Shamrocks wary of star-studded Lakers
The math is quite basic for the Victoria Shamrocks. If Victoria (9-3) wins five of its last six games, there is nothing the current Western Lacrosse Association-leading New Westminster Salmonbellies can do to stop the Shamrocks from clinching the regular-season title. New Westminster was 11-3-2 after Thursday night’s 10-6 win over the Maple Ridge Burrards.
“That’s a great target for us, because our goal is always to finish first and secure home-floor advantage for the playoffs,” said Victoria head coach Bob Heyes, who has guided the Shamrocks to three consecutive WLA championships and the national Mann Cup title last year.
The 2016 edition of the green and white has done it with more of a workmanlike ethic than some of the more talented teams of the past three seasons.
“We’re 9-3 and we’ve worked our butts off to get there. This hasn’t been done by smoke and mirrors,” said Heyes.
The journey continues tonight in Burnaby when the Shamrocks take on the Lakers (7-6-1).
The Salmonbellies, Shamrocks, Lakers and Maple Ridge Burrards (9-6-1 after Thursday’s loss) currently hold down the four playoff positions in the seven-team circuit. As happens with the better teams this time of year, they are starting to assert themselves. Going into Thursday night, the ’Bellies had won their last four games, the Shamrocks their last three and the Burrards and Lakers each their last two.
That means something has to give tonight in Burnaby. It isn’t without cause that Heyes is wary of the Lakers, a team that seems to be laying in wait in the weeds. Heyes said the Lakers have been a bit “underwhelming” this season but that everybody in the league is waiting for the other running shoe to drop.
“Burnaby has a very strong roster with a core of players who play pro in the NLL. There is a feeling they have not yet hit their stride,” said Heyes. When they do, maybe watch out. Tyler Richards give the Lakers top-flight goaltending and they have reigning WLA MVP Robert Church up front.
“They are a tough team to prepare for … they have Richards in goal, a big back end defensively, while up front, everything runs through Church,” noted Heyes.
Meanwhile, the Shamrocks’ offence continues to surge with Rhys Duch leading the league in goals with 29 and Corey Small and Chris Wardle in a group tied at 23 each, which also includes Church.
The Shamrocks’ uncanny distributor, Cory Conway, is the runaway leader in WLA assists with 53. The next closest is Duch with 38 and Mike Mallory of the Burrards with 37. Duch leads the league in points with 67, eight up on runner-up Mallory heading into Thursday night.
The Shamrocks are in Langley to face the Thunder on Wednesday before returning to The Q Centre to play the Lakers on July 29.