship game against Maryland. Massey holds the Princeton record for consecutive games with a goal (46) and remains second to Hubbard in career goals (146 vs. 163) at Princeton.
during the 1999
and 2000 NLL season
s. Although the MLL has many part time players who work in other professions on off days, Massey was the first lawyer
. Massey began his MLL career with the Boston Cannons
during the 2001 MLL season
after being drafted in the third round of the 2001 MLL Inaugural Team Draft. Massey joined the New Jersey Pride
later that season and played with them during the 2002 MLL season
as well. He then played with the Long Island Lizards
from 2003
through 2007
after they acquired him along with Jay Jalbert
. He finished his career at the end of the 2007 season with the Los Angeles Riptide
. The Lizards considered him to be the 16th best player and the trade to acquire him to be "perhaps the greatest trade" in the franchise's first ten seasons. Massey helped the Lizards win the 2003 MLL Steinfeld Cup
championship. He works in the corporate litigation department at the New York and New Jersey offices of Bressler, Amery & Ross. After graduating from Princeton, in 1998, he started at Brooklyn Law School
in 2001 and worked at Bressler for the first two summers. He passed the New York and New Jersey bar examination
s during the 2004 MLL season
and subsequently began full time employment at Bressler in September 2004.
Lacrosse
Lacrosse is a team sport of Native American origin played using a small rubber ball and a long-handled stick called a crosse or lacrosse stick, mainly played in the United States and Canada. It is a contact sport which requires padding. The head of the lacrosse stick is strung with loose mesh...
attackman who played professional field lacrosse
Field lacrosse
Field lacrosse, sometimes referred to as the "fastest sport on two feet," is a full contact outdoor men's sport played with ten players on each team. The sport originated among Native Americans, and the modern rules of field lacrosse were initially codified by Canadian William George Beers in 1867....
in the Major League Lacrosse
Major League Lacrosse
Major League Lacrosse, or MLL, is a professional men's field lacrosse league that is made up of five teams in the United States and one team in Canada.- History :...
(MLL). He starred as a member of the Princeton Tigers men's lacrosse
Princeton Tigers men's lacrosse
The Princeton Tigers men's lacrosse team represents Princeton University in National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I men's lacrosse...
team from 1995 through 1998, where he earned three United States Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association
United States Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association
The United States Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association is an association of institutions with varsity college lacrosse programs in all three NCAA divisions, founded in 1885.-Awards:...
(USILA) All-American recognitions, four Ivy League
Ivy League
The Ivy League is an athletic conference comprising eight private institutions of higher education in the Northeastern United States. The conference name is also commonly used to refer to those eight schools as a group...
championships, and three national championships. He holds the Princeton lacrosse scoring records for consecutive games with a goal and ranks second in career goals. As a professional, he paid his way through law school as the MLL's only part time law student/lawyer. In high school he was a two-time All-American and a state champion.
Background
Massey is from on Long IslandLong Island
Long Island is an island located in the southeast part of the U.S. state of New York, just east of Manhattan. Stretching northeast into the Atlantic Ocean, Long Island contains four counties, two of which are boroughs of New York City , and two of which are mainly suburban...
. Massey was a member of the Garden City High School New York State Public High School Athletic Association
New York State Public High School Athletic Association
The New York State Public High School Athletic Association is the governing body of interscholastic sports for many schools in New York. It consists of 768 member high schools from the state divided into 11 numbered sections...
Class B lacrosse championship team in 1994. At Garden City, Massey was a two-time high school All-American in lacrosse.
College career
Massey was part of a trio of revered attackmen who were Princeton classmates along with Jesse HubbardJesse Hubbard
Jesse Hubbard is a former professional lacrosse player who played professional box lacrosse in the National Lacrosse League and professional field lacrosse in the Major League Lacrosse...
and Jon Hess
Jon Hess (lacrosse)
Jonathan A. "Jon" Hess is a retired lacrosse attackman who played professional box lacrosse in the National Lacrosse League and professional field lacrosse in Major League Lacrosse...
. As starters, the trio of All-Americans, which retired second (Hess), third (Hubbard) and fourth (Massey) career points at Princeton, had a 43–2 record and combined for 618 points. He was a second team USILA All-American Team
USILA All-American Team
The USILA All-American Team is an honor given annually to the best American men's college lacrosse players at their respective positions by the United States Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association. The term All-American is derived from the same practice in American college football, in which the...
selection in 1998 and third team selection in 1996 and 1997. He was also first team All-Ivy League in 1997 and 1998 and an honorable mention selection in 1996. The 1995 team, which earned the school's sixth consecutive NCAA Men's Lacrosse Championship
NCAA Men's Lacrosse Championship
The annual NCAA Men's Lacrosse Championship tournament determines the top men's field lacrosse team in the NCAA Division I, Division II, and Division III....
invitation, was Ivy League co-champion, while the 1996–1998 teams were 6–0 undefeated outright conference champions. These undefeated league champions won the 1996
1996 NCAA Division I Men's Lacrosse Championship
The 1996 NCAA Division I Men's Lacrosse Tournament was the 26th annual Division I NCAA Men's Lacrosse Championship tournament. Twelve NCAA Division I college men's lacrosse teams met after having played their way through a regular season, and for some, a conference tournament.The championship game...
, 1997
1997 NCAA Division I Men's Lacrosse Championship
The 1997 NCAA Division I Men's Lacrosse Tournament was the 27th annual Division I NCAA Men's Lacrosse Championship tournament. Twelve NCAA Division I college men's lacrosse teams met after having played their way through a regular season, and for some, a conference tournament.The championship game...
and 1998 NCAA Division I Men's Lacrosse Championship
1998 NCAA Division I Men's Lacrosse Championship
The 1998 NCAA Division I Men's Lacrosse Tournament was the 28th annual Division I NCAA Men's Lacrosse Championship tournament. Twelve NCAA Division I college men's lacrosse teams met after having played their way through a regular season, and for some, a conference tournament.The championship game...
s, becoming the first team to threepeat since Syracuse
Syracuse Orange men's lacrosse
The Syracuse Orange men's lacrosse team represents Syracuse University in NCAA Division I men's college lacrosse. The Orange have won 10 NCAA championship titles, and currently competes as a member of the Atlantic Coast Conference men's lacrosse conference...
from 1988–90 and the first to be recognized to have done so without an NCAA scandal since Johns Hopkins from 1978–80.
In the 1996 NCAA championship quarterfinals, he scored five goals in the 22–6 victory over . In the 1996 semifinals, he scored a game-high six goals in an 11–9 victory over Syracuse
Syracuse Orange men's lacrosse
The Syracuse Orange men's lacrosse team represents Syracuse University in NCAA Division I men's college lacrosse. The Orange have won 10 NCAA championship titles, and currently competes as a member of the Atlantic Coast Conference men's lacrosse conference...
, including a key goal after Syracuse tied the score at 9. In the 1997 semifinals, he scored a game-high three goals in the 10–9 come-from-behind victory over Duke
Duke Blue Devils men's lacrosse
The Duke Blue Devils men's lacrosse team represents Duke University in National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I men's lacrosse...
, including the tenth one as they erased a 9–7 deficit. He scored three goals in the 19–7 1997 championship game victory against Maryland. The 1997 team is regarded as the best in school history with a record number of wins during its 15–0 season. He served as co-captain
Captain (sports)
In team sports, a captain is a title given to a member of the team. The title is frequently honorary, but in some cases the captain may have significant responsibility for strategy and teamwork while the game is in progress on the field...
of the 1998 team, and he scored a goal during the 1998 Championship game against Maryland. Massey holds the Princeton record for consecutive games with a goal (46) and remains second to Hubbard in career goals (146 vs. 163) at Princeton.
Professional career
Massey played with the New York SaintsNew York Saints
The New York Saints are a former member of the National Lacrosse League. They played at the Nassau Coliseum in Uniondale, New York from 1989 to 2003. They became an inactive team after the 2002-03 season and were officially defunct in 2006....
during the 1999
1999 NLL season
-Awards:-Weekly Awards:Each week, a player is awarded "Player of the Week" honours.-Monthly Awards:Awards are also given out monthly for the best overall player and best rookie.-Statistics Leaders:...
and 2000 NLL season
2000 NLL season
-Awards:-Weekly Awards:Each week, a player is awarded "Player of the Week" honours.-Monthly Awards:Awards are also given out monthly for the best overall player and best rookie.-Statistics Leaders:...
s. Although the MLL has many part time players who work in other professions on off days, Massey was the first lawyer
Lawyer
A lawyer, according to Black's Law Dictionary, is "a person learned in the law; as an attorney, counsel or solicitor; a person who is practicing law." Law is the system of rules of conduct established by the sovereign government of a society to correct wrongs, maintain the stability of political...
. Massey began his MLL career with the Boston Cannons
Boston Cannons
The Boston Cannons are a Major League Lacrosse professional men's field lacrosse team based in Boston, Massachusetts. They have played in the MLL since the 2001 season. From 2006 to 2008, they were in the Eastern Conference. From the league's inception in 2001 through 2005, they were in the...
during the 2001 MLL season
2001 MLL season
The 2001 Major League Lacrosse season was the 1st season of the league. The season began on June 7 and concluded with the championship game on September 3, 2001.-General information:...
after being drafted in the third round of the 2001 MLL Inaugural Team Draft. Massey joined the New Jersey Pride
New Jersey Pride
The New Jersey Pride were a men's field lacrosse team formerly based in Piscataway, New Jersey, United States. They played in Major League Lacrosse from 2001-2008.-Franchise history:...
later that season and played with them during the 2002 MLL season
2002 MLL season
2002 Major League Lacrosse season was the 2nd season of the league. The season began on June 6 and concluded with the championship game on September 1, 2002.-General information:Baltimore moved its home games to Ravens Stadium...
as well. He then played with the Long Island Lizards
Long Island Lizards
The Long Island Lizards are a Major League Lacrosse professional men's field lacrosse team based in Hempstead, New York, USA, located on Long Island. They are original members of the MLL and lost in the league's inaugural game on June 7, 2001 to the Baltimore Bayhawks , 16-13...
from 2003
2003 MLL season
2003 Major League Lacrosse season was the 3rd season of the league. The season began on May 31 and concluded with the championship game on August 24, 2003.-General information:Schedule was reduced from 14 to 12 games....
through 2007
2007 MLL season
2007 Major League Lacrosse season was the 7th season of the league. The season began on May 12 and concluded with the championship game on August 26, 2007.-General information:...
after they acquired him along with Jay Jalbert
Jay Jalbert
Jay Jalbert is an American lacrosse player who had a standout collegiate career at the University of Virginia and then went on to play professional lacrosse in Major League Lacrosse and the National Lacrosse League, as well as on the U.S...
. He finished his career at the end of the 2007 season with the Los Angeles Riptide
Los Angeles Riptide
The Los Angeles Riptide were a lacrosse team based in Carson, California. From 2006 to 2008, they played in Major League Lacrosse. They ceased operations before the 2009 season due to the economic situation in the United States.-Franchise history:...
. The Lizards considered him to be the 16th best player and the trade to acquire him to be "perhaps the greatest trade" in the franchise's first ten seasons. Massey helped the Lizards win the 2003 MLL Steinfeld Cup
Steinfeld Cup
The Steinfeld Cup is the trophy given annually to the winners ofthe New Balance Major League Lacrosse Championship. It is named after MLL founder Jake Steinfeld...
championship. He works in the corporate litigation department at the New York and New Jersey offices of Bressler, Amery & Ross. After graduating from Princeton, in 1998, he started at Brooklyn Law School
Brooklyn Law School
Brooklyn Law School is a law school located in Brooklyn Heights, in Downtown Brooklyn, New York.-History:Founded in 1901 by William Payson Richardson and Norman P. Heffley, Brooklyn Law School was the first law school on Long Island. Using space provided by Heffley’s business school, the law...
in 2001 and worked at Bressler for the first two summers. He passed the New York and New Jersey bar examination
Bar examination
A bar examination is an examination conducted at regular intervals to determine whether a candidate is qualified to practice law in a given jurisdiction.-Brazil:...
s during the 2004 MLL season
2004 MLL season
2004 Major League Lacrosse season was the 4th season of the league. The season began on May 22 and concluded with the championship game on August 22, 2004.-General information:...
and subsequently began full time employment at Bressler in September 2004.