The tagline at the bottom of the Victoria Junior Shamrocks team release reads: 鈥淐ome out and support the future WLA and NLL stars.鈥�
That鈥檚 not hyperbole.
Fans will no doubt be watching future National Lacrosse League pros and Western Lacrosse Association players.
That was borne out when graduating Junior Shamrocks players occupied three of the top five positions in the first round of the 2018 WLA draft. Two-way Junior Shamrocks-graduate forward Brad McCulley, who also plays for Robert Morris of the NCAA Div. 1, went third overall to the Langley Thunder; Marshal King, out of Drexel of the NCAA Div. 1, was selected fourth overall by the Maple Ridge Burrards; and Junior Shamrocks-grad forward Braylon Lumb, the 2018 sa国际传媒 Junior A scoring champion with 57 goals and 103 points in 21 games and who plays in the NCAA for the University of the District of Columbia, was picked fifth overall by the Nanaimo Timbermen.
(The WLA Shamrocks have since acquired King in a trade with the Burrards).
鈥淚t鈥檚 a strong program that is developing some really good players,鈥� said program governor Rod Wood.
The next generation will be on view when the two Junior Shamrocks squads, in Junior A and Junior B Tier 1, open their 2019 seasons this weekend.
The sa国际传媒 Junior A league season begins for head coach Terry Dennett鈥檚 Junior Shamrocks on Sunday in Langley against the Thunder. The Junior Shamrocks open at home on May 4 against the Port Coquitlam Saints at The Q Centre.
It will be the debut of touted rookie Kyle Pepper, who has made the jump directly from Midget to Junior A.
鈥淲e lost 10 players to graduation, so we are young, and a lot this season will depend on how the young guys adjust to Junior A,鈥� said Wood.
鈥淭he good thing is there鈥檚 a lot more parity in the Junior A league now. Coquitlam will again be tough but not as tough as previous years.鈥�
Head coach Ted Jenner鈥檚 defending sa国际传媒-champion Shamrocks Junior B Tier 1 team opens Saturday against the Burnaby Lakers at 1 p.m. in The Q Centre, before heading across the strait on Sunday for the first road encounter against the Burrards in Maple Ridge.
