Awards - Most Improved Player

STEVE ZELLINSKY MEMORIAL AWARD

In 2008 a new team award was established to recognize the Jr. Shamrocks “Most Improved Player.” Steve Zellinsky was raised in Victoria and played some lacrosse with the Jr. Rocks prior to going on to play Sr. C ball. He was also a local football player, suiting up with the Victoria Hornets. He attended Mt. Doug Secondary school where he also played football and later became their trainer, a position which he enjoyed for 10 years. In 2007 Steve recognized a life-long dream when he became the Rocks’ trainer. Shortly after he took the job in the fall of 2006, he was diagnosed with cancer of the bladder. Despite being hospitalized, he was able to fulfill his obligations for most of the 2007 season, a gig he really enjoyed. At one point when asked ‘are we having fun yet?’ his response was “It doesn’t get any better than this.” Unfortunately after the season, and after battling his way back to a sense of fitness again, the cancer had spread and Steve passed away on January 2, 2008. To honour his love of the game, Janice and Sherry Huckin donated a trophy in his name to recognize the Most Improved Player. This trophy will be given to the player voted by the coaching staff to have improved the most over the course of the season. The inaugural winner was 20 year-old Rhys Jones.