The Victoria Shamrocks have announced the return of two of the team’s most productive and popular players, with the re-signing of Rhys Duch and Corey Small to the 2015 lineup.
The duo combined for 152 points in 18 regular season games in 2014, with 76 points each to share top spot for overall points in the Western Lacrosse Association. Small was named a WLA first Team All Star in 2014 and Duch took home the Denny Huddleston Memorial Trophy as the Top Scorer in WLA Senior A.
The duo dominated the attacking zone in 2014, combining for 74 of the team’s 176 regular season goals, and leading the ‘Rocks to a league-best 8-game winning streak, the longest the WLA has seen since 2008.
Duch, a 6’ 0” right-handed shooter from Victoria is ready to start his 7th full season with the Sr. Shamrocks as the reigning WLA Scoring Champion, with 40 goals and 36 assists in the 2014 season. A 3-time All-Star (2009, 2010, 2011), Duch comes into 2015 a veteran of the post-season, having started every playoff and Mann Cup game with the ‘Rocks for the past 2 seasons.
Small, a 5’ 9” left-handed goal-scorer originally from St. Catharine’s, ON, but now living and working in Victoria, had a stellar 2014 returning from a season-ending injury during the playoffs in 2013. As well as being voted “Most Popular Player” for 2014 by the fans, his 34 goals and 42 assists in the regular season keeping him in the top 6 in scoring each of his 4 previous years in the WLA.
“Corey and Rhys are two critical pieces of our core,” said General Manager Chris Welch. “They’re two young superstars in the prime of their careers and they’re hungry to bring a championship to Victoria. They have remarkable chemistry together and they really balance our attack by posing big threats from either side of the floor.”
The Victoria Shamrocks kick off their 2015 campaign at home on May 22 against the Nanaimo Timberman at 100.3 The Q Centre in Colwood.
