A hall of fame lacrosse player was in Thunder Bay over the weekend to help guide the next generation.
Former Toronto Rock captain Jim Veltman was teaching more than 50 kids at Delany Arena Saturday before the Thunder Bay Lacrosse League’s season kickoff Monday. This is Veltman’s fifth year teaching the local camp. When he first came to town, he had to teach the players basic skills like how to hold a stick. Now, he’s showing them strategies that pros in the National Lacrosse League use.
“It’s all about making it fun for them. If you don’t make it fun for them nobody’s going to listen,” Veltman said during a break at the camp. “I can see the progression every year I come back. I see kids their level of play just increases that much more so obviously something’s working… just watching the progression of the kids is really cool.”
What’s most important for Veltman is to keep kids in the game that he loves as they get older. He’s even started a new Canadian Lacrosse League in order for young adults to stay in the sport.
“I want them to stay in the game that’s’ my primary reason why I’m here,” he said.
That’s good news for 13-year-old Jacob Furtado. The six-year veteran said he’s stayed in the sport because it’s a great way to stay active and meet people. But he would also love to play in the big leagues one day.
“It’s really rapidly developing and that’s awesome because it really is an awesome sport,” he said. “It’s a good atmosphere.
Getting advice from a pro like Veltman is also great he added.
“It’s an honour almost because he’s a professional lacrosse player and he’s coaching me so it’s pretty cool.”
On top of having fun, 12-year-old Jayda MacArthur has another reason to play lacrosse.
““I like the contact. It’s fun to hit people,” she said with a smile.
Both MacArthur and Furtado agree that the sport seems to be gaining in popularity with the city’s youth.
