It has been rumored that the new NLL CBA might cut rosters from 23 to 20 for 2014. This means 27 current players will be without jobs, along with some drafted players who would have otherwise made it. How does this affect team depth charts?Drafted players are not signed yet, so this just assumes that all of them sign for the sake of this story. The depth charts we use are the ones from SwarmItUp.com since the NLL doesn’t release any official depth charts. We will look team by team of how it affects them.
Heading Into their Inaugural season, the lower mainland of British columbia is a buzz with Pro lacrosse coming back to the West coast of Canada. The Lacrosse community in B.C. has patiently waited for the return of a NLL franchise since the demise of the Vancouver Ravens in 2004 and the future looks bright.
The Stealth boast one of the leagueʼs deepest rosters and having selected a talented group of rookies at the 2013 entry draft, choosing the starting roster for game one vs the Colorado Mammoth on January 4th will be a tall order for the club.
Adding skill, speed, size and talent, the Vancouver stealth believe they have what it takes to not only win the competitive West division but the NLL Champions Cup. “I think it was a balanced draft for us, we got a couple right handed goal scorers, a couple of left handed goal scores, we got some size, some scrappiness, and some experience,” Noted Coach Hall modestly when asked about the draft. Lax fans will no doubt feel the same way when the squad takes to the turf this season.
Already a powerhouse in the league, Vancouver can be optimistic about the youth added to the mix. Although not yet household names to many National Lacrosse league fans, Cody Bremner, Nick Weiss, Tyler Digby, Kevin Neufeld, Brett Dobray, Blair Goss, Josh Hawkins, Brendan Rouse, and Chris Wardle are all legitimate laxers each bringing impressive lacrosse resumes with them; and all have the potential to be roster spot guys and budding superstars.
Alongside the Veteran Core, Potent Offense, Tough D and Solid Goaltending this could be what the team needs to put them over the top after coming up short in the Finals last year against the Rochester Knighthawks.
Returning Superstars include 2013 All pro selections Rhys Duch and Mike Grimes to name a few. Established Snipers Athan Iannucci, Lewis Ratcliff and Dean Hill will be sure to wow fans with great goals and a Stingy Defense lead by captain Kyle Sorensen, Matt Beers, and veteran Jeff Moleski will consistently frustrate opposing shooters while anchored between the pipes by starting goalie Tyler Richards.
Returning to British Columbia, brings with it not only optimism, pride and an already hungry fan base, the pressure is on for this organization to preform in the “Hotbed” of lacrosse in western Canada. Knowledgeable spectators that know the game will not settle for anything less than a Champions Cup trophy after seeing the then Washington Stealth fall short 11-10 at the Langley Events Center earlier this year in May. Canadian fans can rest assured that the product on the floor this season will no doubt be spectacular with one of the leagues most formidable rosters.
