Most children who dream of a career in sports don’t get the opportunity to meet their heroes. However, about 100 young athletes got the chance on Wednesday in Nova Scotia. “I still remember, just behind those doors, meeting Shaff (Jacob Shaffelburg) for the first time,” said Ben Marsh, Canada Games and U21 Wanderer player. “I was like, this is a very, very cool moment. So, I think for them getting to do that now, where he’s even achieved way more is very cool.” Marsh coaches part time. He has done so for three years, giving back to the soccer community and helping, in his way, to grow the game. “The first year wasn’t as consistent. But the past two, I’ve been very consistent. I’ve loved being around the game and getting to connect with the kids on that level,” he explained. “It’s something I really enjoy.” For young soccer players, interacting with top athletes in their sport is extremely beneficial. “It’s unbelievable. The kids here today they’ll get to meet a local legend, their hero,” said Lindsay MacAskill, executive director of Soccer Nova Scotia. “And hopefully one day we’ll see one of these kids on the national stage.” Jacob Shaffelburg was in town with the Canada Men’s National Team and swung by BMO Soccer Centre to sign autographs and talk to kids playing the sport he loves. “It means a lot, I’ve been doing this since 2019,” he told media Wednesday. “I think just trying to get back here and help, whether it’s my boyhood club, Valley United, or here at Soccer Nova Scotia. But whatever I can do to help out and give those guys belief and confidence that it’s doable, I’ll do whatever I can.” Shaffelburg stressed how important it is for kids to see representations of themselves in professional clubs, something Marsh echoed. “Growing up here for a long time there hasn’t really been that step,” said Marsh. “And now with the Wanderers and the Tides, like the game’s growing. I think it’s huge for all the young kids who are playing.” Shaffelburg adds he wished he had those two teams to look up to when he was young. “For the kids, you know, these guys right now have their teams to look up to,” he said. “I think, obviously having the men (Team Canada) here, had the women (Team Canada) here a few years ago, now with the Tides and the Wanderers… I think it shows that Halifax is now a sport city, and hopefully we’ll see some big things coming in the future. We have of course, a lot to look forward to coming up in 2026,” added MacAskill. And the proof of growth is in the numbers. “So, we have 25,000 registered players. Right now, we have like 18,000 under the age of 15,” said MacAskill. “Were the biggest participatory sport out of all sports in Nova Scotia and we’re on a rise. We’ve seen 22 per cent growth since 2019.” Which is also around the time Shaffelburg started coming back and donating time. But it’s more than that for Soccer NS. “We’ve seen a lot of newcomers join the sport. Which has been unbelievable,” added MacAskill. “You know, soccer is the world’s game. It’s something consistent. It’s something that is in their culture and we’re happy to welcome them and, have them involved.” It also helps that coaches like Mike Locke continue to take an interest. Locke, who’s coached for 30 years, heads up the Canada Games team. He says having one of his former players (Shaffelburg) stop by is encouraging. “I think it gives kids, you know, someone to look up to and realize that the dream is possible,” said Locke. “And if you work hard enough, that you can achieve it. And, you know, he’s living proof of that.” For Shaffelburg, giving back to the community that raised him is an obvious pathway. “I feel like I have a responsibility to give back as much as possible when I come home.” For more Nova Scotia news, visit our dedicated provincial page
