Currently in his NLL rookie season with the Minnesota Swarm, the recently acquired Andrew Suitor brings dependable defence and the kind of grit Shamrocks' general manager Chris Welch wants to build his team around. Above, Suitor evades Craig Conn of the Washington Steath.

Currently in his NLL rookie season with the Minnesota Swarm, the recently acquired Andrew Suitor brings dependable defence and the kind of grit Shamrocks' general manager Chris Welch wants to build his team around. Above, Suitor evades Craig Conn of the Washington Steath.

Shamrocks hope to build around ‘tough as nails’ acquisition

The Victoria Shamrocks just made their biggest move in preparation for the 2011 Western Lacrosse Association season.

Coming to the Shamrocks is Andrew Suitor, who was recently selected fourth overall by the Ajax-Pickering Rock in Ontario’s Major Series Lacrosse draft.

Shamrocks’ general manager Chris Welch said Suitor is a player he’d like to build around in the coming years, should Suitor elect to play his summer’s in Victoria.

Suitor is playing his rookie season in the National Lacrosse League with the Minnesota Swarm with 2010 Shamrocks Noah Talbot, Nick Patterson, Ryan Benesch and Tyler Hass.

Through eight games Suitor led his team with 55 loose balls and is all league rookies in faceoffs.

“Suitor’s a player with tremendous grit and character,” Welch said in a press release.

“He’s incredibly versatile, plays both ends of the floor, takes draws … is as tough as nails and will do anything to help his team win.”

The six-foot, 190-pound, defence and transition specialist was an assistant captain with Ontario’s Orangeville Northmen that won back-to-back Minto Cup championships in 2008 (over the Jr. Shamrocks) and 2009.

Suitor is expected to join the Shamrocks in early June after representing England at the World Indoor Lacrosse Championships in Prague.

 

Victoria News