鈥淲e鈥檝e been wanting to change to an earlier start time for a few years now,鈥� said team governor Jim Hartshorne. 鈥淥ther teams have resisted the change up until now; the WLA is trying a number of things over the next few seasons to improve the fan experience and this is one small change we were able to make this year.鈥�
Previously, the Shamrocks started games at 7:45 p.m.
Victoria kicks off its season May 19 at The Q Centre against the visiting Langley Thunder. It is also the league-opener for the WLA. The Shamrocks will also be home the following Friday to the Burnaby Lakers prior to their first road game, June 1 in New Westminster, the first of back-to-back games as Victoria returns home June 2 to host the Coquitlam Adanacs.
The Shamrocks will play host to Burnaby, Coquitlam and Langley twice, while New Westminster, Nanaimo and Maple Ridge visit The Q Centre just once each. Victoria will conclude its 18-game campaign, July 27, in New Westminster, five days prior to the end of the 2017 WLA regular season.
鈥� PREPARING FOR DRAFT: The Shamrocks are preparing for Thursday鈥檚 WLA Draft, which begins at 7 p.m.
鈥淲e are always excited by the anticipation of adding new talent to our group,鈥� said general manager Chris Welch. 鈥淔or me, personally, it is a real honour and privilege to select and welcome new senior A Shamrocks who have worked so hard and dreamed about that moment for their whole lives.
鈥淚 have seen what it means not just for them, but for their families and the emotion that it brings. I expect this year鈥檚 draft will help make us stronger for many years to come,鈥� added Welch, who heads into his 10th WLA Draft.
The Shamrocks pick seventh overall in Round 1, but do not have a second-round selection. They then choose 21st, 28th, 34th, 42nd, 49th and 56th in the eight-round process, which will be available online at victoriashamrocks.com.
Langley selects first, fourth, fifth and sixth overall with Nanaimo picking second and third. Langley also chooses seventh and 11th overall after trading the rights of Mark Matthews and Nic Bilis to Burnaby for the fourth and 11th picks this year and a first-round selection in 2018.
Among the locals expected to be selected are cousins Nate and Dallas Wade, Adam Jay, Matt Hamilton, Steve Ackinclose, Ryan Lewis and McLean Chicquen.
鈥� ROCKS ADD JACKSON: The Shamrocks recently announced the acquisition of Casey Jackson from the Nanaimo Timbermen in exchange for a second-round pick.
Jackson, 26, is a Victoria native who was drafted by the Burnaby Lakers where he played four seasons, recording 158 points in 53 regular-season games along with 26 points in 12 playoff games. Jackson had previously accumulated 157 points in 44 games with the Victoria Jr. Shamrocks.
Jackson 鈥� who was traded to Nanaimo from Burnaby, but did not play last season 鈥� will help offensively, especially with Jesse King still recovering from his knee injury.
鈥淚t鈥檚 been a long time coming and I鈥檓 excited to be wearing the Shamrocks green in front of my family and can鈥檛 wait to play in front of a full arena,鈥� said Jackson. 鈥淓very lacrosse player鈥檚 goal is to win a Mann Cup and now being back in Victoria, I will be fighting from the first drop of the ball in May with the rest of my teammates to get Victoria its 10th.鈥�
鈥� COACHING MOVES: The Shamrocks recently announced the addition of assistant coach Mike Simpson, who will handle the offence.
Simpson began his coaching career with the Jr. Shamrocks in 2001 and in 2004 was the first head coach for the expansion Minnesota Swarm of the NLL. He joins Shamrocks head coach Bob Heyes and assistant Art Webster, who moves to defence.
Dave Lowdon stepped down this off-season and Terry Dennett left to become head coach of the Jr. Shamrocks.
Meanwhile, Tim Dennett recently stepped down as GM of the Jr. Shamrocks, but stays on as offensive coach. Wade Murray will handle the GM duties for both the Jr. and Intermediate Shamrocks.
