Hamer-Jackson Exclusive: Loading Up for the Tonka Drop
Hey. I'm Parker Bottcher, and this is Crease Monsters, the podcast where we talk all things lacrosse. Epic highlights, gear reviews, game predictions, and, of course, some special guests. Whether you're stringing up a new pocket, gearing up for game day, or just chilling, this is your go to spot for all lacrosse things. And if you haven't already, hit that follow button wherever you're listening, and let's get into it.
Parker Bottcher:So we have a super special guest for today, episode 10. He co owns my favorite lacrosse brand, and he runs Face Off Control and currently plays for Las Vegas Desert Dogs in the NLL and the Salmon Bellies in the WLA. You may know him for his awesome face offs or you have a loading lacrosse head or Shaft. I get to work with him for face off control and he's been such an awesome coach. Super excited to have him on the show here.
Parker Bottcher:Welcome to the show, Tyrell Hammer Jackson. How did you partner up with Jordan with Loading?
Tyrell Hamer-Jackson:With Jordan with Loading. Okay. So this is a good story. Back when I was, I think, 16, 17, I was playing I was playing junior junior a for the Salmon Bellies. And at the end of the year, when our season was done, they got to call three of us up.
Tyrell Hamer-Jackson:So myself, Josh Byrne, and Nathan Stewart, we got called up to go on road trips with the senior Salmon Bellies. And all every time I got in the bus, and I I was the younger kid on the team, and I I don't know why, but I would just always go sit beside Jordan. And we would talk about we would talk about, like, always doing something together. Like, he, like, wanted to help me start, like, doing face off clinics and helping me with graphics for them. And I didn't know any any clue how to do that.
Tyrell Hamer-Jackson:I was, like, 16, 17 years old, and I didn't I didn't even know how to how to get any of that going. So he kinda yeah. I sat beside him, and and then as it went on, years went on, I end up playing with him on the warriors. And then I started this do you do you ever remember the grip 95 I did? Where you pull the grip off?
Tyrell Hamer-Jackson:So he actually started that, and then he sold all the rest of his stock to me because I loved the idea of it. And I was super into face offs at the time, and I just I just thought it was like a like a good little accessory for a face off stick. So I I was just kind of promoting it to everybody, and he got me going on that. And then long story short, we had to stop doing that. We'll get into that another time maybe.
Tyrell Hamer-Jackson:But, yeah, long story short, we ended I ended the grip company, and then we he's always made lacrosse products. And and he started with air lacrosse, which is which is kinda like he's he's been doing this for a long time. So that's why our product's so good because he he knows a lot about how to make it better when it when it breaks and stuff. So, yeah, we just we ended that one and then started this together, and now we're we're just grinding it out together. That's about it.
Parker Bottcher:Yes. What most what loading product are you proud of most?
Tyrell Hamer-Jackson:I would have to say the win. Any one of our molds. Because buying a mold and and getting to the point where you can make your own heads, and and you can design them, and change them if you wanted to. That's pretty cool to me. I never thought I'd be doing that.
Tyrell Hamer-Jackson:I mean, we I say it all the time. We we probably could have bought a house, but we bought a bunch of molds. So that's what we we take pride in is May is buying these molds and kind of having every skew that a lacrosse company needs so everybody has options. Like, we just we just finished with the win. The Tonka, we we are releasing in December, and then we bought a goalie mold, which is called the Tendi.
Tyrell Hamer-Jackson:So there's our third mold. That's, yeah, that's probably shafts are shafts can't really change much. They're not there's not much you can do with them. Right? So the heads are pretty that's that's what I'm most proud of.
Parker Bottcher:Yes. Well, I use the win, and the feedback I have on it is I love all the things about it. It's super stiff, so it can't get warped.
Tyrell Hamer-Jackson:Let's yeah. What do you what do you like about it? Is that is how's the weight? Is it
Parker Bottcher:Well, I like the color because I reviewed the stiff, and the color is not white. You guys got the color. Right? And Yes. This like, I like how the stiffness is on it, so you can't get it warped.
Parker Bottcher:Like, you're playing in the hot like, this heat. I went down to Montana. It was really hot there, and it stayed perfect the entire time. And I like how it's really good for different kinds of pockets. It's good for mid high, low.
Tyrell Hamer-Jackson:And you got armor mesh in it? You like how that throws? Nice. I I just strung up one, I think. I'm gonna try it too this weekend.
Parker Bottcher:Yeah. So if you
Tyrell Hamer-Jackson:say it's good, I'll try it out.
Parker Bottcher:Yes. And speaking of heads, what so you're releasing your second head, the Tonka. What is going through your mind right now?
Tyrell Hamer-Jackson:Right now? All the stuff I have to do before it comes out. I got a few boxes back here and stuff, but we're getting one out to all that all teams, a lot of stringers, retailers. Yeah. We're yeah.
Tyrell Hamer-Jackson:Lots lots is going on. There's a we're working on a a release video right now. So yeah. It's good. But it's it's also just it's still chill.
Tyrell Hamer-Jackson:We're not big. We're not warrior. We're not a massive company. So whatever we do, it's kind of just like what how we do it. And if you like it, you like it.
Tyrell Hamer-Jackson:If you don't, that's cool with us. So, yeah. Just just thinking about December 1 and working on the pre orders. Like last night, I just finished up doing a little bit of the website. So just making sure everything's ready for December 1.
Parker Bottcher:Yep. What is going through your mind when you created the offense? Because that one's a good one.
Tyrell Hamer-Jackson:Like, the low the shaft. So do you ever you have the Hammer Pro X. Right?
Parker Bottcher:And the offense. Yeah.
Tyrell Hamer-Jackson:Yeah. So the Hammer Pro X was is essentially the offense because I we went with the hammer parax to start, and then it wasn't strong enough. So we had it made somewhere else. And we we wanted it the exact same, but this carbon is a lot better that we're using now. So, yeah, I just wanted to strengthen it and then kinda simplify it for retailers.
Tyrell Hamer-Jackson:That's why we're going offense, defense, and next year, we'll come up with the transition and then the pull. But, yeah, just to like, when you're talking to a store owner, some of them don't know too much about lacrosse. If they do, then you just wanna make it easier for them. This side of the floor is offense. This side of the floor is transition.
Tyrell Hamer-Jackson:This side of floor is defense. So the Hammer Pro X, the Fraser Pro X, the Malcolm, all those names we're going with kinda was confusing everyone. So we're gonna maybe do one offs of the pro pro models, but keep it pretty plain and simple. So that's why it's named that is because we're just trying to simplify it for everybody, and it makes sense.
Parker Bottcher:Having such a Good day. Huge fan base in Vancouver and then moving to Vegas, what what was it like?
Tyrell Hamer-Jackson:Pretty awesome. I mean, like, going to Vegas, the fans, they're they're great. The team was like home. When I got there, it felt like home. I mean, obviously, Brandon Goodwin, Drew Belgrave, guys I already knew, but made it feel made it feel easy.
Tyrell Hamer-Jackson:It's kinda nice going somewhere that that you wanted and and, yeah, you're just showing up to do your job and you do your job and and, yeah, that's yeah. It was it wasn't it was not not a bad change but a good change. So
Parker Bottcher:yeah. When you lose a string of face offs in a game, what is the conversation you had with yourself, Theresa?
Tyrell Hamer-Jackson:When I lose a face off in a game, I'm usually thinking I'm thinking of my timing. I'm thinking of what I did before to get set. How quick I got my head up? How how many times maybe we had to move our stick? I don't know.
Tyrell Hamer-Jackson:I would probably think I'd probably think I need to tell myself, k, that's not fast enough. You need to be faster. And there's no other kind of way I can I can say that, but but that's kind of that's kind of how I would tell myself is, k, like, I would tell myself you're kind of stuck in the mud? Like, let's go. So get set sooner.
Tyrell Hamer-Jackson:Be ready quicker and and don't maybe maybe I didn't go. Maybe I lost the job because I didn't go fast enough. Maybe I went early. Right? But yeah, I would just be telling myself to to go on the whistle, not after the whistle.
Tyrell Hamer-Jackson:That's pretty much it for me on that. But I also wouldn't think about it too much. Like, I, like, I would it almost be like you lose them. You lose you win and lose but sometimes you don't even want to change anything and and you're just you just didn't win that one. So yeah sometimes I don't even want to change much.
Parker Bottcher:How do you manage to do a nine to five and play pro lacrosse and own a own a business with Jordan?
Tyrell Hamer-Jackson:Oh, no. I you know what? I don't. It's it's a lot. It's it's we're doing our best.
Tyrell Hamer-Jackson:I try to maybe work night shifts and then try to I I set aside at least me and Jordan, try to set aside at least a couple days a week to be in here and doing our orders so that we don't get backed up on it and also sitting and talking and creating things and and ordering the stuff that we talk about and and deciding on how we wanna go with it and yeah. No. Just kinda I mean, my schedule's all over the place. So I'm just kinda I just live and and go as it comes. I mean, I know my my schedule's a little tight but it's it's kinda I I don't know what else I would be doing.
Tyrell Hamer-Jackson:I can't sit around. So it's I can't I'm not I'm not a guy that can just sit there and do nothing. So it's yeah. Manage because I got
Parker Bottcher:it. That's it. What face off guy did you feel like gave you the best challenge?
Tyrell Hamer-Jackson:All of them, man. They're all so good. Nardella, Withers, Trevor, Anasio, TD Erland, Connor Farrell, like, they're they're the best in the world. So, honestly, I take it as every time I'm going against these guys, it's just an opportunity to get better and and you're going against the best guys in the world. So, it's kind of a privilege.
Tyrell Hamer-Jackson:So, I'm just like, take it all in and also I'm there to beat them too. So that's that's my goal. I mean, their speed is on on unreal. They know exactly what's going on. They know where the ball is without even feeling it.
Tyrell Hamer-Jackson:So, yeah, it's yeah. All all of them. All of them give me a challenge.
Parker Bottcher:If you had to pick one, who would you choose?
Tyrell Hamer-Jackson:On my team or to go against?
Parker Bottcher:On your team.
Tyrell Hamer-Jackson:To take?
Parker Bottcher:Yeah.
Tyrell Hamer-Jackson:This is a tough one. I might lose a friend or two here, buddy. I'd probably go with, like, a Withers, Nardella, or a TD. Maybe we'll go with Withers because he's he's been playing box lacrosse his whole life. He's a savage, and, yeah, he's he's very smart.
Tyrell Hamer-Jackson:He's very smart on the floor. How about you? Can I ask you that?
Parker Bottcher:Alright. For for NLL, I'd pick you.
Tyrell Hamer-Jackson:Woah. Really?
Parker Bottcher:Like Yeah. And in the PLL, I'd probably pick Trevor Raptiz.
Tyrell Hamer-Jackson:Yeah. That's a good pick. He's up there. Hey? Kate, run me through your your game day routine.
Tyrell Hamer-Jackson:Say you play, like, a 05:00 game. What what's your what's your day look like? It was
Parker Bottcher:On a weekday?
Tyrell Hamer-Jackson:Yeah. Do do you play at night or just
Parker Bottcher:Okay. So on a weekday, I get out of school at 02:20. K. Then get ready. I, like, pack my bag, make sure I have everything.
Parker Bottcher:Then we head out, make sure to get a little there a little early so I can warm up. We play, and then we
Tyrell Hamer-Jackson:Do do you eat any food in the middle of that?
Parker Bottcher:After school, I eat this.
Tyrell Hamer-Jackson:Like, what do you eat on game days? What's your pregame meal?
Parker Bottcher:Pregame meal. Well, I like a lot of food. My if I had to pick one, probably lasagna.
Tyrell Hamer-Jackson:Oh, really? With some garlic bread?
Parker Bottcher:I like garlic bread. Yeah.
Tyrell Hamer-Jackson:Who is k. I got a question for you. Who is the toughest guy that you go against in town?
Parker Bottcher:In town.
Tyrell Hamer-Jackson:Like, who's the hard like, when you like, who's the hard who's a tough game?
Parker Bottcher:Like, team or player?
Tyrell Hamer-Jackson:Player. Face off guy.
Parker Bottcher:Okay. But I'd say Mason Montgomery.
Tyrell Hamer-Jackson:Mason?
Parker Bottcher:Yeah. You
Tyrell Hamer-Jackson:guys have battles. Hey?
Parker Bottcher:We got some battles.
Tyrell Hamer-Jackson:Say you take 20 draws against Mason, how many are you winning?
Parker Bottcher:Be fifty fifty. Ten and ten. Okay. Should've said 20.
Tyrell Hamer-Jackson:K. You you got you you're going you're going on an island. You can only bring three things. What are they?
Parker Bottcher:My stick, a ball, and
Tyrell Hamer-Jackson:You're gonna die out there.
Parker Bottcher:And the sweet sleeping bag. Okay. That's good. That's a good answer. Okay.
Parker Bottcher:I got another one for you. When do you stop being a lacrosse player who takes face offs? Do you ever feel like you're missing out?
Tyrell Hamer-Jackson:Just taking face offs?
Parker Bottcher:Do you ever feel like you're missing out, scoring goals, being a defender? Do you ever think you're missing out?
Tyrell Hamer-Jackson:For sure. Oh, yeah. For sure. I mean, I grow like, growing up when I was playing, it was I I usually played offense. And then close to the end of my career, they had me on defense.
Tyrell Hamer-Jackson:And then at the very end of my career, started taking face offs and and just even this year with the Vegas Desert Dogs, I'll be playing a little bit of offense. So getting more of that into my game, but I essentially wasn't not not ever the guy that would get paid to score goals or play good D. So I kind of just had to find my role to make it in this league and and that's kind of that's kind of why I do that. But yeah, for sure. Like, even when I play in practice and stuff, I just love it.
Tyrell Hamer-Jackson:Like, it's I miss it. And, obviously, my job in the game is pretty serious, and I have to But I will be playing a little more offense this year. So, yeah, I'm excited. I mean, it's gonna be fun to buzz around with Fraser and Jonesy and all.
Parker Bottcher:Hammer, thanks so much for being here.
Tyrell Hamer-Jackson:Thank you. Thanks for having me. Keep keep working hard.
Parker Bottcher:I am super excited about the Tonka coming up, December 1. Can't wait to check it out.
Tyrell Hamer-Jackson:No problem. Anytime, buddy.
Parker Bottcher:Alright. That's it for this episode of Crease Monsters. Thanks for hanging out. If you liked the episode, hit the follow so you don't miss what's coming next. You can catch us on Instagram and YouTube.
Parker Bottcher:Just search at Crease Monsters. Until next time, share it, save it, string it up. We're just getting started.
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