The Vernon Tigers and Armstrong Shamrocks have merged their junior lacrosse clubs once again.
After temporarily combining both teams last year, the two decided once again to merge, for the 2024 season.
According to their recent executive meeting, “It is not and never has been the intent of dissolving either the Armstrong Shamrocks or the Vernon Tigers but, to combine the two teams due to the low player numbers in general, to make a competitive team.”
The team will continue operating under the Vernon Tigers moniker, but will have players from all across the North Okanagan, while splitting home games between the Nor-Val Sports Centre (Armstrong), Hassen Memorial Arena (Armstrong) and Kal Tire Place (Vernon).
The goal of both clubs is to create a new interim team under the name, North Okanagan Junior Legends within the next few years. If the proposed plan of combing the teams can not be initiated or organized, the 2025 season will see the two clubs operating under the Armstrong Shamrocks name.
This year’s Thompson Okanagan Junior Lacrosse League (TOJLL) has a newcomer, with the Cranbrook Blackwolves joining the now five-team league. Returning are the Kelowna Kodiaks, South Okanagan Flames (Penticton) and the reigning champion Kamloops Venom.
The Tigers season starts on Saturday, April 13, in Penticton against the Flames. The full schedule can be found at tojll.lacrosseshift.com.
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