Victoria Shamrocks Complete Coaching Staff and Open 2010 Training Camp

2010-04-09

Bob Heyes was a Minto Cup champion and MVP with the Esquimalt Legion in 1988 and a Mann Cup champion with the Shamrocks in 1997.  "I had the pleasure of watching Bobby throughout his playing career and coaching him a few times, he was a great goalie and a true warrior," said Christianson of Heyes who remains the last WLA goaltender to register a shut-out. "He is loyal to his team and very committed. He will be a great addition."

 

Dave Lowdon was a Minto Cup champion in 1976 with the Victoria MacDonalds and a two-time Mann Cup champion in 1979 and 1983. "I had the honour of going to battle with Dave as a teammate," said Christianson. "He was a great defender, mean and tough, always had your back and was one of the best slashers I have ever seen. He taught me a lot as a young player. He is a fierce competitor who hates to lose and will do whatever it takes to win."

 

Heyes and Lowden take over the assistant coaches' positions from Jordan Sundher who is now serving as head coach of the Junior Shamrocks and Darren Reisig who resigned after last season. Larry Smeltzer is staying on in 2010 as Goaltending Consultant, and is the lone holdover from the 2009 coaching staff.

 

The Shamrocks have created a new position of Performance and Conditioning Consultant and are pleased to announce that former Shamrock player Chris Kinnear has rejoined the team in that capacity. "Chris Kinnear understands very well the kind of conditioning that is required for players to compete at this level of lacrosse," said Shamrocks general manager Chris Welch. "He brings a wealth of experience to this specialized area that is very important to our success."

 

With the 2010 regular season just around the corner, the Shamrocks open their 2010 training camp on Monday, April 12 in the Juan de Fuca Arena starting at 6:00 pm. "We're excited to hit the floor," said Welch. "We have a young, hungry team and they can't wait to get going. It's a lot of fun for me to see how badly these guys want this opportunity. It's going to be a very competitive camp."