On Thursday, Aug. 1, the Victoria Shamrocks broke two Western Lacrosse Association (WLA) records, after beating the New Westminster Salmonbellies 11-5 in the final game of the regular season.
The Shamrocks have set the WLA record for the most wins (18) and are now the only team in the league to win every regular season game.
This news comes days after the outfit broke the previous consecutive wins record (16), which the Coquitlam Adanacs set in 1969.
“We all are aware we’ve done something pretty special,” said head coach Mike Simpson. "Every so often the stars just align for a team."
On Wednesday, Aug. 7 at the Q Centre Arena in Langford, the Shamrocks will play the Salmonbellies in the first game of a best-of-five playoff series.
"Playing at home in front of our fans is super important because they’re far and away the best fans in the WLA," said Simpson. "They give us a big advantage."
Despite the Shamrocks' impressive season, Simpson says beating the Salmonbellies will be no easy feat.
“[Playoff lacrosse is] a bit more physical ... and the games seem to be a bit tighter,” he said. “There’s a higher level of desperation from both teams knowing that the end is near if it doesn’t go well.”
The Maple Ridge Burrards and the Langley Thunder also made the playoffs, while the Coquitlam Adanacs, the Nanaimo Timbermen and the Burnaby Lakers will have to wait until next year for their shot at the Mann Cup – a trophy presented to the winner of the Canadian box lacrosse championships.
If the Shamrocks win the WLA championships, they will compete against the best team in Eastern Canada in the Mann Cup final.
The weeks ahead will be long and difficult for the Shamrocks, but Simpson says that's the joy of playoff lacrosse.
“We’re trying to climb a huge mountain here – but this is the fun stuff, this is why we’re playing,” he said.
View the Shamrocks’ playoffs schedule here: www.victoriashamrocks.com/schedule
