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Veltman inducted into the NLL Hall of Fame

Jim Veltman and Dallas Eliuk were inducted into the National Lacrosse League Hall of Fame on Saturday March 7th.  The ceremony took place at Pepsi Center in Denver, Colorado as part of All-Star Weekend 2009.

 

In order for a player to be eligible for consideration for the NLL Hall of Fame, the candidate must be retired from playing professional indoor lacrosse and shall be considered based on the individual’s record, ability, integrity, sportsmanship, character, and contributions to the team and sport.

 

Veltman, a Brampton native began his NLL career in 1992 for the Buffalo Bandits where he won three NLL Championships.  After a year sabbatical spent in Uganda, Veltman returned to the game to play with the 1998 league expansion team the Ontario Raiders based out of Hamilton. A year later the team would relocate to Toronto and become the Toronto Rock. Veltman was named captain of the Rock and would remain the only captain of the team until his retirement ten years later in 2008. At the helm, Veltman led Toronto to the playoffs for nine consecutive years, capturing the Champion`s Cup five times.  

 

In his 16-year NLL career, Jim Veltman played in 194 regular season games, banking 650 points from 157 goals and 493 assists. Nicknamed “Scoop“, the 12-time NLL All-Pro is the league`s all-time looseballs leader scooping up 2417 in his career. 

 

In 2002, Veltman was the first-ever recipient of the NLL Sportsmanship Award, an award that recognizes the combination of character and performance by a player in the league. He was honoured again in 2004, winning the NLL Most Valuable Player Award. Voted on by the league`s coaches, general managers, and executive, the MVP Award is given to a player who is considered to have contributed most to his team`s success.

 

Dallas Eliuk, currently an assistant coach for the Portland Lumberjax played 18 seasons as a goaltender in the NLL. Spending the first 15 years of his career as the goalie for the Philadelphia Wings until being traded to the Lumberjax for his final three seasons, Eliuk is known as one of the best goalies to ever play the game. He won four championships with the Wings, was named to the All-Pro team nine times, and retires as the league’s all-time leader in saves.

 

The Class of 2009 was the fourth group to be welcomed in to the Hall of Fame.  In 2006, five charter members were inducted: Les Bartley, Russ Cline, Chris Fritz, Gary Gait and Paul Gait. The Class of 2007 included three inductees: Mike French, Darris Kilgour and Tom Marechek.  In 2008, the Hall of Fame inducted Johnny Mouradian, Sal Locascio and Tony Resch.  The Hall also recognized the late Tom Borrelli for his contributions to the game as a member of the media in 2007 and Canadian Press writer Neil Stevens was acknowledged for his contributions as a member of the media in 2008.

 

Toronto Rock