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ELIUK & VELTMAN INDUCTED TO NLL HALL OF FAME

Two great players enshrined as Class of 2009 joins HOF

03/05/2009

Dallas Eliuk and Jim Veltman were inducted into the National Lacrosse League Hall of Fame on Saturday afternoon. The ceremony took place at Pepsi Center in Denver as part of All-Star Weekend. Click the full story to read some of what they had to say during their induction speeches, which were carried live on the NLL Network.

During his induction speech, Eliuk told the story of how he first became a goaltender as a 6-year old while playing lacrosse in his hometown of Vancouver. "Back then, they always put the biggest kid on the team in the net, which certainly wasn't me. Our starting goalie got hurt just before the end of a period. We're in the locker room and the coach wten around the room, asking each player if they wanted to play goalie. I was always taught to be positive and have a can-do attitude. So I said, 'Yes, I can'. I was put in goal for the rest of the game, and we won the game. I've been a goaltender ever since. I discovered that it was a position where I could make a real difference in the game."
Eliuk also stated, "More than any other position, a goaltender is judged most by his ability to win."

Veltman also praised many of his past teammates and coaches, including the late Les Bartley, whom he now joins in the Hall of Fame. "To all of the players I've played against, thank you. You forced me to play at my highest level and pushed me to play better than I played the game before."

Veltman closed his speech with some life lessons that he learned from the game of lacrosse. "Savor every moment. Enjoy the successes, be open to learn from the failures. Respect and take care of The Creator's game."

Both were fierce competitors who've faced each other in five championship games throughout their careers. Veltman told the story of how Eliuk played so well in the 2001 Championship Game that he 'stole' a win for the Wings, who defeated Toronto 9-8. "We deserved to win that game, but Dallas, we just could not figure out how to get past you that night. The fans in Toronto applauded your performance that night."