Shamrox build on defense

[Sonny]

Shamrox build on defense

October 04, 2006: The Chicago Shamrox signed veteran defensemen Cam Woods and Darryl Gibson to one-year agreements and negotiated a two-year contract with goaltender Brandon Miller, as the team builds its defense in preparing for their upcoming season.

Woods, six-foot-three, 250 pounds, was a co-winner of the NLL Defensive Player of the Year in 2004. The veteran defender has 115 career points with 41 goals and 74 assists. An aggressive defensive player, Woods scooped 94 loose balls last year, bringing his career total to 849.

Woods, captain of the San Jose Stealth in 2006, played his entire career with the franchise and appeared in every game in the team's history.

"We are really excited to secure such a high caliber player as Cam Woods," said General Manager/Head Coach Jamie Batley. "Woods is one of the best defenders in the NLL and his leadership and experience will anchor our defense for the upcoming season."

The Shamrox acquired veteran goaltender Brandon Miller, also of San Jose, as their number one pick in the NLL expansion draft. Miller, six-foot-one, 170 pounds, played two years with San Jose posting 59 saves in 2005 and 150 saves in 2006.

"Brandon is one of the best goaltenders in the league and we are confident in his talents to help us build our defense with a strong, veteran goaltender," said Batley.

Darryl Gibson, a six-foot-one, 205 pound defender and native of Pickering Ontario, helped the Toronto Rock win the NLL Champion's Cup in 2002 and 2003. He was originally selected by the Shamrox as a number two pick in the NLL expansion draft.

"Woods, Miller and Gibson provide us with a stabilizing force in our Shamrox defense making it tough for our opponents to score," adds Batley.

The Shamrox play their home opener on Saturday, January 6 at 7:30 p.m. against the New York Titans. The Shamrox will play their home games at the Sears Centre arena, a brand new state-of-the-art sports facility in Hoffman Estates, a northwest suburb of Chicago.