Healthy Active Tahltans – Jace Tevely

HEALTHY ACTIVE TAHLTANS Jace Tevely

If you have ever wanted confirmation that persistence pays off, look no further. Sixteen-year-old Jace Tevely is living proof after having put in a tremendous amount of effort over this past summer and being highly rewarded as a result.

Part of both the Tahltan and Taku River Tlingit First Nations, Jace gets his Tahltan ancestry from his dad’s mother, Beverly Tevely, and his mom, Tara Quock. He is a member of the Wolf Clan. His biological mother now lives in Carcross, Yukon, and Jace lives (or at least he did until recently) in Smithers with his dad, his stepmom, and three of his six siblings.

His Tahltan heritage is something Jace is proud of, and he had the opportunity to enjoy it and learn more about his culture when he visited the territory. He travelled to Telegraph Creek with Ann Ball where he spent time with her and her family at fish camp. He got to meet some of his relatives and, like many before him, was captivated by the natural beauty of the land.

Since September, Jace has been billeting with another family in West Vancouver where he plays on North Shore Warriors hockey team, part of the Prep division of the Canadian Sport School Hockey League (CSSHL). An incredible opportunity for the young athlete, the CSSHL includes private schooling for their players in addition to hockey, along with a number of other perks, including access to physiotherapists.

Jace was asked to join the team this past summer after trying out for a Junior B team in Castlegar. An NHL scout was in attendance and was so impressed after watching him play, that he offered Jace the opportunity to join the Warriors. It may sound as if he just walked onto the team, but the reality was very different.

The tryout in Castlegar was at least the tenth he had been to that summer, and he had not made a single team yet. What had changed? Everything. Although he had not been successful, Jace noticed himself developing as a player every single time he got on the ice, and he knew he loved the sport and wanted to play. So, he decided to step up his game.

Jace has always been in good physical shape. A naturally active child who preferred sports and the outdoors to TV and video games, he started

playing hockey around the age of six on a team in Fort McMurray, Alberta. He then played on teams in Prince George and Smithers after his family moved. However, despite having played since he was young, Jace would not have described himself as one of the strongest players and admits that he would not have been picked the Warriors team at the beginning of the summer.

He started a strict exercise regime with his dad, who is also very into fitness, which included two-kilometre runs followed by four-hour workouts every day. Within three months, Jace had put on thirty pounds and changed his physique so much that people he had not seen over the summer did a double take when they saw him as he was almost unrecognizable.

By the end of the summer, he was clearly a stronger player as a result of his training and was rewarded with the chance to play in the CSSHL. Jace had a week to prepare, during which time he went back to Smithers before relocating to Vancouver where he will spend this academic year. Jace has enjoyed bonding with his new team both in class and on the ice, with daily practices, and at least one game every weekend.

What is next? Only time will tell. Jace may stick with the Warriors, or he might end up on a Junior A team after scouts see what kind of progress he has made. Beyond that, watch for Jace in the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), the Western Hockey League (WHL) or maybe even the NHL. Hockey is not his only passion though; one of his hobbies is mechanics, which he learned from his dad who owns his own mechanic shop. If not playing hockey, Jace would be excited to continue the family business.

Continuing to push through despite the obstacles is something Jace does well. Not making the hockey teams at the start of the summer was not the first time he had faced challenges in the sport. He has played on after concussions and cracked ribs and has never considered quitting. His advice? Do not give up. Keep your head up, keep on driving, and be passionate.

Jace’s dad, Eric Tevely says, “Watching Jace on this journey has inspired me, and I hope it inspires other young athletes and entrepreneurs. Sports is not an easy path, nothing in life comes easy. But as Jace has shown, if you want something and you are willing to do what it takes to get it, anything is possible.”