Sam on Sports: Jeff Shattler
By Sam Laskaris
REGINA – Though he’s no longer playing professionally, Jeff Shattler continues to be heavily involved with lacrosse.
Shattler, a member of Wiikwemkoong Unceded Territory on Manitoulin Island in Ontario, is doing his best to help others by introducing some to the sport or assisting those who are keen to reach the highest levels.
Shattler retired from the pro National Lacrosse League (NLL) in the spring of 2022. During his pro career, which began in 2006, he suited up for the Buffalo Bandits, Calgary Roughnecks, and Saskatchewan Rush.
Shattler was a good player. In fact, he was selected as the NLL’s most valuable player when he was toiling for the Roughnecks in 2011. And he was the league’s playoff MVP in 2018 after helping the Rush win the league title.
Shattler, who is now 38, began thinking about his post-retirement career before he stopped playing pro.
This is the sixth year he has been operating the Sha77ler Lacrosse Academy. The first word in his company name is genius-level itself as it utilizes 77, his old jersey number, instead of the two t’s in his surname.
Shattler’s academy is already hugely successful and he anticipates it will become even more popular in the coming years.
The academy, based in Regina where Shattler currently lives with his wife and two young sons, has various components to it. For starters, the academy includes an elite program for young players at various levels. Shattler also offers private lessons for individuals.
The academy also ventures off to schools and Indigenous communities to introduce lacrosse to as many youth as possible.
Sticks and balls are left behind at the schools or communities so that youngsters can continue playing the sport afterwards.
Business is booming for Shattler these days. He’ll be crossing the border soon and staging upcoming camps in Wisconsin and Minnesota.
Besides Saskatchewan, he’s also been booked for camps throughout British Columbia, Alberta, and Ontario. Plus, plans are in the works to run an intercity school tournament in Regina, possibly next year. The goal would be to bring together teams, bussing them in from northern and southern Saskatchewan, to give youth a memorable experience.
Though he’s no longer playing pro, Shattler feels like he’s busier than ever these days with his academy commitments, but he wouldn’t have it any other way. He loves the fact he’s able to give back to the sport that has given him so much in his own life.
And though he’s no longer playing professionally, Shattler has returned to playing the sport this spring.
At the request of his friend who is a chief for his First Nation, Shattler launched the Standing Buffalo Fighting Sioux Lacrosse program in 2019.
Shattler opted to join Standing Buffalo, Senior B squad that competes in its five-team Saskatchewan-based league this season.
Shattler is proving he has not lost too many steps in the sport. He’s a dominant player for the Fighting Sioux having racked up a whopping 40 points (17 goals and 23 assists) in his first six matches.
Shattler’s contributions via his academy, however, will have much longer-lasting impacts.