Minto-motivated Shamrocks make big moves ahead of BCJALL’s July 1 trade deadline
Victoria Shamrocks, 2022 Minto Cup, Brampton ON (Photo: Dave Fryer)
We’re still over a week away from the British Columbia Junior A Lacrosse League’s July 1 trade deadline, but the Victoria Shamrocks aren’t waiting until the last minute to make roster-bettering moves.
Earlier this week the Shamrocks confirmed they had acquired two of the top offensive talents in the league in a deal with the Burnaby Lakers that got them both Thomas Vela (Rochester Knighthawks) and Marcus Klarich (Vancouver Warriors). Vela leads the province in goals (40), Klarich #1 in points (82) and assists (45).
Victoria didn’t end there.
On Wednesday evening, the team tweeted out another significant addition, this time picking up forward Silas Richmond (University of Albany) from the Delta Islanders. A gifted goal scorer, Richmond sits seventh in the league with 25 finishes for the last-place Islanders. Also worth noting, the 6’4” Richmond recently scored 34 goals during his freshman year at Albany, easily leading the school in goals and even points (41).
Additional details of either deal have not yet been shared by the teams or league.
Zach Manns, Victoria Shamrocks, 2019 Minto Cup (Photo: BCJALL)
The Shamrocks have represented BC at the past two Minto Cups; alongside Coquitlam in Langley during the 2019 season, and then last year in Brampton. They made it all the way to the 2019 national final, but were swept by the Orangeville Northmen 3-0 for the Minto. Last year they finished last behind the Edmonton Miners, Toronto Beaches and the eventual Cup-winning Whitby Warriors.
After last year’s national finals, the team graduated several high-end 2001s, including: Patrick Dodds (Panther City Lacrosse Club), Casey Wilson (University of Denver), Trent DiCicco (Ohio State University), Owen Russell (San Diego Seals), Mitchell Sandberg (Ohio State University) and a number of other notable names.
Patrick Dodds, Victoria Shamrocks, 2022 Minto Cup (Photo: Dave Fryer)
So far this season, the Shamrocks have regularly found themselves behind the first-place Coquitlam Adanacs in the standings, who own a commanding six points lead ahead of Victoria. The Adanacs, who are currently riding an eight-game win streak, have beaten the Shamrocks twice in two meetings this year. A third and final regular-season contest is scheduled for this Saturday at The Q Centre (3:30pm PT) between the two Cup-craving clubs.
The league’s top four teams will advance to this year’s playoffs, with first playing fourth and second versus third in a best-of-five series. In addition to the Adanacs and Shamrocks, the Nanaimo Timbermen and Port Coquitlam Saints are presently in a playoff position.
While this week’s high-profile offensive additions will most definitely make the Shamrocks even more difficult to contain up front, the team already averages more goals per game than any other BCJALL side (12.00), co-led in points (52) by Kyle Pepper (St. Bonaventure University) and Dylan Johannes (Fairfield University).
Adam Bland, Victoria Shamrocks, 2022 Minto Cup (Photo: Dave Fryer)
And while the addition of Vela and Klarich give the Shamrocks two professional-level players, the team also has local pros like goalie Adam Bland (Calgary Roughnecks) and defenders Aidan Solomon (Vancouver Warriors) & Cameron Lumb (San Diego Seals). All five of those players made their National Lacrosse League debuts this past season.
Noah Manning, who rejoined the team earlier this month after his sophomore season at the University of Denver, is averaging nearly a hat-trick a game and in excess of four points an outing too. Unlike many of the top players mentioned, the 19-year-old Manning will still have another season of Junior eligibility next year.
Although their offense appears to be about as loaded a lineup as you could ask for, are the Shamrocks done wheeling and dealing before July 1? Hands up if you thought they were finished after their trade with the Lakers on Tuesday.