Kevin Alexander isnB次元官网网址檛 one to brag about his exploits on the lacrosse floor, despite his many accomplishments.
Part of that may be due to the era in which he played for the Victoria Shamrocks, a time when players hammered each other with wooden sticks, played both offence and defence and werenB次元官网网址檛 above dropping the gloves to make a point. And most had to get up for work the next day.
AlexanderB次元官网网址檚 other-worldly scoring prowess helped the B次元官网网址橰ocks win Mann Cup national titles in 1979 and 1983 and made him a frequent target of crunching hits by opponents. His time with the Shamrocks (1979-86) comes into focus Friday (June 15) when, as part of the Alumni Night, his number 26 will be retired and hoisted to the rafters at The Q Centre in Colwood. He joins Whitey Severson and Ranjit Dillon as the only players to receive such an honour.
Being part of a storied lacrosse club, and reaching for goals together as teammates was as much a highlight as setting Western Lacrosse Association scoring records, said Alexander, a hall of famer and current assistant coach with the pro National Lacrosse LeagueB次元官网网址檚 Vancouver Stealth.
B次元官网网址淭here were special moments, when you have the winning season they stand out,B次元官网网址� the 62 year old said. B次元官网网址淲hen youB次元官网网址檙e playing a team sport, itB次元官网网址檚 always about what the guys are doing together and how everyone is getting along.B次元官网网址�
While he only knew of Severson by reputation and post-career, he was a teammate at the end of DillonB次元官网网址檚 career and was pleased to see the WLA veteran win a Mann Cup in 1979 and later honoured with his number retired.
B次元官网网址淭hey were special people; they were longtime Shamrocks and did a lot for the community,B次元官网网址� Alexander said. Of the club, he added, B次元官网网址淚t was always first class. They were the best organized and the best-run team.B次元官网网址� While they werenB次元官网网址檛 always the best team in the WLA, they worked hard together to be the best they could be, he said.
Walt Christianson played four years with Alexander and has been with the Shamrocks organization since 1981, most recently as president of the clubB次元官网网址檚 Alumni Association. Having played with, watched and coached hundreds of players in that time, Christianson called him B次元官网网址減robably the best shooter that IB次元官网网址檝e ever seen.B次元官网网址� And Alexander was not just a natural shooter, he added, his talent for finding the holes was the product of massive amounts of practice.
Not only were AlexanderB次元官网网址檚 strong backhand shots B次元官网网址� from both sides of his body B次元官网网址� legendary and kep opponents off guard, his accuracy was incredible, Christianson said. He described a practise exercise Alexander would regularly do at Pearkes Arena, standing a distance away and trying to put the ball through the tiny hole in the glass through which referees talk to scorekeepers.
B次元官网网址淗e would [get it through] pretty regularly,B次元官网网址� Christianson said.
Addressing why it took so long for Alexander to have his number retired, the alumni president noted that the group only began doing so two years ago, and wanted to start with the oldest players first. As well, the criteria requires players to have been with the team five or more years.
B次元官网网址淭here have been a lot of great players who have played for the Shamrocks, but when you start talking about retiring jerseys, the list gets smaller quickly,B次元官网网址� he said.
Bleeding Green B次元官网网址� Fans are invited to partake in an Alumni Night tailgate party in The Q Centre parking lot starting at 6 p.m. Alexander will participate in the opening faceoff for the Shamrocks-Maple Ridge Burrards game at 7:30 p.m., then the jersey raising will happen during the first intermission. The second break will see the introduction of members of the 1983 Mann Cup-winning team.
