Shamrocks Shining in the Offseason

Written by Ian McNaughton

January 22, 2019

Victoria, BC – Hello Shamrocks fans and welcome to a Winter edition of Shamrocks Offseason Report. In a two-part series, we will show off Shamrocks who are starring in the National Lacrosse League during the WLA offseason. Currently, there are 11 Shamrocks competing in the NLL and each one of them has a significant role on their respective team. We’ll start with Victoria’s own Rhys Duch, who has been on an early season heater with the Calgary Roughnecks. 

Duch has scored 12 goals and 33 points through 7 games and is third in NLL scoring. His first year with Calgary appears to be successful as Duch is currently on pace to outscore his 65 points in the NLL in 2018 when he was playing for the Vancouver Stealth. Duch is also tied for 8th with power-play goals as he has 3 so far this season. Duchy isn’t the only Shamrock who’s getting an opportunity to shine in Cowtown. 

The second-leading scorer for the Shamrocks in 2018, Jesse King, is in his first season with Calgary has been less than stellar. King has not played this season as he’s been dealing with a lower-body injury. He figures to be a major contribution when he comes back for a Calgary team that already leads the league in scoring with 73 goals. He had 69 points in 18 games last season with the Georgia Swarm. 

Shamrocks defender Greg Harnett has also been making his name known while a member of the Roughnecks. In his eighth season for Calgary, Harnett has secured 20 loose balls and has caused 5 turnovers through the first 7 games for the Roughnecks. The man named “Greggy” is still looking for his first NLL goal since 2018. 

Someone who hasn’t had trouble scoring is the Shamrocks leading scorer in the 2018 regular season, Casey Jackson. Jackson has 9 goals, including 2 on the power-play, and 12 points for the San Diego Seals in their inaugural season. The Seals have won their last three games, thanks to Jackson putting up a hat trick in their last two victories. 

Rounding out the Shamrocks players in the Prairies, Adam Shute is the only Shamrock on the Saskatchewan Rush. Although the Rush have been leaning on Evan Kirk in the early part of the season, Shute is figured to get a start at some point as he continues to wear green proudly. In the meantime, Shute and Saskatchewan currently sit in first place of their division with a 3-1 record.