The Victoria Shamrocks added considerable offensive punch for the 2018 Western Lacrosse Association season with the signing of Rob Hellyer, who played last season for the Oakville Rock of the Ontario Major Series Lacrosse League.
Although undersized, Hellyer is considered one of the top offensive threats in the sport. The five-foot-eight, 180-pound right-handed shooter is currently sixth in the pro National Lacrosse League scoring parade with 30 goals and 57 assists for 87 points in 17 games with the Toronto Rock.
Hellyer, a 25-year-old native of Lion鈥檚 Head, Ont., has scored 154 goals and recorded 272 assists for 426 points in 89 career games with the Rock. He won an NLL championship with Toronto in his rookie season in 2011 and his first NLL goal was so outstanding that it made the TSN highlight of the night.
In summer Senior A action with Oakville, he has amassed 145 points in just 44 games.
Hellyer came out of the lacrosse hotbed of Orangeville, Ont., where he played four seasons of Junior A with the Northmen and accumulated 449 points in 122 games. He led the Northmen to the Minto Cup national junior championship in 2012.
鈥淭o get the opportunity to play for a franchise like Victoria, and have a great shot at the Mann Cup, is something that really excites me,鈥� said Hellyer, in a statement.
鈥淚 can鈥檛 wait to get out there and help the team make a great run.鈥�
The Shamrocks believe he can do just that.
鈥淩ob is an elite player we鈥檝e been admiring for a long time,鈥� said Shamrocks GM Chris Welch.
鈥淗e鈥檚 dynamic, highly skilled, knows no fear and is a very creative playmaker.鈥�
The Shamrocks open main camp on Monday and it runs on Mondays and Wednesdays through to Victoria鈥檚 WLA opener May 25 against the Burnaby Lakers at The Q Centre.
