ItB次元官网网址檚 no secret how strong the Victoria Shamrocks defence has been in helping the team reach the Mann Cup final.

After winning the Western Lacrosse Association championship by eliminating the Maple Ridge Burrards in five games last week, the Shamrocks are off to Ontario today to compete for the Mann Cup national lacrosse championship.

It is the second straight WLA championship for the Shamrocks, who dropped just one game in the playoffs, sweeping the New Westminster Salmonbellies in four games and losing just once to the Burrards.

The Shamrocks mighty offence was consistent throughout the postseason.

Corey Small finished tied for second in WLA playoff scoring with 38 points and newcomer Dhane Smith, a slick pickup for the Rocks this year, led all scorers with 41 points. And with Rhys Duch, one of the greatest shooters of all time, Jesse King and Scott Ranger, yes, the Shamrocks are blessed up front.

But none of those guys won the WLAB次元官网网址檚 playoff MVP award.

That went to Tyler Hass, a defender.

ItB次元官网网址檚 a testament not just to HassB次元官网网址� game but a tip of the hat to the ShamrocksB次元官网网址� core of fast, athletic defencemen.

Hass did score nine playoff goals, perhaps making it easier to give him the MVP.

B次元官网网址淚 was surprised.B次元官网网址� Hass said. B次元官网网址淓specially since most people know it usually goes to the person with the most offensive numbers beside their name.B次元官网网址�

The Rocks are almost always offensively gifted, but in the last two years itB次元官网网址檚 been a new mindset of relentless attack, particularly on defence, thatB次元官网网址檚 pushed it over the hump. Because if goals are the important thing, then Small has 14 more than Hass. If itB次元官网网址檚 assists that matter, Smith has 24 more than Hass.

B次元官网网址淚 always consider thereB次元官网网址檚 an offensive side of my game and I push the ball, I run it, and I get a couple chances per game,B次元官网网址� Hass said. B次元官网网址淭he only difference is lately IB次元官网网址檝e just been making it count. The stick is working well, otherwise IB次元官网网址檓 playing the same way I always have.B次元官网网址�

Still, thereB次元官网网址檚 little chance the ShamrocksB次元官网网址� defensive game, which still has its share of rough-and-tumbles, would have won this type of honour four years ago. Back then they couldnB次元官网网址檛 stop the New Westminster Salmonbellies or Langley Thunder, while they ran speedier defences against the Shamrocks.

B次元官网网址淲e were young and we had our fair share of playoff losses. We used to play an old style defence and now weB次元官网网址檝e modernized with faster, athletic guys than what we used to have,B次元官网网址� Hass said.

Making up the formidable Rocks defence are imports Tyler Burton, brothers Jon and Greg Harnett, and Bradley Kri, who mix well with homegrown talents Hass, Karsen Leung and Matt Yager (a forward, but tenacious nonetheless), among others.

ItB次元官网网址檚 a particularly impressive award for Hass, considering he came back to the game at the highest level after giving it up during the most critical stage of his development career to play basketball for the UVic Vikes.

After rising to an all-star level with the Vikes, Hass has clearly figured this game out too. Or maybe the time heB次元官网网址檚 taken off this year to spend with his wife Jacquie McMorran and 10-month-old daughter Gracia has allowed him to focus.

Now the team looks to do what the Chiefs did last year, and win the Mann Cup on foreign turf.

The Burrards were a tough team, great preparation for whatB次元官网网址檚 coming next, he said.

B次元官网网址淥ur whole team was ecstatic to finish the Burrards in five games. TheyB次元官网网址檙e better than winning one game. They make you work every shift, they make it a grind, and are not a team you want to keep playing.

B次元官网网址淪ix Nations grinded us out last year, they wore us down a bit, and in the end it worked for them. It served as a good reminder against Maple Ridge, that we have to play through that, donB次元官网网址檛 let them wear you down, theyB次元官网网址檒l keep hitting you,B次元官网网址� Hass said.

Win or lose at the Mann Cup Hass, and Burton, another big reason for the ShamrocksB次元官网网址� surge, have been reunited on another team, as theyB次元官网网址檒l suit up for the Vancouver Stealth in the National Lacrosse League with fellow Rocks Duch and Kri.

editor@goldstreamgazette.com