Ryan Dilks and Aaron Bold have an opportunity to complete a task that very few lacrosse players have managed to pull off 鈥� win a National Lacrosse League title and a Mann Cup crown in the same year.
The members of the Victoria Shamrocks have already stashed away 2015 NLL Champions Cup victories with the Edmonton (now Saskatoon) Rush and look for that elusive Mann Cup crown beginning Friday against the Peterborough Lakers.
鈥淚t almost feels like I鈥檝e got something going on here. It was a great experience with the NLL and once you get that feeling of winning a championship, you want it again,鈥� said Dilks, who has been a standout on the Shamrocks鈥� defence for a second straight year. 鈥淲e鈥檙e that close, we just need four more wins.鈥�
You could go one step further with both Dilks and Bold, who will also represent sa国际传媒 at the World Indoor Lacrosse Championship, Sept. 18-27 at the Onondaga Nation and Syracuse, New York, along with Shamrocks teammates Dan Dawson and Steve Priolo.
鈥淭hat, and also the possible worlds 鈥� the trifecta is what I鈥檓 going for. I鈥檓 not going to stop short of that,鈥� said Bold, a Victoria native and the Shamrocks鈥� most valuable player in the Western Lacrosse Association playoffs. 鈥淚鈥檓 not going to worry too much about the worlds right now, it鈥檚 all about the Mann Cup and the senior Shamrocks right now.
鈥淚鈥檓 willing to go to war with these guys and willing to give up a lot and sacrifice to get that Mann Cup.鈥�
Neither of the Shamrocks has managed to tuck away a Mann Cup title yet over their careers.
Dilks, a 24-year-old from Hamilton, is coming into his own as one of the top defencemen in the game, a staunch, elite defender who was surprisingly overlooked in the WLA awards and all-star nods.
鈥淲ith Dilksy, you don鈥檛 notice him or you notice him for intercepting passes and shutting guys down,鈥� said Shamrocks head coach Bob Heyes. 鈥淗e鈥檚 one of the best in the world and if he鈥檚 playing hockey, he鈥檚 a Norris Trophy winner without a doubt. He鈥檚 an outstanding defender.鈥�
Those are huge props for a guy who remains quiet and sticks to his job.
鈥淚f I wanted to win individual awards I would have played tennis or golf or something,鈥� said Dilks. 鈥淚鈥檓 just looking for the main championship in the end and that would make me happy.
鈥淚t鈥檚 not a lot of glory,鈥� he said of playing defence. 鈥淚t鈥檚 a lot of pride back in the defensive end. If we can get the odd loose ball here and there, or get a strip here or there ,we鈥檙e happy and it fires up the boys.鈥�
Not to mention his goaltender, Bold.
鈥淚 think Ryan Dilks is probably one of the most underrated defencemen in the game today, period,鈥� added Bold. 鈥淗e鈥檚 progressed over the years. Being with him in Edmonton, I鈥檝e seen a dramatic change and that may come from playing within that system. But his athleticism and his game smarts have come a long way, especially playing with guys like Kyle Rubisch and Chris Corbeil.
鈥淗e鈥檚 an up-and-coming defender, who will be around a long time and will be recognized as one of the best defenders in the league.鈥�
Just as Bold is considered to be one of the top goaltenders.
鈥淚 have confidence in my skill and what I bring to a team, but ultimately it鈥檚 a collective outcome,鈥� said Bold. 鈥淚t鈥檚 not one individual that is going to carry anybody.鈥�
CLOVER POINTS: The Lakers also feature four players on Team sa国际传媒 in goalie Matt Vinc, Shawn Evans, Curtis Dickson and Adam Jones. 鈥� A beer garden and tailgate party will be held before every game, starting at 3:30 p.m. at The Q Centre. A post-game lounge will also be established in the upper club seating until midnight.
