A couple of years back they interviewed one of the players on Canada’s world junior team about how he felt lacrosse had helped him to become a better hockey player. This was a kid that was known for his one on one skill. He said lacrosse taught him how to protect the puck better in tight, just like he had to do with the ball. It taught him how to deke at full speed. It taught him how to roll off of a check and how to take one when it was necessary but how to recover from it properly.

As a former box lacrosse player I would like to see field lacrosse become more popular. It incorporates all of the good things in both soccer and lacrosse. Esepecially getting outside and away from the stinky arenas.

John Taveres (the NHL John Taveres) did not ever play Pro lacrosse.

However, he did play Jr.A lacrosse at age 14 for Mississauga which in itself is amazing.

On a side note, and switching to hockey, I did some digging and found that Taveras play as an AP at age 13 with the Milton Icehawks (JrA)

Anyways, his uncle John Tavares is one of the best lacrosse players of all time.

…times have changed.

…today the game is so intensively competitive that if you want to succeed, you have to work hard all year round. I remember Stamkos and Tavares playing in all those spring/summer tournaments and having personal trainers. Tavares played pro lacrosse at 13 with men; but was always at the ice rink too.

The crazy hockey parents are partly responsible for having created this rat race. The amount of money being spent on powerskating, hockey schools and personal training is staggering. It doesn’t matter that some of the parents can’t afford it; they want that OHL or NCAA scholarship more than anything; the NHL wouldn’t be bad either.

They haven’t figured out yet that it’s less difficult to become a doctor or a lawyer.