After finishing as regular season champions in their first year in the Canadian Lacrosse League, the Niagara Lock Monsters ended their inaugural campaign in disappointing fashion losing in the semi-finals to the eventual Creator’s Cup Champion Iroquois Ironmen. The Lock Monsters 2014 roster includes 17 returning players from their impressive 2013 season. Head Coach and General Manager Jeff Dowling will look to 2013 scoring title champion Corey Folwer and 2013 Offensive Player of the Year Andrew Potter to lead the offense once again in 2014.
Folwer, a native of Niagara-On-the-Lake finished with 80 points(32G,48A) while St.Catharines local product Potter finished just one point behind Fowler with 79(31G,48A). Alongside Fowler and Potter on the offensive side of the floor will be fellow St.Catharines’ natives Dylan Llord and Brad Favero. Llord finished the 2013 season off with 57 points (18G,39A) while Favero tallied 50 points(27G,23P).
The Lock Monsters have a major local influence as 17 players hail from the Niagara region, not including transition/defender Bryan Campbell who lives in St.Catherines for college. In between the pipes for the Lock Monsters will be 2013 Goalie of the Year Connor Danko. The Welland, ON native finished with a 10.20 goals against average, a .809 save percentage and a league leading 7-1 record.
Battling for the back up position is Coquitlam Adanacs Jr.A standout Dave DiRuscio and former Rochester Knighthawks netminder Grant Crawley. DiRuscio is returning to the floor after a devastating leg injury in his National Lacrosse League draft year and if he can return to game shape quickly, the Lock Monsters could have a deadly duo in the cage. ]
In a CLax press release, Head Coach and GM Dowling expressed his confidence in his squad this year to finish what they started last season.
“With our returning players, there is a lot of unfinished business from 2013, and we’re focused on bringing the Creator’s Cup to Niagara.” For all your Canadian Lacrosse League news, scores and updates, check back to ILWT for the best CLax coverage!
