Chicago Shamrox
Encyclopedia
The Chicago Shamrox were a professional lacrosse
team that played in the National Lacrosse League
(NLL) in the 2007 and 2008 NLL seasons. Home matches were played at the Sears Centre
in northwest suburban Hoffman Estates, Illinois
. The team's ownership group was headed by Kevin Loughery Jr., the son of former NBA head coach Kevin Loughery. The new franchise was announced on February 16, 2006, and the name "Shamrox" was chosen in May 2006.
During their inaugural season in 2007, the Shamrox finished the season 6-10 and tied for fourth place in the NLL East Division with the Toronto Rock
and Philadelphia Wings
. But, due to their record inside the division, the Shamrox lost the playoff tiebreaker to the Rock and missed the playoffs.
On December 12, 2008, the Chicago Shamrox franchise closed their doors indefinitely. For the weeks and months before, owner Kevin Loughery Jr. had been trying to find a new ownership group. When the new group wasn't found, the team ceased operations 15 days before the opening night against the Rochester Knighthawks
The team suspended operations until further notice.
Chicago Shamrox players
Lacrosse
Lacrosse is a team sport of Native American origin played using a small rubber ball and a long-handled stick called a crosse or lacrosse stick, mainly played in the United States and Canada. It is a contact sport which requires padding. The head of the lacrosse stick is strung with loose mesh...
team that played in the National Lacrosse League
National Lacrosse League
The National Lacrosse League is a men's professional indoor lacrosse league in North America. It currently has nine teams; three in Canada and six in the United States. Unlike other lacrosse leagues which play in the summer, the NLL plays its games in the winter and spring. Each year, the playoff...
(NLL) in the 2007 and 2008 NLL seasons. Home matches were played at the Sears Centre
Sears Centre
The Sears Centre is an 11,000-seat multi-purpose family entertainment, cultural and sports center in Hoffman Estates, Illinois, a northwest suburb, 25 miles from Chicago. The arena has 43 luxury suites on two separate levels...
in northwest suburban Hoffman Estates, Illinois
Hoffman Estates, Illinois
Hoffman Estates is a northwestern suburb of Chicago in Illinois. The village is located primarily in Cook County with a small section in Kane County, Illinois. As of the 2000 census, the village population was 49,495 and estimated to be 52,520 in 2003...
. The team's ownership group was headed by Kevin Loughery Jr., the son of former NBA head coach Kevin Loughery. The new franchise was announced on February 16, 2006, and the name "Shamrox" was chosen in May 2006.
During their inaugural season in 2007, the Shamrox finished the season 6-10 and tied for fourth place in the NLL East Division with the Toronto Rock
Toronto Rock
The Toronto Rock is a lacrosse team in the National Lacrosse League . They play at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto, Ontario. The Rock of the late 1990s / early 2000s has been called a dynasty, having won five NLL championships in seven years. From 1999 to 2003, the Rock appeared in an NLL-record...
and Philadelphia Wings
Philadelphia Wings
The Philadelphia Wings are a member of the National Lacrosse League, a professional box lacrosse league in North America. They play at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania....
. But, due to their record inside the division, the Shamrox lost the playoff tiebreaker to the Rock and missed the playoffs.
On December 12, 2008, the Chicago Shamrox franchise closed their doors indefinitely. For the weeks and months before, owner Kevin Loughery Jr. had been trying to find a new ownership group. When the new group wasn't found, the team ceased operations 15 days before the opening night against the Rochester Knighthawks
Rochester Knighthawks
The Rochester Knighthawks are a professional lacrosse team in the National Lacrosse League. They play in Rochester, New York at the Blue Cross Arena at the War Memorial. The Knighthawks were previously members of the Major Indoor Lacrosse League from 1995 to 1997...
The team suspended operations until further notice.
Milestones
- May 11, 2006: Connie Kowal was announced as the team's first president and Phil Ryan was named Vice President of Lacrosse Operations.
- June 1, 2006: Jamie BatleyJamie BatleyJamie Batley is the lacrosse coach who has coached several teams in the National Lacrosse League and the Major Series Lacrosse League. Batley is also a former player, who played with the Buffalo Bandits, Syracuse Smash, and Pittsburgh CrosseFire....
was named the first Head Coach and General Manager in Chicago Shamrox history. - July 12, 2006: Goaltender Brandon MillerBrandon Miller (lacrosse)Brandon Miller is a goaltender for the Philadelphia Wings in the National Lacrosse League, and the Brampton Excelsiors in the Ontario Lacrosse Association's Major Series, with whom he has been a part of two Mann Cup winning teams.-National Lacrosse League:Miller started his career in 2001 with the...
is selected as the first overall pick in the 2006 NLL Expansion Draft; making him the first player in the history of the Chicago Shamrox. - September 13, 2006: The Shamrox select Josh Wasson with their first pick (12th overall) in the 2006 NLL Entry Draft. Wasson formerly starred at the University of Hartford and for the Peterborough LakersPeterborough LakersPeterborough Lakers may refer to:*Peterborough Lakers , a Senior A box lacrosse team that plays in the Major Series Lacrosse*Peterborough Lakers Jr. A, a Junior A box lacrosse team that plays in the Ontario Lacrosse Association...
of the Ontario Lacrosse AssociationOntario Lacrosse AssociationOntario Lacrosse Association is a sanctioned sports body in Ontario, Canada. Empowered by the Canadian Lacrosse Association, the OLA controls and regulates Minor level, Junior level and Senior level Lacrosse...
. - January 6, 2007: The Shamrox play their first-ever regular season game, a home game against their expansion cousins the New York Titans. The Shamrox win the game 15-12. Forward Jason Clark scored the first goal in franchise history at 2:17 of the 1st quarter, assisted by defenseman Tom Montour and Goaltender Brandon MillerBrandon Miller (lacrosse)Brandon Miller is a goaltender for the Philadelphia Wings in the National Lacrosse League, and the Brampton Excelsiors in the Ontario Lacrosse Association's Major Series, with whom he has been a part of two Mann Cup winning teams.-National Lacrosse League:Miller started his career in 2001 with the...
. Miller made 46 saves on 58 shots to earn the win. 8,456 people were in attendance at the Sears CentreSears CentreThe Sears Centre is an 11,000-seat multi-purpose family entertainment, cultural and sports center in Hoffman Estates, Illinois, a northwest suburb, 25 miles from Chicago. The arena has 43 luxury suites on two separate levels...
for the inaugural game, setting the attendance record (at the time) for the Sears CentreSears CentreThe Sears Centre is an 11,000-seat multi-purpose family entertainment, cultural and sports center in Hoffman Estates, Illinois, a northwest suburb, 25 miles from Chicago. The arena has 43 luxury suites on two separate levels...
. - April 14, 2007: The Shamrox defeat the Philadelphia WingsPhiladelphia WingsThe Philadelphia Wings are a member of the National Lacrosse League, a professional box lacrosse league in North America. They play at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania....
17-11 at the Sears CentreSears CentreThe Sears Centre is an 11,000-seat multi-purpose family entertainment, cultural and sports center in Hoffman Estates, Illinois, a northwest suburb, 25 miles from Chicago. The arena has 43 luxury suites on two separate levels...
in Hoffman Estates, IllinoisHoffman Estates, IllinoisHoffman Estates is a northwestern suburb of Chicago in Illinois. The village is located primarily in Cook County with a small section in Kane County, Illinois. As of the 2000 census, the village population was 49,495 and estimated to be 52,520 in 2003...
to finish their inaugural season 6-10 and tied with the Philadelphia WingsPhiladelphia WingsThe Philadelphia Wings are a member of the National Lacrosse League, a professional box lacrosse league in North America. They play at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania....
and Toronto RockToronto RockThe Toronto Rock is a lacrosse team in the National Lacrosse League . They play at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto, Ontario. The Rock of the late 1990s / early 2000s has been called a dynasty, having won five NLL championships in seven years. From 1999 to 2003, the Rock appeared in an NLL-record...
for the fourth and final playoff spot in the NLLNational Lacrosse LeagueThe National Lacrosse League is a men's professional indoor lacrosse league in North America. It currently has nine teams; three in Canada and six in the United States. Unlike other lacrosse leagues which play in the summer, the NLL plays its games in the winter and spring. Each year, the playoff...
East Division, but miss the playoffs due to their intra-division record. 7,096 fans were in attendance at the final game for "Fan Appreciation Night," which included numerous fan giveaways, a silent auction, and a performance by the local Chicago band, Ready...Break.
Awards
- Brandon MillerBrandon Miller (lacrosse)Brandon Miller is a goaltender for the Philadelphia Wings in the National Lacrosse League, and the Brampton Excelsiors in the Ontario Lacrosse Association's Major Series, with whom he has been a part of two Mann Cup winning teams.-National Lacrosse League:Miller started his career in 2001 with the...
Defensive Player of the Week - 2007 Week #2 vs. the New York Titans and Week #5 vs. the San Jose StealthSan Jose StealthThe San Jose Stealth were a member of the National Lacrosse League, the professional box lacrosse league of North America from 2004 until 2009. They played at the HP Pavilion at San Jose, which is also the home of the NHL's San Jose Sharks and the AFL's San Jose SaberCats. They relocated to San...
. - Bill McGloneBill McGloneBill McGlone is a professional lacrosse player. McGlone plays for the Denver Outlaws of Major League Lacrosse and the Philadelphia Wings of the National Lacrosse League.-Collegiate career:3605287905...
Rookie of the Week - 2007 Week #2 vs. the New York Titans. - Cody Jacobs Rookie of the Week - 2007 Week #9 vs. the Minnesota SwarmMinnesota SwarmMinnesota Swarm is a box lacrosse team in the National Lacrosse League. The team plays on Treasure Island Field at Xcel Energy Center in Saint Paul, Minnesota....
.
All time Record
| Season | Division | W-L | Finish | Home | Road | GF | GA | Coach | Playoffs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 2007 NLL season The Knighthawks had the overall top seed in the playoffs, but were unable to host the Championship game due to a scheduling conflict at the Blue Cross Arena.-Team Movement:... |
Eastern | 6-10 | 5th | 4-4 | 2-6 | 176 | 191 | Jamie Batley | Missed playoffs |
| 2008 2008 NLL season The 2008 National Lacrosse League season, the 22nd in the history of the NLL, began on December 29, 2007 and concluded with the Buffalo Bandits winning the championship game over the Portland LumberJax on May 17, 2008.... |
Eastern | 6-10 | 7th | 3-5 | 3-5 | 176 | 212 | Jamie Batley | Missed playoffs |
| Total | 2 seasons | 12-20 | 7-9 | 5-11 | 352 | 403 |
See also
Chicago Shamrox seasonsChicago Shamrox players