Schedule Analysis:
The Vancouver Stealth look to rise from the basement, in the upcoming 2015 National Lacrosse League season. The Stealth’s is a mixed bag of East and West division opponents. They will be facing the 2014 runner up Calgary Roughnecks four times in the regular season. These games are going to be quite the task.
Overall the schedule looks to benefit the Stealth, who in the past has had many back-to-back games. They do not face one weekend of back to back late in the season. The Stealth also benefit from having five home games the first half of the season. These home games could help kick start the Stealth in their run back to the playoffs early in the season. The key games the first half of the season will be the three out of the four games against Calgary.
The second half of the season looks to be a bit more difficult with fewer home games and the weekend games in the East. The Stealth face the Toronto Rock on Friday April 10 then head play again on Sunday April 12th against the New England Black Wolves. A trip to Banditland is also in the second half of the season, and playing in front of those fans is never an easy task. The Stealth closes out the regular season at home as they host the Calgary Roughnecks May 2.
Team Acquisitions:
Tyler Hass (Minnesota)
Dane Stevens (Minnesota)
Johnny Powless (Rochester)
Joel McCready (Rochester)
Rory Smith (Buffalo)
Eric Penney (Buffalo)
Tyler Burton (Free Agent)
Team Losses:
Brett Bucktooth
Mike Grimes
Jeff Moleski
Nick Weiss
Rookies:
Conrad Champman
Brendon Clelland
Dan Keane
Jakob Doucet
Matt Delmonico
DJ Saari
Steve Ferdinandi
How They Got Better:
The Stealth made the right moves this offseason to get better in so many ways. The acquisition of Tyler Hass to improve the stagnant transition game from a year ago. Then the free agent pick up of Tyler Burton to help fill the void on defense. Vancouver continued to make moves on draft day picking up both Johnny Powless and Joel McCready from Rochester. Yet another late draft day trade with Buffalo for Rory Smith and Eric Penney. All these moves plus the draft class were all tailored to making the Stealth not just a playoff team again, but a contender for another Champions Cup.
How They Got Worse:
The largest void one would have to assume would be on the defensive side of the ball. Trading Mike Grimes and losing Kyle Sorenson to injury for the season is going to hurt. The good thing is the Stealth front office orchestrated some great moves to acquire and draft some talent to fill the skill set lost. How will they respond without the veteran leadership and who will step up? ‘Til the season plays out, and a leader has emerged, this is where the weakness of this team plays.
What To Watch:
The biggest thing to watch this season will be the goalie completion coming out of training camp, and how will Tyler Richards respond?
How will Lewis Ratcliff and Johnny Powless play together, as well as supporting the strong right side?
Who will step up as Captain and lead this ship in the right direction?
How will Coach Dan Perreault’s first season go?
These plus many other dynamics will come into play this season. Catch all the action at the LEC or follow the Stealth via NLL.com or StealthLAX.com to see how thing pan out in 2015.
