Shamrox and Gaels Affiliate for 2023
The Clarington Shamrox Jr C and Green Gaels Jr B organizations will continue a 13+ year relationship as we head into the 2023 season as both clubs have signed an affiliation agreement linking both organizations throughout the season.
Since joining the OJCLL in 2009, the Clarington Shamrox have been a model of success, winning four Meredith Cup Junior C Championships, the most of any team in the modern era of Junior C Lacrosse in Ontario. The Shamrox have also been extremely successful developing players on the first step of the OLA ladder for Junior lacrosse with many players graduating from the Shamrox to play for the Green Gaels such as Stefan Diachenko, Josh Gilray, Ryan McCrory, Brandon Hesson, Pat McCrory, Joey Ravary, Dalton Lundy, Courtland Araujo-Black, Bennett Drake, Connor Magee, Brandon Staal, Mack Schreurs, Liam Osbourne, Brady Kearnan, James Houston, Steven Walsh, Brent Underwood, Dante Kulas, Malcolm Vivian, Brendan McDonnell just to name a few.
"We are looking to build positively onto the relationship that started way back in 2009 when the Clarington Shamrox entered the OJCLL. Watching the Shamrox organization evolve over the years while continuing to provide Clarington and Durham Region based players an opportunity to develop their skills at the Junior level under coaches like Brock Harris, Kevin O'Brien, Ryan Preston, and Ryan Douglas, has proven what a top notch organization they are" said Green Gaels President Matt Chamois. "Clarington Minor Lacrosse and (current Shamrox GM) Mike Passfield have continued to provide a top level organization for players to work to improve their skills in order to move to the Junior B and Junior A levels, all well continuing to compete at the highest levels of the OJCLL".
"Our affiliation with the Jr. B Green Gaels will now solidify the growth and development of our athletes across the Durham Region and even more so in Clarington. We are very pleased and excited about the future" said Shamrox Head Coach Ryan Douglas.
After overseeing a very strong Shamrox season in 2022, Passfield and Douglas will oversee a new group of graduating U17 players looking to crack a strong returning roster as they look to make another run towards the Meredith Cup in 2023. There will be opportunities with the Shamrox with a few key pieces from the 2022 team will be looking at working their way into the Green Gaels lineup and beyond into Junior A over the next few seasons.
"Having players joining us from both the Shamrox Junior C and (Whitby) Warriors Junior C teams gives us the piece of mind knowing that these players have played under strong coaching staffs and outstanding organizations as part of their development at the Junior lacrosse level" said Green Gaels Head Coach Jay Lee. "Promoting players from our 2022 roster to the (Whitby) Junior A team and having some graduate from Junior lacrosse, there will be plenty of opportunities for kids to crack the Green Gaels line up when tryouts roll around in the first week of April".
Following the Whitby Warriors Jr A tryouts that run through the end of March, Green Gaels tryouts begin on Monday, April 3rd at Darlington Arena. Full training camp dates and times will be announced shortly for the Gaels pre-season as the organization prepares for their 27th season of Junior B lacrosse and 25th season at the Garnet B. Rickard Recreation Complex.