Defending Champs Dominate Tiger’s Home Opener

The Armstrong Shamrocks spoiled the home opener for the Vernon Tigers, a team making its return to senior lacrosse after a six year absence.

The Shamrocks, the defending champions of the Thompson Okaanga Seniior Lacrosse league, defeated the Tigers 13-4 at Kal Tire Place Friday night.

It was the second game of the season for both teams, which both losing their openers.

It was the first first lacrosse game of the season at Kal Tire Place after the ice was removed and a game report from the Shamrocks says the floor conditions were “poor” as a thin layer of white ice paint caused the players to slip and slide as if the game was being played on ice.

The @ArmstrongSrocks down the Vernon Tigers 13-4. Shamrocks got good games from Brett Hawrys, Steve Mcilwrath and Steve Clark. The @ArmstrongSrocks travel to Kamloops next Friday to take on the 1-1 @LoopsSrRattlers.

— Armstrong Shamrocks (@ArmstrongSrocks) May 4, 2019

Fire spreads to house

Vernon home "significantly damaged" by grass fire

Apr 02, 2026

Youth Health Services

Youth immunization, sexual health clinic opening in Vernon

Apr 02, 2026

Displaced For A Week

Some residents still displaced from fatal apartment fire

Apr 01, 2026

Following the game, Shamrocks  captain Steve Clarke said “We have to give credit to the Tigers who have a lot of guys who haven’t played in a while and it was great to see them back in the league and rebuilding their team that has a lot of history in the Lacrosse community” referring to the three Presidents Cup championships the Tigers won in the 1970s.

Clark added “The floor conditions made it a little tough to find our marks and plant our feet to pivot or shoot which was a challenge but we still probably got off about 60 shots and as a unit the offence really moved the ball well in the second and third periods.”

Shamrocks coach Ryan Nitchie was equally pleased with the teams performance “we moved the ball well in transition and on offence we worked on our interchange system that worked very effectively swinging the ball from the left to right sides to get their defense and goalie moving”. “Defensively we broke away from our traditional zone defense system to key on their right handed threats in Sarrazin, Bigsby and Seaton and it was effective,” added Nitchie.

The Shamrocks record improves to 1-1 early in the season as the team next plays in Kamloops to take on the 1-1 Rattlers next Friday May 10 at 8 p.m. at the Kamloops Memorial Arena.

The Tigers fall to 0-2.