1. Youth movement needs to find its legs
The Vancouver Stealth had a rebuild of sorts this year, originally to be centred around Johnny Powless. Once Powless instead decided to stay in Ontario, those plans quickly changed. Vancouver was lucky to receive a player like Logan Schuss back for Powless, who disappointed in his short tenure with the Stealth.
General manager Doug Locker also brought in young reinforcements in other areas of the lineup. Vancouver decided to go with youth behind veteran Tyler Richards in goal, with Eric Penney and Cody Hagedorn; Justin Salt, Bradley Kri and Tyler Haas found regular spots in the defensive rotation; and the addition of Corey Small opened up a lot of room for Tyler Digby to operate on his way to a career year.
Of course, that doesn’t mean the Stealth should stay away from adding more youth to the club, despite not having their first-round pick. The more energy they can inject, the better off they will be—a young team who can gel together is a dangerous proposition. They just need to find the right fits.
- An upgrade is sorely needed in goal
Throughout the year, I was critical of the goaltending the Stealth got, but also acknowledged that it was a two-way street. Vancouver allowed 1027 shots on net with Stealth goaltenders saving 74.4 per cent of those shots. Only Calgary’s Mike Poulin and New England’s Evan Kirk posted worst save percentages than Richards and Penney. You cannot win big games with that unpredictability and degree of variance in net.
It’s something that slowly began to allow Calgary to gain momentum in the season finale, a game Vancouver led 4-0 just five minutes in. Richards has been nothing but a mainstay in the NLL as a quality goaltender, but it doesn’t appear he is suitable for any more than a back-up role on a contending team at this point.
Penney and Hagedorn should be given some time to develop as they both have shown to be capable goaltenders—Penney was with New West Junior A in last year’s Minto run and Hagedorn was the Shamrocks’ best goaltender during Victoria’s WLA Championship win over Maple Ridge.
Vancouver has to make goaltending a priority this offseason.
- The offense has found its legs
With the injection of Powless into the offense, it represented the Stealth’s desire to get a facilitator, a player who can open up shooting lanes for teammates to make them a more well-rounded, balanced offense on both sides of the floor. However, it didn’t always work as the Stealth have (or had) players who need to have the ball to be at their most effective—Rhys Duch, Tyler Digby, Lewis Ratcliff.
Corey Small was a welcomed addition because he’s a player who can thrive off the ball. It’s not to say the previously mentioned players can’t, but it’s about maximizing each player’s talents, and Small represented what Powless could bring to the table at a fraction of the price. After landing Logan Schuss, the Stealth’s O really started producing some encouraging results. We had a true comparison of the eye test and the statistics—the Stealth didn’t automatically start setting the league on fire, but the difference was obvious; more room for Digby to operate, Duch to load up and guys like McCready and Cliff Smith to make their presences felt. Many felt McCready was the Stealth’s most consistent player on both ends of the floor, allowing the team to reap some benefits from the trade with Rochester.
Vancouver’s offense should contend as one of the most lethal next season.
- Still need consistent home support
But at the same time, a 3-9 record won’t bring crowds in droves as they had expected. The old adage rings true that if you win, they will come – OK, maybe it’s not too old, but it rings true.
Vancouver is still struggling to fill the LEC—a venue that only holds about 5,000 to begin with—and there are some major reasons why. We have all griped about the lack of a true sporting experience here in the mainland, as the manufactured crowd experience through an abnormally obnoxious in-game host, overly loud (and again obnoxious) music during games have turned away some people I have talked to.
The experience seems to be directed at getting a younger crowd out for games, but it shouldn’t be at the expense of people coming to watch good lacrosse and not getting inundated with an experience that takes away from the whole reason you come to games.
The loudest game I went to was the Calgary game in the season finale, and that was because all minor players wearing jerseys got in free and their parents got 15 percent off. Why not do this for all home games if half of your arena is going to be filled on most game nights? The Stealth need to look at this as a viable plan to put more butts in the seats and ultimately a financial injection into the club. Some I have talked to have expressed concerns that they will again be relocated, thus signalling the end of professional lacrosse in Vancouver once more.
I don’t buy that it’s too difficult to get out to Langley. There are great transit options that take you directly outside of the arena, and lots of parking available. It needs to be marketed better.
- Another change behind the bench?
Head coach Dan Perreault had the tough task of regrouping the organization of the tragic loss of Chris Hall before the season. A great track record as a junior coach, including several Minto Cup appearances with Coquitlam and New Westminster, Perreault might be on the hot seat if Locker decides they need to get over the hump and into the playoffs.
Not all of these losses and blunders can be attributed to coaching, as at the end of the day it’s the players who have to perform, but there is something to winning games you shouldn’t win, being well prepared and striking a balance within your team’s chemistry. Perreault was simply outcoached by Calgary’s Curt Malawsky in that season-deciding contest. After the Stealth jumped out to a quick 4-0 lead, the ‘Necks regrouped and took away the middle of the floor, where Tyler Digby potted two quick ones. Vancouver was subsequently shut down on most offensive possessions, finding a lot of their momentum through fast breaks and on special teams.
You cannot simply let a team start 0-6 and then have your team play a stretch that was even worse than that. The Stealth were 4-4 after putting up 21 on Minnesota on Feb. 28, and then won just one more game in their final ten, getting blown out in several games down the stretch.
Who does that fall on? Even if you have one of the least talented rosters in the league, to go 1-9 to end a season is absolutely pitiful, and someone should be held accountable for it. Locker needs to make the tough choice, and that is going in another direction.
