Nova Scotia star Shaffelburg at Copa America an ‘achievement for the whole family’

For Zachary Shaffelburg, watching his younger relative Jacob look arsenic a sparkling prima during squad Canada’s first-ever quality astatine nan Copa America shot tourney feels for illustration an “achievement for nan full family.”

From Port Williams, N.S., a mini municipality successful nan Annapolis Valley, Jacob Shaffelburg, 24, turned heads arsenic a second-half substitute during a lucifer against Peru connected June 25 erstwhile he assisted nan only extremity of nan game, scored by teammate Jonathan David. Then Shaffelburg scored nan opening extremity connected July 5 earlier Canada knocked retired Venezuela 4-3 connected penalties pursuing a 1-1 tie successful nan quarterfinals.

His caller displays connected nan transportation person earned him nan nickname nan “Maritimes Messi,” aft nan world superstar Lionel Messi — who conscionable happens to beryllium starring No. 1 Argentina, Canada’s semifinal force Tuesday nighttime astatine MetLife Stadium successful East Rutherford, N.J.

“Even erstwhile he was rather young, he’d beryllium stinging these crazy difficult shots astatine my friends that would effort to play successful net,” Shaffelburg’s older relative said successful an question and reply Monday.

“He’s worked rather difficult for this … I couldn’t beryllium happier that he’s doing this.”

Shaffelburg is nan only Nova Scotian competing astatine this year’s Copa America, a quadrennial tourney featuring 10 South American teams and six teams from North America, Central America, and nan Caribbean.

The squad Canada guardant near his location state erstwhile he was 15 to be nan Berkshire School, a prep schoolhouse successful Massachusetts earlier getting called up to nan master leagues pinch nan Toronto FC academy. His existent location squad is Nashville SC, wherever he plays midfield.

The youngest Shaffelburg is not nan only 1 successful nan family pinch a emotion for nan game. His older relative besides near Nova Scotia astatine 15 to play astatine a shot academy successful nan United States before going connected to nan younker nationalist league. Jessica Shaffelburg, nan mediate sibling, is simply a awesome shot subordinate arsenic well, said Zachary, who credited her power connected Jacob’s early development.

“She decidedly didn’t laic disconnected connected Jacob astatine each erstwhile it came to tackling him,” he said. “Any difficult challenges he’s had this tourney he’s already received from his sister erstwhile he was younger.”

To sweeten nan triumph aft his extremity against Venezuela, Shaffelburg received a locker-room sojourn from Sidney Crosby and later shared a photograph of Nova Scotia’s lucky hometown leader to societal media. Zachary said he hopes his brother’s prowess connected nan field, mixed pinch nan sojourn from Crosby, will animate much shot stars from small-town Nova Scotia.

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“When I was a kid, it wasn’t really thing you thought was possible, truthful now it’s bully to person Jacob astatine that level and truthful bully to spot him pinch a feline for illustration Crosby because they some put guardant what we worth a batch successful Nova Scotia — which is sometimes to our ain detriment: modesty,” he said.

“Our organization is smaller and connected a nationalist level, location hasn’t been a batch of attraction paid to Nova Scotia because nan presumption is there’s nary 1 that’s bully capable for nan higher level.”

Zachary will beryllium successful nan stands Tuesday nighttime for nan semifinals against Argentina. He said he booked an open-ended formation down to nan United States and hopes his travel ends astatine nan final.

This study by The Canadian Press was first published July 9, 2024.