Friday September 6, 2019 ~ COLWOOD
by Mary Brooke ~ West Shore Voice News
It was a packed hot arena at the Q Centre, the perfect loud and high-energy environment to support the Victoria Shamrocks home team to victory tonight in Game 1 of the Mann Cup best-of-seven series against the Peterborough Lakers.
Producing a methodical series of goals over the three periods, the final score of 13-6 as captured by the Shamrocks was a powerful first night of the series — pleasing to fans, sponsors, and team.
The evening featured two VIPs. Premier John Horgan opened the event and Colwood Mayor Rob Martin put down the first ball onto the floor to start the game as well as congratulating each team’s best player at night’s end.
There were some memorable moments in the game, including one goal by the Shamrocks shooting the ball into an entirely undefended net. The energy of the night was consistently pumped for crowd and players. The stadium holds 2,300 spectators and it was nearly full.
Peterborough Lakers player Corey Small is a former Victoria Shamrocks star. He got a rousing cheer at the start of the game.
A huge lacrosse fan, Premier Horgan makes a point of attending as many Shamrocks games as he can. And when he can’t be there, his wife Ellie attends in their season seats. Tonight Horgan arrived home from work at 6:10 pm and at 6:15 pm was back out the door for this Mann Cup Game 1, says Ellie Horgan.
Horgan says he likes the squeaking sound of the lacrosse players’ runners on the polished floor of the arena. It has an immediacy that adds energy to the game. He made a point of chatting casually with spectators during the intermissions. It’s clearly some downtime that he enjoys.
There were 53 shots on goal by the Shamrocks this evening, and 57 by the Lakers. The skill to hurl that ball down the arena is impressive, and to catch it in the loose netting of the sticks is also amazing. It’s a game of sheer physical power, visual accuracy and strategy fast in the moment.
Game 2 of the Mann Cup series is at 7 pm tomorrow night Saturday September 7. Doors open 6 pm.
The Q Centre is owned by Westshore Parks & Recreation (which is owned by five west shore municipalities — Langford, Colwood, View Royal, Highlands and Metchosin).
Tonight the VIP box was well-attended by Langford and Colwood mayors, councillors and friends, including Shamrocks team owner Jim Hartshorne who gave a genuinely huge cheer for the team at their win, clearly pleased with the show of effort and drive.
The 2019 Mann Cup event is organized by the Western Lacrosse Association (WLA).
The game announcer in the sound booth was Cliff LeQuesne.
This is the Victoria Shamrock team’s 70th anniversary in 2019.
WLA hosted a series launch team celebration lunch event yesterday with Langford Mayor Stew Young and Colwood Mayor Rob Martin in attendance.
At the arena there is plenty of evidence of the momentum of sports in the west shore community. Dozens of sign boards for local and regional businesses surround the arena perimeter as well as concessions and other booths carrying sponsorship banners.
Fans of all ages clearly had a great time … kids, teens, families and elderly folks all streamed out at the end in a good mood.
It took a while for the parking lot areas of Westshore Parks & Recreation to empty — quite the traffic jam!