Ofir Stern is the first Israeli recipient of a fully funded scholarship to attend The Hill Academy in Ontario, Canada.
A representative of Israel at the U20 level and long-time player and coach within the ILA, Stern grew up in Israel Lacrosse. He first picked up a stick at age 13 at his school in Be’er Tuvia when his future coach Amit Burstein introduced him to the sport in gym class.
“I knew from the second I started playing that lacrosse would be my favorite sport,” Stern said.
That was five years ago. Now 18, Ofir Stern hopes his time at The Hill Academy can translate to further success in the game as he develops as a player, student, coach, and leader at one of North America’s top lacrosse programs.
“Ofir is one of the hardest-working and most committed athletes I’ve had the pleasure to work with,” ILA Executive Director Ian Kadish said. “His dedication to Israel Lacrosse is exceptional, and he has earned every part of this opportunity.”
The Hill Academy is a co-ed K-12 independent school located in Caledon, Ontario. It is dedicated to student-athletes with focuses on lacrosse, hockey, golf, volleyball, soccer, and foundations of sport. The lacrosse program in particular is loaded with some of the greatest minds in the game, including Brodie Merrill, Jeff Teat, and Graeme Hossack.
“I wanted this because I knew it would be a crazy opportunity for me getting better,” Stern explained. “I hope to gain more experience to play at the next level and get an offer to play in college after this year.”
Israel Lacrosse plans to continue creating opportunities for young Israeli players and coaches to grow both on and off the field. Next year, the organization intends to send a female student-athlete on a fully funded scholarship to The Hill Academy.
The wider goal is to enhance the quality and quantity of significant opportunities for homegrown Israeli talent. Israeli players and coaches who learn about the game in the world’s lacrosse hotbeds can return to Israel with that knowledge in tow. That knowledge can then be passed on to the next generation of players and coaches.
“We’re incredibly excited to see Ofir challenge himself in that environment,” Kadish said. “This is a tremendous opportunity for him, and it’s also exactly the type of pathway we want to continue creating for young Israeli athletes.”
Are you interested in making a difference in the lives of the next generation of Israeli lacrosse players and coaches? Reach out to the ILA to learn how you can invest in the future of Holy Land lacrosse.