The 217 goals scored stand out like a sore thumb, but what is even more impressive is the fact that the Victoria Shamrocks have allowed just 139 against.
That latter statistic is one that usually wins teams championships and the locals will be looking for their third straight Western Lacrosse Association crown, beginning tonight at 6 in Game 1 of the best-of-seven final against the New Westminster Salmonbellies at The Q Centre. Game 2 of the series goes Monday night in New Westminster.
The 139 goals against were five fewer than the Salmonbellies surrendered. Victoria, which finished the season at 14-4, also scored 59 more goals than the 12-6 Salmonbellies.
鈥淥bviously, when you go down the roster, the offensive stars stand out, as they should. Looking at regular-season stats they deserve all the attention they are getting, but as we go more and more down the stretch, our defensive unit is building more cohesiveness,鈥� said veteran Dan MacRae, one of several Shamrocks stalwarts.
鈥淲e鈥檙e still getting used to playing with each other. Having Aaron Bold back there [in net], we鈥檙e getting comfortable playing with him and that鈥檚 shown on the scoreboard.鈥�
That success has spilled over into the post-season as the Shamrocks allowed just 23 goals against in a four-game sweep of Maple Ridge. New West surrendered 32 in its sweep of Langley.
It鈥檚 the likes of MacRae, Tyler Burton, Rory Smith, Ryan Dilks, Steve Priolo, the Harnett brothers (Jon and Greg), Ben McCullough, Matt Yager, Mitch Jones and Ethan Garlund who have limited opponents鈥� chances.
鈥淚t鈥檚 cool. We almost breed some healthy competition within ourselves back there,鈥� said MacRae. 鈥淲e run two lines of five, as any team watching video will be able to notice. Line 1 likes to try to outdo Line 2 and vice-versa.
鈥淚t鈥檚 a good, healthy relationship when you can battle amongst each other. It brings out the best, rather than just getting complacent with having a good shift here or there,鈥� added MacRae, who returned to the Shamrocks this season after taking a year off, working in Calgary with a recruitment agency.
The addition of Smith and Priolo has made this team that much tougher and the defence plays that much taller.
鈥淭he defence has been great. It鈥檚 been our strength,鈥� said Shamrocks head coach Bob Heyes. 鈥淎 lot of that goes to [assistant coach] Jordan Sundher. Probably all of it goes to him. He鈥檚 the one who has instilled it.
鈥淗aving Artie [assistant Art Webster] on board helps as he is more a defensive coach than an offensive coach; Dave Lowdon also being a defensive guy and me, as a goalie 鈥� we鈥檙e all bred into that aspect of it.鈥�
More importantly, states Heyes, the team has the personnel to run the effective brand of defence.
鈥淭he offence that you鈥檙e playing against has to work its butt off to get to the net,鈥� stressed Heyes. 鈥淚f you鈥檙e going to beat us, you better be a good outside-shooting team.
鈥淭he D guys take pride in what they do out there and you have to have that edge. We have that 鈥� that bit of grittiness and sandpaper. Everybody contributes in their own way, but it鈥檚 a team.鈥�
A team that will now try to defend against the likes of New West鈥檚 Logan Schuss, Jordan McBride, Colton Clark, Josh Byrne, Tyler Crompton and Keegan Bal.
鈥淥ur focus right now is the New Westminster Salmonbellies. They gave us some trouble during the regular season,鈥� said MacRae. 鈥淭hey are a well-coached, talented, hard-working team, so any time you come against an opponent like that you have to bring your best game. They will give us a good test this round.鈥�
CLOVER POINTS: Shamrocks forwards Corey Small and Jesse King were named first-team WLA all-stars Wednesday night. Defenceman Rory Smith was a second-teamer. Not one member of the Shamrocks team or staff was recognized in individual awards.
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