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Lachlan Summers addressing media questions The San Diego Marlins had been looking to expand their roster to close out a hard-fought, competitive regular season. One of the new additions is Australian goaltender Lachlan Summers, who was put on the international hockey prospect map for his showy goaltender play in the AIHL, as well as time spent representing his home country at the World Championships. Sources had recently caught up with Summers and sat down with him for a short interview after today's practice, regarding how he has acclimated to life across the globe and his journey so far. “San Diego’s a great city. The team welcomed me with open arms and that’s all I could’ve asked for, really,” Summers said as he addressed the media. “I’m looking forward to getting a couple more starts and making a lasting impression in the VHLM. Never played outside of Australia before, and this is not an opportunity I’m going to take for granted.” Summers grew up in a country where there were only 21 rinks in its entirety, making his dedication to the sport that much more impressive. There were long trips to and from practice, a struggle to acquire the proper gear when he was first starting out as a five-year-old, and other forms of adversity that Summers quotes as his catalyst to keep his head up. “I love this sport, and there’s nothing that’s going to keep me from showing that any Aussie can lace up the skates and play.” Summers describes one of his long-term goals is to be an ambassador for ice hockey in Australia and continue to grow the game.

Thank you so much, man! I really appreciate it.

Lachlan Summers #50 G | 6’1 | 174 lbs. Born and raised in Brisbane, Australia, Lachlan Summers’ hockey story is an unconventional one. Hockey coverage in his home country was scarce, but the Aussie’s love for the sport ignited when browsing the internet with his older sister and coming across a Stanley Cup Final highlight reel at the age of 5. Having played rugby, he appreciated the same grittiness and physicality of hockey and wanted to learn more. Although there were only a total of 21 ice rinks in the entirety of Australia, Lachlan’s heart was set on learning the ins and outs of the game. His mother and his sister, although perplexed by his decision to dedicate himself to a sport that was one of the least popular in their country, both fully supported his dream. During his try out for a small local junior team, the coach had realized they were short a goalie. Deciding it could be worth his while, Lachlan volunteered. After taking a shot directly off his mask, he didn’t flinch, nor was he fazed, which convinced the coach that Lachlan was going to be their second goaltender. The Aussie was able to show off his prowess with time and ended up rising up the ranks quickly, to the point he was playing against kids who were up to 6 years older than him and dominating in net. With his slender build, Lachlan is most known for his acrobatic saves and utilizing his glove to its fullest capacity. Being agile is his strong suit. He is often described as having a stoic, “cool” demeanor, unable to be rattled, and often drew some comparisons to an android/robot from teammates and coaches alike. Although there were positive connotations stemming from the little “Android” nickname, there came chirping and negative connotations, as well, but Lachlan always committed to never taking what others think about him too close to heart— or at least, not to let it show. At the age of 16, Lachlan began his journey to the pros by starting in the Australian Ice Hockey League (AIHL). He also represented Australia at the youth and senior level, cementing his place in Australian ice hockey history as a staple of those rosters for many years and potentially more to come. He played four years as the Sydney Bears’ starting goaltender, but his third season was cut short by a hamstring injury near the tail end of the campaign, resulting in a heartbreaking playoff exit. He committed his offseason to rehabbing, before taking the ice again at the start of his fourth year. After a stellar season and a championship win when rebounding from injury during year 4, Lachlan caught glances from multiple VHLM scouts and teams, eager to make the leap to North America. After careful consideration of his options, he eventually signed with the San Diego Marlins when approached to be a part of their goalie tandem, and is now on the path towards the VHL. 492 words

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Player Information Username: kirbithan Player Name: Lachlan Summers Recruited From: YouTube Age: 20 Position: G Height: 73 in. Weight: 174 lbs. Birthplace: Australia Player Page @VHLM GM