The Intermediate and Junior Shamrocks will have new coaches for the 2017 lacrosse season.
Former Victoria Senior A Shamrocks player Mike Pires has agreed to take over as head coach with the Intermediates.
Pires played his minor lacrosse in the Peninsula organization before playing for both the Intermediate, Junior and Senior Shamrocks.
In 2008, Pires was the leading scorer among all teams at the Minto Cup. He went on to play for the Senior Shamrocks for a few years and most recently has been concentrating on coaching, last year as an assistant on the Intermediate team.
Terry Dennett moves up from his assistant coaching position with the Junior Shamrocks to take over as head coach.
Dennett, who is also general manager, was an assistant coach with the Senior Shamrocks last season.
Dennett played his Minor Lacrosse in the Juan de Fuca program. His experience includes four years with the Junior A Victoria Eagles and Senior A for the Shamrocks, one season in the National Lacrosse League with Calgary and representing Scotland at the world level as a player, both in box and field lacrosse.
In 2015, Dennett helped lead the Intermediate Shamrocks to a provincial title as an assistant coach.
鈥淏oth of these coaches bring a wealth of experience to our teams and we are confident they will be great head coaches,鈥� said Rod Wood, vice-president and governor of the Junior Shamrocks.
Walt Christianson recently stepped down as head coach with the Junior team as he enjoys his retirement from teaching. He is spending most of his newfound free time fishing.
鈥淗e says he will still be at all of the games, only hopefully smelling of fish,鈥� Wood said with a chuckle.
