The Victoria Shamrocks are excited to announce the return of local player and veteran goal scorer Rhys Duch to the squad for the 2019 campaign to win a tenth Mann Cup national championship.
Duch, entering his 11thseason with the Shamrocks, grew up playing minor lacrosse with the Saanich Tigers before entering the Shamrocks organization beginning with his Intermediate A years and continuing to this day.
“I’m excited and proud to be a part of my home town team for another year,” said Duch. “Management and coaching have put together an awesome group of experience, talent, and youth, that will certainly challenge for another Mann Cup.”
Boasting a 4.25 points per game average, Duch has tallied up 416 goals and 507 assists in 217 regular season and playoff games in the green and white. He is a two-time WLA scoring champion (2014, 2016), was the WLA’s most valuable player in 2016, and has a Mann Cup ring as part of the 2015 championship roster.
“Rhys Duch is up there with the greatest lacrosse players that Victoria has ever produced,” said General Manager Chris Welch. “He’s a threat to score every time he steps on the floor and provides veteran leadership on our young team with everything he has accomplished. When you need a goal it’s good to be able to put ‘Clutch’ Duch on the floor.”
Duch joins already announced players Keegan Bell, Larson Sundown, Marshal King, and Chris Boushy on the 2019 roster, which is shaping up to compete not only for the western championship, but for the ultimate goal of a 10thMann Cup national championship. The national championships of Senior “A” lacrosse will be held in British Columbia this year, by the team that wins the Western Lacrosse Association playoff championship.
“In our 70thanniversary season, we are setting the goal the same as every year: win a Mann Cup,” said Team President Jim Hartshorne in a statement. “Everyone in our organization wants to get that feeling that we did in 2015, and I absolutely believe we are in a position to win a national championship right here at home this year.”
