Chris Welch has been general manager of the Victoria Shamrocks since 2008 and has built an annual contender in the Western Lacrosse Association. He can’t remember a five-game losing streak by his club.
“This is unprecedented territory for us,” said Welch, whose club has slipped to 4-6-1.
“We just need a win to get our confidence back.”
The next chance comes tonight in Burnaby against the Lakers (2-8-1).
“We just have to battle through this and figure it out. The games have been close and we’ve been in every game. We’re getting chances but the ball is not falling in for us. [The Shamrocks are averaging only nine goals per game]. Yet there is no discontent. We all believe in each other and are working hard to get out of this slump.”
Injuries haven’t helped. Brad McCulley returned to the Shamrocks after winning the professional National Lacrosse League championship with the Buffalo Bandits only to go down. Tom Vaesen has been a revelation and was having a breakout year, which was interrupted by injury, and he only recently returned.
“There are no excuses, but we have had to rotate our lineup due to injuries,” Welch said.
“And there is such parity in the league now. There are no easy wins in the WLA anymore.”
The Shamrocks, with seven rookies, have opted to go all-in on a major rebuild. It is based on strong recent selections, due to the territorial protection provision in the WLA draft, abetted by an era in which promising players were coming out of the Junior Shamrocks. This Shamrocks WLA roster is more a look to the future, and that process is going to take time.
The number of rookies the Shamrocks are carrying is staggering by WLA standards.
“We decided to go young, knowing it is a big jump from junior to senior lacrosse, and that our rookies could not be hidden or protected, and that they would have to be playing top minutes,” said Welch.
“It was a hard choice. We have to be patient.”
The Shamrocks rookie class includes Junior Shamrocks graduates Casey Wilson, who just returned after winning silver with sa国际传媒 at the world field-lacrosse championship in San Diego, NLL pro Patrick Dodds, Max Wilson, Denton MacDonald and goaltender Cam Dunkerley, all out of the Junior Shamrocks.
Add to the rookie class Bennett Smith, a standout for the Edmonton Miners in last year’s Minto Cup national Junior A championship tournament, and Arthur Miller out of the Nanaimo Junior Timbermen, who the Shamrocks managed to nab in this year’s WLA draft.
The team of tomorrow approach gives a clue as to why the Shamrocks were sellers and not buyers in making a move at the trade deadline this week, sending three-time NLL champion Adrian Sorichetti to the contending New Westminster Salmonbellies for the remainder of this season in return for future considerations. Sorichetti’s rights revert to Victoria following this season.
“We are looking to the future and are not in load-up mode for this season,” Welch said.
“Teams were kicking the tires like crazy with us at the trade deadline. Adrian Sorichetti is a rental. His rights revert to us. We see value in return to us down the road.”
Welch did not divulge what the future considerations would be from the Salmonbellies (9-2 heading into Thursday night’s showdown against the 10-1 Langley Thunder at Queen’s Park Arena).
The Shamrocks face the Salmonbellies next Friday night at the Q Centre.
