It is the overhand power-play shot reverberating throughout the Western Lacrosse Association, and it wasn鈥檛 even launched from the floor.
WLA players also perform during the winter in the professional National Lacrosse League. So the announcement this week that Canucks Sports and Entertainment, owners of the Vancouver Canucks of the NHL, have bought the Vancouver Stealth of the NLL, was big news for the sport of lacrosse in the province at every level.
鈥淭his caught everybody by surprise, and is good for lacrosse in sa国际传媒, because a lot of people thought the Stealth would relocate to some U.S. market,鈥� said WLA Victoria Shamrocks head coach Bob Heyes.
The Stealth have struggled on the floor, and in the stands, at the Langley Events Centre. But Canucks Sports and Entertainment is moving the team downtown to the big-time Rogers Arena. And Thursday, Dan Richardson was named the team鈥檚 new general manager and Chris Gill the new bench boss.
鈥淵ou鈥檝e got that big marketing machine behind this now and I hope it means a lot of positives for the growth of lacrosse in sa国际传媒,鈥� said Heyes.
Three Shamrocks 鈥� Casey Jackson, Rhys Duch and Mack Mitchell 鈥� play for the Stealth in the NLL.
Heading into Thursday night鈥檚 game between Maple Ridge and New Westminster, Jackson was tied for third in WLA points with 38 behind the 39 of Shamrocks teammate Jesse King and the 41 of Maple Ridge鈥檚 Curtis Dickson. Heading into Thursday action, Duch led the WLA in assists with 26, one ahead of King. Jackson was second in WLA goals with 20 behind Dickson鈥檚 28.
But it鈥檚 not the NLL the trio is worried about at the moment. It鈥檚 summer lacrosse and they are intent on helping extend the Shamrocks鈥� four-game winning streak tonight in Burnaby against the inconsistent Lakers (3-4).
鈥淲e鈥檙e happy with our play at the moment 鈥� we鈥檙e building that chemistry between the new guys and the veteran guys 鈥� but we don鈥檛 want to go into Burnaby over-confident,鈥� warned Heyes, whose Victoria side is 5-2 after a slow 1-2 start.
鈥淏urnaby got spanked last week [18-2 by the New Westminster Salmonbellies before the Lakers responded with a 10-7 win in Coquitlam] and we know they are going to be looking to come out and play better and with more consistency. We better be ready for that.鈥�
Victoria returns to play at The Q Centre next Friday in the Island derby against the improving Nanaimo Timbermen (3-5-1), who are looking for their first playoff berth in 11 years.
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