Hugh Jass; From One Canadian Sport To Another

[TheFlash 317]

A Hugh Jass Story

 

 

 

   Hugh Jass has always been a big lad. When he was ten years old, he was standing four or five inches taller than his classmates. You would think that the natural path for a child of this size would be Basketball. The sport where giants rule the court, and being tall often leads to a big payday, regardless of your talent level. But where Hugh grew up, in Six Nations, Ontario, there was only one sport for him. That sport was the sport that was widely played in his community, Lacrosse. Jass was a bit awkward and uncoordinated at first, having a hard time learning how to use his length and reach to his advantage. Jass quickly was able to catch on, after a local man who was a former pro took him under his wing after seeing his potential.

 

   By the age of fourteen, he was already six foot one and nearly 170 pounds. Quickly developing a reputation as a tough, mean player, he was scouted to the U16 Canadian National Team. He was at first thought of as just a spare player, only there to earn valuable experience. He quickly proved himself in camp and ended up logging top minutes on the team. In the team's ten games of play, he scored four goals and had nine assists. The team went on to win the gold medal, and the word about Hugh Jass spread throughout the community. Of course, scouts from Hockey came knocking. The sports were similar enough, that if they could get Hugh to wear a pair of skates instead of shoes, he could be a real steal for a team at the upcoming Canadian Hockey League draft and maybe even the National Hockey League. Surprisingly though, he chose to stick it out with the sport he loved despite less opportunity in terms of making money and finding fame.

 

 

       Jass continued to be a force to be reckoned with over the next three years. He grew into a massive man, at 6'5 and 225 pounds. He was feared on the field with a reputation for throwing huge hits and dropping the gloves when needed. He had uncanny offensive skills too, making him a double threat on the field. But the scouts of the hockey world kept calling. It wasn't until a scout from the VHLM came knocking, that he considered it. They gave him the chance to play the sport he loved, while spending the off season playing in the VHLM to earn some extra money. So Jass made it official, and declared for the season 71 draft. He was quickly recruited by the Houston Bulls, and was penciled in to lead the team. Despite their struggles, they were well set up to draft high and build a winner. He is pegged to be a high draft pick in both the S70 VHLM draft and the S71 VHL draft.

Edited December 9, 2019 by TheFlash