New Chicago Shamrox Captain Mat Giles.
Grabowskiphoto.com

HOFFMAN ESTATES, IL December 10, 2007 – Chicago Shamrox forward Mat Giles will be leading the team this year as Captain while Carter Livingstone and new addition Scott Self will serve as Assistant Captains for Shamrox’s second season in the National Lacrosse League (NLL). Giles and Livingstone were Assistant Captains for the Shamrox during their Inaugural Season in 2007.

“I am extremely excited to be the Captain for the Chicago Shamrox in 2008,” said Mat Giles. “Last year all three of us (Woods, Livingstone and Giles) worked together in our leadership positions with the team to help everyone out, especially all of the rookies on our team. I have been playing for/with Batley for seven years and this shows that he has a lot of trust in me as a player and as a leader.”

Giles will be launched into the spotlight this year as Captain and will have to fill the shoes of Cam Woods, the 2007 Shamrox Captain, who was traded to Toronto during the off-season. In return for Woods, the Shamrox received defenseman Kevin Fines, Toronto’s first round pick in the NLL dispersal draft (fourth selection overall) and Toronto’s fifth round pick in the 2008 Entry Draft.

“Woods leaving was disappointing, but with the addition of Scott Self from Arizona, we are a better team and are moving in the right direction to push deep into the playoffs,” said Giles. “Self is an experienced player with a winning attitude. He has played with a lot of the players that are on the Shamrox with various teams over the years and many of them know what he is capable of both on and off the field.”

Self, who was picked up in the dispersal draft, played for the Arizona Sting in 2007 and help lead his team to the championship game but ultimately Arizona lost to the Rochester Knighthawks. In 2007, Self played in all 16 games and scored 3 goals, 14 assists and scooped up 91 looseballs, which was the fourth best on Arizona’s team. Self is regarded as one of the top defenders in the league today.

“This means a lot to me,” said Self. “Being selected as an Assistant Captain is usually an honor, but when you don’t even expect it, you really appreciate it. Lucky for me, this is the second time that I have been placed in a leadership position for Coach Batley.”

Over the summer, Self served as Assistant Captain of the Peterborough Lakers in Canada, where Head Coach Jamie Batley serves as Head Coach. Several players on the Shamrox roster play for the Lakers as well.

Returning to a leadership position for 2008 is Carter Livingstone, who will serve the same position he held last year, Assistant Captain. Livingstone played in 15 games during the Inaugural Season of the Shamrox and scooped up 55 looseballs and 5 assists.

The Chicago Shamrox are currently selling season, group and individual tickets. Individual tickets can be purchased by calling the Sears Centre box office at 888-SEARSTIX or by going online at www.searscentre.com. Season and group tickets (featuring discounts and benefits) can be purchased by calling the Shamrox front office at 877-SHAMROX. The Shamrox take the field for their second season in Chicago on January 5 when they play the Toronto Rock at 7:00pm at the Sears Centre Arena in Hoffman Estates. The 2008 season features 8 Home Games that are played on weekend dates. In their Inaugural Season, the Shamrox drew an average attendance of 6,025 and record of 6-10, missing the playoffs by a tie breaker.

Joe Stefani
Chicago Shamrox PR Director
For interviews: 224-699-2207 Office
847-942-0536 Cell Phone
joe@chicagoshamrox.com

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