Tyler Digby has arrived on the NLL’s big stage as the Vancouver Stealth’s go-to gritty power forward with silky smooth mitts.
Digby is only in his second year with the Stealth, but has put up gaudy offensive numbers working as a tandem on the right side with sharpshooting Rhys Duch. The pair has been deadly at times; they are currently one-two in the Stealth’s scoring leaders department. They have a combined 67 points in six games and are a large reason why the Stealth offense has gotten back on track.
After scoring 22 goals in 18 games last year, Digby is scoring at more than a two goal-per-game pace with 13 in 6 this season. He’s always had the size and the athleticism to be an impact player dating back to his New Westminster Salmonbellies junior days. But he’s finally putting it all together into one scary looking package.
It is one thing to look at size as a part of the tools a lacrosse player has. But what if he doesn’t move gracefully or know how to dominate using it? It’s counter-intuitive and often leaves potential unfulfilled at the pro level.
Another underrated part of lacrosse isn’t just getting shot attempts, it’s getting those attempts to actually hit the net and Digby does this quite well. Of the 37 shots he’s attempted on net, 28 have made it on net for a 75.6 per cent clip. It will be interesting to track Digby’s goal totals over the last two-thirds of the season: he’s scoring at an unusually high clip, scoring on almost half the shots he actually puts on net (13 goals on 28 SOG).
That’s surely an unsustainable figure, but if Digby keeps getting the optimal scoring chances he has been receiving in the first six games, it’s possible it doesn’t fall too much.
Yet Digby has found a way past that with improved footwork and more versatility in his moves. He scored a power play goal from the top right shooting position, usually Rhys Duch territory, against Calgary with a well-placed shot that beat Frankie Scigliano up high.
The entire Stealth offense has found quick chemistry since the acquisition of Corey “The Kitten” Small from Edmonton. The ball is getting spread around the floor more which gives the offense better efficiency and floor spacing. The mixture of big, physical players like Digby and diminutive players such as Johnny Powless. This is probably what general manager Doug Locker and head coach Dan Perreault had in mind from day one.
Even if it cost a few losses to get it right, the West has remained competitive all year and figures to be hotly contested down the stretch. Edmonton currently leads the division with a 4-2 record while Vancouver has pulled even with Colorado at 3-3; the ‘Necks are sitting at a lowly 0-6 spot, an extremely unfamiliar sight for what’s been a model NLL franchise.
