Lax legend Ron “Hum” Thomas still loves the game

SIX NATIONS — If you are ever looking for Ron “Hum” Thomas, you can usually find him sitting in the orange seats, right behind the goalie at the Iroquois Lacrosse Arena for pretty well every game played there, no matter what the level.

From that vantage point he still sees the entire game unfold in front of him, just like he did throughout his long and successful career as one of the premier goaltenders in the game between 1957 and 1978.

He still loves the game even after so many changes since he hung ‘em up. Although there are a few changes he doesn’t like, generally he likes the way the game is evolving into a mainstream sport in recent years.

“The game is a lot faster than it was when I played,” says Thomas. “The ball moves faster and changes hands a lot more times than it used to.”

But he also sees the game as not as tough as it used to be in his day.

“The hitting and checking is not as fierce as it was,” he recalls. “When you get hit with those plastic sticks compared to wooden sticks there is a big difference. It’s kinda like playing wiffle-ball.”

Like many others of his era, he believes some rule changes have negatively changed the game. Maybe the most significant one is the one-way game.

“You only have to play offense or defense, not both as it used to be,” he says.

Today, only the Canadian Lacrosse League (CLax) still plays the two way game.

“They are moving the ball faster because they are not getting hit as hard as they used to,” says Thomas. “Before, when you busted through the middle, you paid heavily for it. Now it’s a little tap. I’m not saying todays game is not better, it’s a hell of a fast and good game now, just not as tough.”

Thomas comes from an era when a game against the Peterborough Lakers, for instance, was a war — not only on the floor but many times in the stands too.

“One good thing is, you never see anyone walk the ball up the floor today. When I played, there was no shot clock,” he said in defense of the modern game.

Equipment is also improved greatly from the days when there was no sport specific equipment. Players would cut the palms out of hockey gloves to give them a better feel of the hand made wooden stick. Helmets were converted hockey helmets and body armor was usually modified hockey goalie arm guards and a baseball catchers chest protector.

“The net is larger now than it used to be and goalie equipment really bulks up the goalie and covers more of the net,” Thomas observes. “You see these guys and they look huge, but with the equipment off, some of these guys are skinny little guys under all that.”

One of Thomas’ greatest attributes as a player was his aggressiveness with the ball. He was known to carry the ball right up to the centre line like a sixth player. He wonders why today’s goalies don’t do that.

“Today they can throw the ball down floor well but they rarely leave the goal crease,” he says.

“I think we have some great coaches out here too,” he adds. “There are men and women who sacrifice a lot of their time to do that and a lot of them are former players themselves, giving back to the community another generation of world class lacrosse players.”

Thomas has played with or against most of the biggest names in the game during his career, but the one that stands out the most to him is the late Ross Powless. “There is no doubt that Gaylord was a great player, but Ross did it all,” he says.

Thomas still studies the game the way he always has – from behind the goal crease. “I still love the game,” he says with a wide grin.

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