The Victoria Shamrocks added another major piece of the puzzle Wednesday, confirming the acquisition of goaltender Matt Vinc for the 2013 Western Lacrosse Association season.
The team is also expected to announce the addition of highly touted forward Mitch Jones.
In Vinc, they have a proven winner, a two-time goaltender of the year in the National Lacrosse League in 2010 and 2011 and last season he back-stopped the Rochester Knighthawks to the NLL championship.
Vinc also claimed a gold medal in 2011 with Team sa国际传媒 at the FIL World Indoor Lacrosse Championship. As a junior, he was part of two Minto Cup championship teams with the St. Catharines Athletics in 2001 and 2003, earning MVP honours in 2001.
鈥淭here are two things I have never done and always wanted to do, that is play in the West and win a Mann Cup,鈥� Vinc said in a statement. 鈥淭his opportunity gives me a chance to do both and I am looking forward to representing such a great team and such a great city.鈥�
Shamrocks general manager Chris Welch has been working at finding a starting netminder to help back-stop his team to a Mann Cup run. He thinks he has it in Vinc, who is in his eighth NLL season 鈥� the last three with Rochester.
Vinc is the league-leader in goals-against average (10.17).
鈥淚f you asked coaches and general managers in the WLA, the Major Series in Ontario and the NLL, which goaltender they鈥檇 want to have in their net when the chips are down and a championship is on the line, there aren鈥檛 many 鈥� and may not be any 鈥� who鈥檇 get more votes than Matt Vinc,鈥� said Welch.
The Shamrocks recently acquired Scott Ranger for the 2013 season and Jones is set to be the next signing.
Jones is an up-and-comer having won the Minto Cup with the Orangeville Northmen in 2012, recording 26 goals and 41 assists in the regular season and 23G, 35A in the playoffs. He鈥檚 playing with the Washington Stealth of the NLL.
He is expected to join a lineup that features the likes of Ranger, Jeff Shattler, Corey Small and Ryan Benesch.
The Shamrocks鈥� home opener is May 17 at 7:45 p.m. at Bear Mountain Arena against Coquitlam. Ticket info can be found at victoriashamrocks.com.
