by By Dan Ninham
Oftentimes lacrosse players don’t have too far to look for role models to doing the right things right. The one’s to follow are within their families who came before them.
Daylin John-Hill is a sophomore at Lake Shore HS in Angola, NY. He is Tuscarora and Beaver clan.
“My Indian name is Hödëyehdö,” said Daylin. “I grew up in Fort Erie, Ontario but currently reside on the Cattaraugus Indian Reservation, NY.”
“Since I could walk I always had a stick in my hand,” said Daylin. “It was either a hockey or lacrosse stick. I started to play lacrosse when I was three years old and I was about two years old when I had skates on. I started a skating program when I was four years old and start playing games when I was six.”
“Hockey and lacrosse have always been my main sports,” said Daylin. “I’ve always tried other sports like baseball, basketball, volleyball, and for the first time played on the varsity golf team. I’m currently playing varsity football and it’s my first year ever playing and I love it!”
“I like to try new sports to see how I like them,” added Daylin.
“Before the pandemic, I played lacrosse in the OLA (Ontario Lacrosse Association),” said Daylin. “I played for St. Catharine’s Athletics and one big accomplishment from that was in 2018 I played as a minor for the major Bantam team and we won A provincials. That had to be the best team I was on and the best box lacrosse year of my career so far. That year our record was 28-5-3, we won 3 tournaments, zone 9 and provincials.”
“I also played two years in the Canadian Nationals tournament. I played with Team First Nations and those were also fun times. The first year was held in Whitby, ON and we came in second place. The second one was held in Coquitlam, British Columbia and we came in third place, even though we didn’t win.”
“In 2019, I played for the U13 Iroquois Nationals team and competed in the World Youth Series in Denver, CO,” said Daylin. “That was a great field lacrosse experience. Most recently in the fall time I played for 3D Upstate NY Team.”
“In January I played in the Club Lacrosse Nationals in Florida,” said Daylin. “I played with BR10 coached by Colyn Lyons and Ron John. It was the first time our team played together and we ended up coming in sixth place, and it was great to see the competition and play against some of the best players.”
“I believe Daylin brings a calming presence to any team he plays on,” said Colyn Lyons. “He is such a well-mannered and collected individual which allows for him and his teammates to flourish. His drive in particular comes from his willingness to learn and to be coachable in all facets of the game. I believe his personality and his demeanor are his greatest assets as a lacrosse player. Aside from his obvious skill and ability to play the game, I see his personality as the greatest quality he has which I know will attract many college coaches to him.”
“I am very excited to follow his journey as a student-athlete and hope to see him end up at a great institution following his high school career,” added Colyn.
“I have played in many box and field lacrosse tournaments all over and on other reservations, including Las Vegas, Denver, British Columbia, Florida, and many places in Ontario and across the New York state. Lacrosse has allowed me to travel, meet new friends, and create memories and great experiences.”
“Last week I officially committed to Westtown School in Westchester, PA,” said Daylin. “I will be getting a great education and be playing lacrosse there.”
“My core values define who I am as a student-athlete because I am now more committed to my school-work,” said Daylin. “I find it important to do good not only on the field but also in the classroom. I have so much respect for the game of lacrosse and what it provides to me, my family, nation, and community. It is a medicine game for everyone. It also teaches me respect in everyday life. I value humbleness and honesty. I always try to lead by example and just be me.”
“As a student-athlete I am dedicated to working hard and making a commitment to my team and in school. I hardly ever miss any school days, practices, and games. I show up ready to work,” added Daylin.
“My mom influences me and always pushes me to become better in school and in sports,” said Daylin. “I look up to my three uncles a lot: Blue Hill, Travis Hill and Tehoka Nanticoke. Those are my uncles that I look up to the most and I always try my best to learn from them and what they have told me because I want to be like them one day.”
“As his mom who has watched and supported him in every way possible, I have witnessed all the ups and downs that any sports bring to an individual,” said Shannon. “I grew up in the lacrosse and hockey arenas, my two brothers, Blue and Travis, are close in age, and my dad was heavily involved in both sports.”
“The arena was always a second home to me growing up and now for Daylin. I immediately registered him in sports, he was three years old and going to lacrosse practices with the Fort Erie Hawks, a soft lacrosse program that taught fundamentals. Throughout the past 12 years I’ve watched Daylin fail and succeed, I’ve watched him pick practices and games over birthday parties and hanging out with friends. As a young child I don’t think they realize what decisions their making other than what makes them happy,” added Shannon.
“Daylin has been in the arena since he was a baby watching his Uncle Blue and Uncle Travis play lacrosse,” said Shannon. “At the time Blue was playing Sr. B and Travis was playing in the NLL for Minnesota Swarm and later on Rochester Knighthawks as the 2012 NLL Champion.”
“Daylin was never really the kid running around playing with friends,” said Shannon. “He was in his seat watching intensely and when we would get home, he would spend the next few days running around the house or going outside mimicking players the way they moved, their stick skills, how they scored or even celebrated. During these times you could see he was just imagining or pretending he was in a big game.”
“Daylin’s drive stems from all these small moments and having positive influences around him,” said Shannon. “Although he was younger when he watched his Uncle Blue and Uncle Travis play, his uncle Tehoka is someone he looks up to now and what a great influence and person to look up to.”
“When Daylin was 10 or 11years old, we watched Tehoka play for IMG, and from that time on Daylin constantly asked me how Tehoka got to go to high school in Florida, how did he get recruited, and what does he have do to do all that,” added Shannon.
“Since we moved to the states in 2019, we knew he would have more field lacrosse opportunities,” said Shannon. “I always reminded him to do well in school first because the first question coaches and recruiters are going to ask is about his grades. Since the move he has been so determined to do well in his academics and he has succeeded.”
“I believe Daylin empowers others through his actions,” said Shannon. “He is not the loudest or the most outgoing but he is quiet, easy-going, calm, and humble. He has made decisions that are different from his peers and friends and he would play with any team that asked him he may only know one or two kids and he didn’t care as long as he was playing lacrosse. This has helped him become adaptable to different teams and coaches.”
“He made a decision to go to Westtown School, Westchester and I don’t think he even thought twice about it he jumped at the opportunity,” said Shannon. “He is willing to take any opportunities that come his way and I think that speaks volumes when you’re looking at his determination.”
“My uncle Blue played since he was very young all the way up to seniors,” said Daylin. “I always loved watching him play and would try and copy his moves.”
Uncle Blue Hill talked about his nephew: “Daylin’s drive was established at a very young age. Majority of his upbringing was within an urban Indigenous community, located in southern Ontario. He was raised by his mom, grandmother, auntie and uncles. As Daylin’s uncle, it has been awesome watching him grow into a young man, through the years he has shown resiliency, commitment, determination and talent. It’s not shocking he wants to continue working toward his dream, regardless of his transition of moving to the states, switching schools, adjusting to a new education system, and getting comfortable and confident within the USA student-athletics.”
“Daylin is choosing his own path by committing to Westtown School is paving the way and will empower indigenous athletes to follow their dreams,” added Blue.
“My Uncle Travis played since he was young too and he went on to play in the National Lacrosse League (NLL) with the Minnesota Swarm and Rochester Knighthawks,” said Daylin.
“He was a good leader and a really hard worker and that’s what I’ve always loved about his game. He always taught me to stick up for my teammates and myself. He taught me how to lead by example even if it’s not talking and just by doing little things for my team because that’s what he would do. He wasn’t the biggest guy, or the guy scoring a bunch of goals or assists but he was going to get all the loose balls that came near him and all the little stuff like that, that every team needs. That’s what he taught me was to do the little things right and be a good leader.”
“Day comes from a large lacrosse family, who have achieved successes on almost every level in the sport,” said Uncle Travis Hill. “He grew up playing with his uncles and cousins in the living room and hasn’t stopped since, we just don’t use the living room anymore. Our family is really close with one another and I’d like to hope that the encouragement, discipline and knowledge we all share with each other has given Day the confidence he has today.”
“Being Haudenosaunee, he understands the importance of lacrosse and embodies the spiritual, healing and cultural components. This next step in that journey is to continually embrace being a student-athlete and to be a leader in the Westtown community. Westtown Lacrosse looks like a well-rounded program and it’s good that Day will experience other cultures and values within the program. I’m truly proud of Daylin and can’t wait to watch his successes continue. I’d also like to thank Westtown for giving my nephew this opportunity.”
“Tehoka has played since he was young as well and he was the #1 recruit coming out of high school going to college,” said Daylin. “He is someone that I look up to the most because he has worked really hard in school and I know it wasn’t easy. I also looked up to him the most because I’ve always tried to copy what he does and I think I play like him because he was never the fastest and neither am I and we both have good stick skills and good size so I’ve always seen him as my number 1 mentor. I don’t talk to him too much but when I do I do not take it for granted.”
“It has been hard during the pandemic because at first there were no sports,” said Daylin. No hockey and lacrosse so I got really bored but then I started doing more things. For my physical health I started to work out in my basement lifting weights and it helped me physically and mentally.”
“I also tried new things like snowboarding, cross-country skiing, and throwing snowsnakes in tournaments,” said Daylin. “I had more time for golf, fishing, and being outside. I think this all helped me not only be physically active but also mentally and emotionally. I found my spiritual area being connected during snowsnake tournaments and it was fun being around others and being outside.”
“I give thanks to the Creator during my lacrosse games,” said Daylin. “I want to work on doing it more often like giving thanks every morning and I need to be better at it. I also think that not being able to play sports during the pandemic made me appreciate them that much more when I got to start playing again.”
“I am following my dreams and what I’m most passionate about and that is to go to college, get a degree, play lacrosse and get a great job afterwards,” said Daylin. “A couple weeks ago I committed to go to Westtown School in PA, it is six hours away from home and I will be living there.”
“By following my dreams means not always doing what others’ are doing and following other people,” said Daylin. “It’s sometimes about making tough decisions that pulls you away from your family and friends but it’s best for me because I know that’s what they would want me to do.”
“Everyone’s journey may look different and that’s ok, as long as you’re doing what you want to do,” said Daylin. “I want to keep working hard and having fun.”
Photo Credit: Shannon Hill
