Arthur Miller is an auspicious name in letters. This game, however, doesn’t require hauling an old-school Underwood from the 1950s, but a lacrosse stick in the 2020s.
“He’s writing himself a pretty good story right now,” said Victoria Shamrocks head coach Mike Simpson.
Simpson was referring to the gutsy Shamrocks forward Arthur Miller, not the famous namesake playwright, who was married to Marilyn Monroe.
Another name also pops to mind.
Much like Victoria-produced former National Hockey League sniper Geoff Courtnall, Miller has an uncanny and nervy ability to score key goals at the most opportune of times. His five goals in four games this Western Lacrosse Association season for the Shamrocks, including the game winner with 36 seconds remaining in the 10-9 victory over the Timbermen in Nanaimo this week, have come at timely moments to propel Victoria to a 4-0 start to the season heading into tonight’s key game against the Burnaby Lakers (3-1) at The Q Centre.
“He gets into difficult areas and never takes a shift off,” said Simpson.
The same could be said for the author of The Crucible and Death of a Salesman, but Simpson was referring to the lacrosse Arthur Miller.
“It’s a name that not many in lacrosse, even our own fans, are familiar with on the floor but he was been an integral part of our team this year,” said Simpson.
The sophomore WLA player from Nanoose Bay, who played for the Nanaimo Junior Timbermen and attended the Claremont Secondary lacrosse academy and plays NCAA Div. 1 for the New Jersey Institute of Technology, was Victoria’s top pick in last year’s WLA draft and the Shamrocks have not regretted that decision.
“He’s a great kid to coach and a great complement to our super-skill guys,” said Simpson.
Meanwhile, although undefeated, Simpson noted his Shamrocks squad “hasn’t been hammering other teams” and has had “hard-fought games.”
But there is more to come, he added: “We have not played our ‘A’ game, yet.”
Burnaby has been the other early-season surprise.
“The Lakers are built like we were last year,” said Simpson.
“They have had high draft picks the last few years, and went for offensive players, and they are young and rising and they really run the floor.”
The Shamrocks after tonight are looking at a bit of a breather stretch with the next game next Friday at The Q Centre against the Maple Ridge Burrards.
