IL Indoor

Victoria Jr. Shamrocks defender Erik Sage

Ten years from now, when the ‘09 National Lacrosse League entry draft is looked back on, yeah names like Zack Greer, Sid Smith, Garrett Billings and maybe Cody Jamieson will easily come to mind, but there will likely also be a recurring theme garnered from this year’s draft too.

The theme? Good, quality, aggressive, shutdown D guys from Western Canada.

There’s a pool of upwards of about ten plus (maybe more) guys in the BCJALL that have shown they might have the chops to make the jump to the big show.

Last week we checked in with Coquitlam’s Brandon Turner, this week, Victoria Shamrocks’ multi-dimensional defender, Erik Sage.

Sage came into the the Shamrocks’ fold this summer and gave the green-and-white one of this season’s hardest working, intense and gritty defenders, who carries a bit of a mean streak with him too.

Few in the junior game bring as many tools as Sage did over the past couple months, Shamrocks’ head coach Danny Green recently telling the Victoria News he feels Sage was one of the league’s top defensive players in the loop in ‘09.

Check out Sage’s profile below, coming into the entry draft as one of ’09’s top junior aged defensive/transitional prospects, bringing size, smarts and an edge.

ERIK SAGE

Height: 6′3″
Weight: 210 lbs.
Position: Defender
Shoots: Left
From: Port Coquitlam, British Columbia
Junior: Victoria Shamrocks

What do you feel your greatest asset is that would allow you to translate your game to the NLL?
I think my ability to contribute at both ends of the floor, combined with my work ethic and desire to never ever stop fine tuning my game or learning something completely new would make me an asset to any NLL team.

One (or a couple) word(s) to describe your game?
Punishing, determined, versatile.

What role/position do you see yourself playing in the NLL?
I have been a face-off guy, spent entire seasons on both offense and defense and am a big, strong, solid player. If transition is what a team needs, I’m there. If they need to shake it up in the offensive zone, I’m there. But I’ll play solid shutdown defense as well anyone too. I think I’m capable and have the ability to do whatever a team needs of me.

What current or former NLLer would you most closely compare or model your game after?
Brodie Merrill or Tyler Codron.

Your greatest accomplishment (team or individual) during your college, junior or even senior lacrosse career?
Winning the Zone championship in midget (team captain) and winning the gold medal in the Intermediate A provincial championships (assistant captain).

Anything else to add?
I have coached a few kids field lacrosse teams and really enjoyed doing that and will always be looking for opportunities to give back to the game in anyway I can.

I have always dreamed of playing for Toronto since I was a little kid and think that would be unreal, however I am definitely available to play in any city that has a pro team.

Rate This Story:

(+56 rating, 16 votes)

 Loading ...