Saskatchewan Rush forward Jeff Shattler teaches minor lacrosse players at the Yara Centre on ThursdayJeff Shattler is a 14-year veteran of the National Lacrosse League, and he brought is knowledge and experience to young lacrosse players in Moose Jaw last week.

The Saskatchewan Rush forward brought his Shattler Academy camp to the Yara Centre where about 40 minor lacrosse players took part.

Shattler said he tried to take a different approach to teach kids lacrosse and kill any bad habits.

“A lot of kids really, really like it,” he said. “We try to give them a new look at lacrosse and try to teach the basics. We don’t want to go too, too far if they aren’t ready for it.”

The Shattler Academy has been running for two years, holding clinics across southern Saskatchewan, but this is the first time he’s run his camp in Moose Jaw.

He’s hoping to make this camp an annual event as he said there are a lot of good athletes in this city.

“I love my job now and I just want to give back to these kids here in Moose Jaw and pretty much the southern part of Saskatchewan,” Shattler said.

Shattler comes with an impressive resume as the 2011 NLL Most Valuable Player with the Calgary Roughnecks. He signed with Saskatchewan ahead of the 2018 season, where he won a 2018 NLL championship and was named the playoff’s MVP.

Coming from Ontario, a hotbed for lacrosse, he was able to gain valuable knowledge that he wants to pass on to the younger generations.

“This is the next step in my life of playing lacrosse,” Shattler said. “I’m going to be retiring here soon and coaching is where it is at.”

More information about the Shattler Academy can be found on their website.