The Victoria Shamrocks watched the Nanaimo Timbermen swipe a trio of local recruits away early in the 2017 Western Lacrosse Association draft Thursday night, but did get a collection of much wanted players on their list.
Nanaimo selected Nate Wade at No. 2 overall, following Langley鈥檚 selection of Tyler Pace at No. 1. The Shamrocks picked up talented offensive player Evan Messenger of Ladner with the seventh overall choice and then managed to snag his teammate and close friend, Cody Nass, in Round 5, as he dropped into general manager Chris Welch鈥檚 lap.
鈥淚f you would have told me, watching those Delta Islanders, that I would end up with both Messenger and Nass, I would have said you鈥檙e crazy. That鈥檚 nuts. I鈥檓 still wrapping my head around that,鈥� said Welch. 鈥淲e know what we got in Messenger and we think there鈥檚 a chance that we got some great upside in Cody Nass.鈥�
Messenger recorded 41 goals and 96 points for the Islanders last season as the six-foot-two, 175-pound left-hander enjoyed a strong season. Nass recorded more than 300 points in his junior career.
鈥淭hat can be a pretty lethal combination for us down the road. I don鈥檛 dare say a future [Rhys] Duch, [Corey] Small, righty-lefty situation, but there鈥檚 lots of chemistry and history there between the two. It鈥檚 an intriguing night,鈥� added Welch.
Welch also grabbed some good local talent with gritty Dallas Wade in Round 3 and Junior Shamrocks captain Matt Hamilton in Round 4. Wade is the son of Shamrocks assistant GM Rod Wade and Hamilton is the son of John Hamilton and uncle Grant Hamilton, both former senior Shamrocks.
Victoria once again went to Delta for sixth-round selection Javier Tudela and in Rounds 7 and 8 the Shamrocks chose Junior B players, Gregory Batt of Kelowna and Nicolas McNabb of Coquitlam.
Meanwhile, Nanaimo selected Victoria products Adam Jay and Ryan Lewis earlier in Round 3 and the Timbermen also added Shawnigan Lake native McLean Chiquen in Round 4.
