The Western Lacrosse Association club chose local product Jake Emms with their first selection in the annual league draft, held Monday night at the Langley Events Centre.
Selecting in the third round, the Shamrocks chose Emms, of the Junior Shamrocks, with the 20th overall pick. They followed that up with Kyle Dexter of the Okotoks Raiders, chosen 22nd — the first pick of Round 4.
“Jake is a gritty right-hander who doesn’t have any fear and brings offensive upside,” Shamrocks general manager Chris Welch said of Emms, who had 12 goals and 25 assists in 16 games last season.
“We’ve had our eye on Jake for a long time and we were pleased he was there when we picked.
“We were happy and, likewise, delighted with our next pick,” Welch said of Dexter, a six-foot-five, 205-pound right-hander.
Welch later added Adam Brown, Blair Pinnock, Oliver Phillips, Josh Fagan and Jason Gregg, all of the Junior Shamrocks.
Ben McIntosh of the Coquitlam Jr. Adanacs was taken first overall by Maple Ridge.
Like Victoria, Nanaimo did not have selections in the first two rounds, but ended up with Paul Brebber with the 16th overall pick. Brebber finished last season with the Jr. Shamrocks after being traded from Nanaimo.
