That Friday night will launch the three-time Western Lacrosse Association champions鈥� 2016 schedule at The Q Centre. The Shamrocks will also entertain the New Westminster Salmonbellies in a rematch of last year鈥檚 league final on May 27, before heading to Nanaimo for the first road game on May 28.
鈥淎bsolutely, that will be a special night,鈥� Shamrocks general manager Chris Welch said of the opener. 鈥淲e鈥檒l certainly have the cup there. Our Island rivals will be in the building and it will be the first time we come back together since we ended the [Mann Cup] drought back in September.鈥�
Among the nine home games, the Shamrocks will face New Westminster, Nanaimo and Maple Ridge twice, with Langley, Burnaby and Coquitlam visiting once each. Game times remain at 7:45 p.m. for home dates.
The Shamrocks are also preparing for the WLA draft to be held Feb. 10 in Vancouver. The Shamrocks do not select until 14th overall, the last pick in Round 2.
The Salmonbellies recently swapped forward Luke Gillespie and a 2017 first-round pick to Maple Ridge in exchange for their 2016 first round pick (fourth overall).
Burnaby also traded its 2016 No. 3, 10 and 17 selections as well as their 2017 third-round pick and the playing rights to Casey Jackson to Nanaimo in exchange for The Timbermen鈥檚 2016 No. 1 overall selection and playing rights to Eli McLaughlin.
