By Craig Rybczynski --
Shawn Evans cannot remember a time when he didn't have a lacrosse stick in his hands. Growing up the youngest of three brothers, “Little Evy” could always find a stick and a ball, and a neighborhood game of lacrosse.

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This past weekend, Evans realized how fortunate he was growing up in Peterborough, Ontario. The Calgary Roughnecks forward joined Knighthawk Jamie Batson, Buffalo Bandit Luke Wiles and Rochester’s Strength and Conditioning Coach Matt Green on a remote Reserve on Christian Island. The quartet took the ferry from Midland, Ontario to Beausoleil First Nation, which rests on the southern tip of Georgian Bay.

Evans demonstrated some outrageous stick tricks and his passion for the game as “Right to Play” made its fourth and final trip of the summer from August 9-12. The players and staff taught the Creator’s Game to nearly 60 kids on Christian Island, which boasts a mere 700 residents. The island, known for its beautiful beaches and dense forests – and immortalized by Canadian folk singer-songwriter Gordon Lightfoot in his song, “In the Lee of Christian Island” – became the home of lacrosse for four days.

“I always want to help the next generation,” said Evans, who began his career with the Knighthawks. “We got to go there and show them how we started."

Batson, who completed his rookie season in the NLL with a Championship, worked with the kids on the basics like passing, catching and picking up the ball. The 27-year-old defenseman from Brantford, Ontario made the three-hour trip to assist the program devoted to delivering skill-based instruction to children, youth and coaches.

It was appropriate that Batson attend the camp, since he devoted himself to the sport later than most pro lacrosse players. It was on Six Nations, in his late teens, where he learned to cherish the game. Now it was his opportunity to give back to another First Nations community.

“I had a great time this weekend. It's a beautiful island and everybody was very welcoming and seemed to really enjoy having us there. The kids were awesome. There were some that have been a part of lacrosse before, but for the most part it was new to them.” said Batson. “We all participated in a bunch of scrimmages. At each one, the confidence and intensity picked up and it was cool to see. I got to know some really good kids.”

The highlight of the camp was the Saturday scrimmage that started with a light rain and turned into downpour. With puddles filling the field, the players continued to play on the ad hoc field located adjacent to a baseball diamond. It was an inspiring moment for Evans, a seven-year NLL veteran.

“We played in the rain. Not one of the kids stopped so we stayed out there with them,” he said. “It shows how much they wanted to learn.”

The visit to Christian Island was made possible by the partnership between the NLL and “Right To Play”. The first summer camp was on July 6th at the Oneida Nation of the Thames and the Chippewas of the Thames First Nation. The lacrosse camps also visited Whitefish River First Nation near Sudbury and Bimose Tribal Council in Kenora, Ontario. It was a great benefit to the kids on Christian Island, who are seldom exposed to lacrosse.

“Right To Play’s” Promoting Life-skills in Aboriginal Youth (PLAY) program supported the Lacrosse For Development program. The camps were the vessel used to inspire and motivate First Nation children and youth to connect to the strong culture and tradition of lacrosse. At the camp on Christian Island, Green conveyed the life lessons learned through sports like lacrosse.

“I taught them to respect the Creator’s Game, and play with a healthy mind to bring out the principals and values of the game,” said Green.

Arrow Express Sports and Team 22, which is the Authorized Licensee of Under Armour®, were the majority sponsors of the Lacrosse For Development Program. Owned by Curt Styres, Knighthawks VP of Lacrosse Paul Gait and Knighthawks President Lewis Staats, Team 22 provided free sticks and gloves to over 400 kids at the four summer camps. “Right To Play” reintroduced the game of lacrosse back to its roots and reached over 700 community members this summer. The impact of the program was evident this past weekend.

“The kids were excited to learn about the game of lacrosse, but didn’t have the opportunity. Through the generosity of Arrow Express Sports, Under Armour®, Team 22 and Curt Styres, kids got to hold a lacrosse stick for the first time, and play for the first time,” said Green about his trip to Beausoleil First Nation. “They had a lot of fun. It was a weekend of lacrosse and smiles.”

For more information, visit the “Right To Play” website at www.righttoplay.com.