The Victoria Shamrocks have signed a number of core players from last year in the team’s quest to repeat as Mann Cup champions.
The Shamrocks signed Matt Yager, Chris Wardle, Ethan Garland, Cody Hagedorn and Matt Roik last week, five players who played important roles in the team’s 2015 championship run.
That follows on the heels of the signing of Western Lacrosse League first-team all-stars Corey Small and Jesse King, as well as defensive stalwart Tyler Burton for the 2016 season.
Shamrocks general manager Chris Welsh said he’s pleased that all five players will be available. “They’re a solid mix of veterans and youth, all with championship experience and they represent a significant part of our core,” Welsh said in a release.
Yager is a seven-year veteran who has logged 93 regular season games and 53 playoff games.
Wardle, drafted 11th overall in 2014, has scored 14 goals and 18 assists in 25 games.
This will mark the third season for Garland, who scored 12 points in 28 regular season games in 2014 and 2015.
Hagedorn finished last season with six wins and two losses and a .795 save percentage in 10 games last year.
Roik played in seven games last year, posting a 4-0 record and .786 save percentage.
The 2016 schedule gets underway May 20 with a game against the Nanaimo Timbermen at The Q Centre in Colwood. Check out victoriashamrocks.com for tickets and information.
reporter@goldstreamgazette.com