Update: Shamrocks win fifth straight lacrosse championship

Jul 14, 2019 | 7:44 AM

The Armstrong Shamrocks have done it again.

The team has won its fifth straight Thompson Okanagan Senior Lacrosse League championship with a 7-2 victory over the Kelowna Raiders in the final at the Nor Val Sports Centre in Armstrong Sunday afternoon.

Shamrocks coach Ryan Nitchie says Steve Clark scored twice including a power play marker after the Raiders tried a desperation move to request a pad measurement on veteran goalie Chad Pieper.

“The 10 minute delay in the game proved futile as Pieper’s pads were completely legal and the Raiders were assessed a delay of game penalty. Clark scored his second of the game on the ensuing power play to take a 6-1 lead midway through the third period,” commented Nitchie.

The team was presented with the Rowcliffe Cup for winning the title.

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“With the win, the Shamrocks become the longest running dynasty in recent history since the league restarted in 1994, winning 10 championships in 25 years,” said Nitchie.

The Shamrocks went 3-0 at the three team event, which also included the Vernon Tigers.

Update July 14:

The Armstrong Shamrocks and Kelowna Raiders will battle for the Rowcliffe Cup this afternoon.

The Shamrocks improved to 2-0 in the season-ending tournament at the Nor Val Sports Centre in Armstrong with a 13-4 win over the Vernon Tigers in the final round robin game Saturday night.

Steve Clark scored six goals for the Shamrocks who are trying to win their fifth straight Thompson Okanagan Senior Lacrosse League championship.

The Shamrocks will face the Kelowna Raiders in a winner-take-all final this afternoon at 1 p.m. at the Nor Val Sports Centre.

Armstrong won the round robin game over the Raiders 7-5 on Friday to open the three team event.

The Raiders won their second game 12-1 over the Tigers Saturday afternoon.

“Crowds have been very good but with the Cup on the line the Shamrocks and expecting a capacity crowd to fill the barn,” sadi Shamrocks coach Ryan Nitchie.

Update July 13:

The Armstrong Shamrocks narrowly defeated the Kelowna Raiders 7-5 in game 1 of Rowcliffe Cup Playoffs.

The season-ending tournament is being held this weekend at the Nor Val Sports Centre in Armstrong.

Brett Hawrys scored three goals and Carston Schlaak potted an empty net insurance marker with 10 seconds to play in the third to seal the Shamrocks win.

The second game has the Vernon Tigers versus the Raiders at 1 p.m. Saturday and the Shamrocks tangle with the Tigers at 8 p.m. Saturday.

The championship final goes Sunday at 1 p.m.

—

A new playoff format is being tried out by the Thompson Okanagan Senor Lacrosse League — and it all comes to a head this upcoming weekend in Armstrong.

The Armstrong Shamrocks will put their four year championship dominance on the line as they host two other teams for the 2019 playoffs.

Armstrong, Vernon and Kelowna will compete in the tournament style event with Kamloops bowing out due to lack of players. The league decided to hold a round robin tournament with a one game winner-take-all championship game on Sunday.

“This is a throw back to when the league kick started back in the mid 1990s. We are hoping that having all the games over one weekend will allow players to commit to one weekend versus a long drawn out set of series” said TOSLL Commissioner Jeff Hanley.

Shamrocks coach Ryan Nitchie is very familiar with this format having played in those tournament playoffs winning three strait Shaw Cups from 1995-1997

“Armstrong was the natural choice to host the playoffs then as it is now. Playing in a packed Hassen Arena with fans lining up outside the arena two hours before the game just to get a bench seat created a great atmosphere”.

This year the games will be played in the much more comfortable Nor Val Sports Centre and Nitchie expects big crowds to be on hand for what should be exciting lacrosse

“Our team is young, skilled, fast and exciting to watch. Lacrosse Fans will be treated to some high intensity lacrosse” added Nitchie. Game one of the playoffs sees the Shamrocks tangle with their stiffest competition in the Kelowna Raiders at 8 p.m Friday.

The Raiders are the only team to hand the Shamrocks a loss this season beating them in Week 1 of the regular season.

“We are preparing for a tough game against Kelowna. They have solid goaltending and will step up their defensive intensity against us. Special teams seems to be a factor in these games and the team that plays with discipline and controls their emotions will have the edge” said a Nitchie.

“Kelowna hasn’t had their full offensive compliment against us since that week 1 victory so expect some great ball with their scoring leaders Corey Sienger and Darcy Rhodes both ex-WLA players in the lineup” added Nitchie. Game two is will be 1 p.m. on Saturday with the Raiders taking on the Vernon Tigers.

“Vernon could easily pull off an upset here. They’ve been without their sniper in Ryan Sarazzin but their goaltending can steal a game with some tight defense in front of Josh Point,” said Nitchie.

The round robin finishes with the Shamrocks taking on the Tigers in the marquee match Saturday night at 8 p.m.

“It’s always a match when the Shamrocks and Tigers meet and playing on Saturday night should make for some action packed end to end lacrosse” added Nitchie.

The two top teams following round robin play will face each other in the one game winner take all final at 1 p.m. Sunday.

by Pete McIntyre

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