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Aleš Hřebeský was born on July 1st, 1972 and was among the most gifted LCC players. Moreover, he was a keen ice-hockey player, gymnast, and cycle-ball player. On November 30th, 1993 he died from injuries caused by a drunk driver who hit Aleš while he waited at a bus stop.
The tournament used to be the traditional opening of the Czech lacrosse season, and was played at the end of March. All the games were played on a typically muddy field dried with layers of shavings and sawdust.
The 8th tournament in 2001 was a breakthrough. Thanks to a generous grant from the Municipality of Prague, and the effort of LCC members, the arena was refurbished and an artificial surface was laid down. The Grand Opening became a new feature of the Aleš Hřebeský Memorial, and for the first time ever – teams from abroad (the USA, Germany and even Japan) participated in the event. It was the first tournament in the history of international box lacrosse with participating teams from more than two countries. The Champion that year was LCC Sokol Radotín. The next year, two American teams participated and a few professional players played on Team Rebel, which won the tournament in 2002–2004. The winner of 2005 and 2006 annual was LC Jižní Město.
In 2007, a team from the homeland of box lacrosse, Canada, took part for the first time ever as the Green Gaels from Ontario came to play. Their young team remained unbeaten and gained the trophy in their first year. The 2007 tournament was also good preparation for the Czech national team before the World Indoor Lacrosse Championships, which were held in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada in May 2007. For the first time a lacrosse match was broadcasted on TV in the Czech Republic. Czech TV Sport Channel broadcasted the All-Star Game.
From 2001–2004 the main sponsor – HBA – gave the name to the tournament: HBA Cup. The partner for the 2005 annual Memorial was ICV. JIMI-Dlouhý Ltd. was the general partner of the tournament in 2006 and 2007. S&S vzduchotechnika has played this role since 2008.
16 teams took part in the 2008 annual, which was a record at the time, and for the first time the tournament started on Thursday. Several Rebel players, including Bill Curtis who brought the Rebel team as the first overseas team to the tournament, appeared for an ambitious Megamen Boston squad. They won the trophy in the first ever live TV broadcast from the tournament. Also all the matches were available to watch live on the internet at bwin website, and you could bet on results there too. Megamen dominated again in 2009.
In 2010 an eruption of the Icelandic volcano Eyafjallajökull stopped air traffic over Europe just prior to the Memorial and caused the Megamen, Nova Scotia Privateers and US Team Philadelphia to miss the event. Canadian teams Love You to Death and Green Gaels were lucky to get to Radotín before the eruption and Green Gaels repeated their victory from 2007. Other players' journies from Ireland and England were very adventurous and complicated and the organizers were very appreciative that they made the effort to get to Prague for the tournament.
In 2011 the Memorial was the last practice for many players participating in the World Indoor Lacrosse Championships, held in Prague one month later. Jim Veltman, a Canadian and professional lacrosse legend, who came to Prague as a Czech national team coach, accepted an invitation to play for Love You to Death and lead his team to the champions title, won in the overtime period of a great final game against Megamen.
The 20th annual (in 2013) hosted a team from British Columbia (Canada) for the first time, and French and Israeli lacrosse players took part on a combined squad. An entirely Polish team made their debut in the tournament and Scotland was represented as well. Home team LCC Radotín celebrated the jubilee tournament with the highest number of teams in history and gained the trophy after a 12 year absence from the winners circle.
In 2014, for the 21st annual, 20 teams were competing, representing 14 different nations. For the very first time a native Iroquois team – Kahnawake Rapids – took part in the tournament with several Iroquois national team players on their roster. In a very competitive tournament field they stayed undefeated and won the trophy.
The highest possible number of teams – 21 – arrived in 2015. There were three newcomers - Regina Heat from Saskatchewan, Canada, and new countries represented – Sweden and Turkey. The Ladner Pioneers reached the finals and won their first title in their third visit to Radotín.
The 23rd annual welcomed a new team from Switzerland. Another newcomer – Team Alberta – gained the tournament trophy in the breathtaking final game against home Custodes. The Albertans won in sudden death overtime.
2017 saw 21 teams come back to play, and the home team Custodes won the title after losing in the finals the year before. With 15 countries represented, including Sweden, and five teams from North America, it was one of the most diverse annuals ever.
A new record for teams was set in 2018, as 24 teams came to play in the 25th annual Ales Hrebesky Memorial box lacrosse tournament. With 24 teams playing, some games were played at a second venue in Černošice on Friday. Goldstar Tel Aviv, made up primarily of Israel national team players, won their first title ever, and were a dominant team throughout the tournament, beating Nova Scotia 6-3 in the finals.
TIn 2020 and 2021, the tournament was cancelled due to the covid-19 epidemic and related restrictions.
In 2022, 21 teams took part in the "restarted" tournament. Most of the traditional Canadian participants could not arrive. New teams playing under flags of Belgium and the Nederlands debuted in the tournament. Home LC Custodes gained the trophy. In 2023, all 24 spots were filled again, and the Canadian teams Green Gaels and Nova Scotia Privateers returned. Also arriving for the first time was an Iroquois team from the Six Nations region. After a thrilling final game, the Nova Scotia Privateers were the winners, beating the home team Custodes by a single goal.
Aleš Hřebeský Memorial Winners
1st annual, 1994 – LCC Radotín
2nd annual, 1995 – LCC Radotín
3rd annual, 1996 – TJ Malešice
4th annual, 1997 – LCC Radotín
5th annual, 1998 – LCC Radotín
6th annual, 1999 – LCC Radotín
7th annual, 2000 – LCC Radotín
8th annual, 2001 – LCC Radotín
9th annual, 2002 – Rebels (USA)
10th annual, 2003 – Rebels (USA)
11th annual, 2004 – Rebels (USA)
12th annual, 2005 – LC Jižní Město
13th annual, 2006 – LC Jižní Město
14th annual, 2007 – Green Gaels (CAN)
15th annual, 2008 – Megamen Boston (USA)
16th annual, 2009 – Megamen Boston (USA)
17th annual, 2010 – Green Gaels (CAN)
18th annual, 2011 – Love You to Death (CAN)
19th annual, 2012 – Megamen Boston (USA)
20th annual, 2013 – LC Custodes Radotín (CZE)
21st annual, 2014 – Kahnawake Rapids (IRO)
22nd annual, 2015 – Pioneers (CAN)
23rd annual, 2016 – Team Alberta (CAN)
24th annual, 2017 – LCC Radotín (CZE)
25th annual, 2018 – Tel Aviv Lacrosse (ISR)
26th annual, 2019 – Glasgow Clydesiders (SCO)
2020 – the tournament cancelled due to covid-19 epidemic
2021 – the tournament cancelled due to covid-19 epidemic
27th annual, 2022 – LCC Radotín (CZE)
28th annual, 2023 – Nova Scotia Privateers (CAN)
