Shamrocks look to Alberta for talent
Alberta has long been known for its exports of gas and oil, but the neighbouring province is now in the game of providing another commodity — lacrosse players to the more traditional areas of the country.
Case in point — the Victoria Shamrocks organizations.
The senior Shamrocks recently acquired a pair of Alberta products in Jake Archdekin and Tristan Rai, graduating junior A players from the Rocky Mountain Lacrosse League in Alberta.
Archdekin is a rugged six-footthree, 230-pound defender from Calgary, former captain of the RMLL- champion Calgary Mountaineers and a key contributor to their performance at the 2016 Minto Cup, where the team was defeated 12-7 in the semifinal by eventual runners-up, the Orangeville Northmen.
Calgary had defeated Orangeville 5-3 in the round-robin where the Mountaineers were 2-1.
Rai is a right-shooting offensive player from Edmonton who collected 75 goals and 93 assists for 168 points in 65 Junior A games with the Calgary Raiders in Alberta and the Whitby Warriors in Ontario.
“I don’t want to say [Alberta is] untapped, because we’ve had the Blaine Mannings and the Kaleb Toths out of there and other players. I think it’s just an area that is developing,” said Shamrocks head coach Bob Heyes.
“Having Edmonton previously in the [NLL] pro league and with Calgary, it has given the players aspirations to be better and field lacrosse has done a lot, too. These kids have are developing their skills 12 months a year now.
“I think you’re going to see a lot of Alberta kids in this league this year and that’s a good thing,” Heyes added of potential Western Lacrosse Association players. “They’re hungry to learn and it’s a new experience for them.”
Archdekin, 21, was a fourthround draft pick of the Calgary Roughnecks and, along with Rai, came highly recommended by wily pro veterans Dane Dobbie and Andrew McBride, who coach in Alberta with the Okotoks Raiders.
“I’ve come to play lacrosse, better myself, help the Shamrocks win and hopefully we can bring a Mann Cup back to Victoria,” said Archdekin, who participated in his second practice with the team Wednesday after beginning camp on Monday.
“It’s fast-paced, hard-hitting lacrosse,” he said of his early experiences. “It’s another gear up from Alberta junior and the Minto Cup.”
Archdekin is proud to have been the captain of the first Alberta team to win a Minto Cup game, having finished second in the round-robin before being eliminated in the semifinal.
He comes from strong lacrosse stock. His dad, Pete, played junior and his uncle Ken won a Minto Cup and grandfather Ab won a Mann Cup, both in Brampton, Ont. His brother Bart played football at Minot State University and spent a little time in the CFL with the B.C. Lions, Calgary and Saskatchewan.
“I’m excited. Each practice you get more used to the guys, you get to know familiar faces and tendencies and now I’m just looking forward to the home opener,” said Archdekin, who is in camp while Rai remains at Lehigh University in Pennsylvania.
The senior Shamrocks are not the only team benefiting from Alberta resources as the Junior Shamrocks have welcomed twins Griffin and Skyler Wilson out of the Vimy Ridge Academy in Edmonton.
In four games each with the Jr. Shamrocks, Skyler has collected four goals and seven assists while Griffin has tallied seven times and added three helpers as the pair — who have committed to Denver University for 2018 — have fit in well.
“They’re first-year Intermediates playing Junior and they’ve stepped it up,” said Jr. Shamrocks Terry Dennett. “They’re quiet kids, but when they hit the floor they want to work hard and be better lacrosse players so I think they’re pretty happy wearing the Shamrocks jersey in Victoria.”
Heyes, for one, says get used to the invasion from Alberta.
“It’s an area that’s developing,” he said. “As I said, it’s not totally untapped and the next thing will be looking at American kids. The Toronto Rock went with some American kids and they bring a different type of game as well. Lacrosse is becoming worldwide.”
CLOVER POINTS: The senior Shamrocks confirmed the signing of Steve Priolo for the 2017 season, returning to Victoria after being a pivotal player with the 2015 Mann Cup team. He also won the gold medal with Team Canada at the World Indoor Lacrosse Championship that year. The six-foot-five, 235-pounder has been a finalist for defender of the year in the NLL for the past four seasons.