The end of the 2012 NLL season could not come quick enough for the Washington Stealth and their fans. A 4-12 record (2-6 home & road), and losing their last 4 games, had fane wondering… “What happened to the team in 2010-2011?!” Yes, I am referring to the Stealth who won the Champions Cup in 2010, and returned to defend in 2011, but fell to the Toronto Rock.
As the 2012 Entry Draft approached the Stealth did not have a first round pick. Their picks were Round 2/11th/12th overall Tyler Garrison & Billy Hostrawser, Round 3/21st & 23rd Mitch Jones & Tim Henderson, Round 4/30th T.J. Cowx and Round 6/48th overall Kyle Buchanan Fans held out some hope with there selections.
Buchanan a sixth round pick played very well in the nine games registering 4 goals 18 assist. Tyler Garrison played in every game and registered 4/10. Tim Henderson 4 assists in 11 games, Hostrawser 20 loose balls in 9 appearances, and Mitch Jones in 3 games had 1 goal 3 assists during the 2013 season.
The turnaround came from Rhys Duch. Duch ended the 2013 season with 45 goals (league leader) and 51 assists, improving his totals from 2012 by 12 goals and 5 assists. His counterparts, Lewis Ratcliff (31/36) and Athan Iannucci (22/25) had ok years. Ratcliff’s point total dropped by 5/4 from 2012 while Iannucci went up 1/1. But Tyler Richards was back in his 2010 form, going 8-5 with a 10.92 GAA.
During the 2013 season the Stealth had highs and lows. They opened up the season against the defending champion Knighthawks and defeated them 13-12 in front of a home crowd of 7,023. The team would start out 3-1 and on a mission. Then two 1 goal losses (including a 7-6 rematch loss to Rochester) evened their record at 3-3. But as any one will tell you, Good teams will rebound from heartbreakers. That’s just what the Stealth did by winning 4 of the next 5 to sit at 7-4 and the Stealth were soaring high above sea level. As the regular season ended the Stealth lost 3 of the next 5 to end up 9-7 and in a three way tie for first (they would finish second result of tie-breaker).
Their first opponents in the 2013 playoffs were the Edmonton Rush, a team that went 7-1 on road and during season defeated the Stealth in the season series 2-1. Stealth fell behind early and was looking at a 7-1 deficit. They would turn around and outscore the Rush 11-4 and advance to the semi-finals with a 12-11 win. Next was the Calgary Roughnecks, a team that they defeated in the season series 2-1 in all close games. Calgary was coming off a 15-10 win over Colorado and have been playing like the Calgary of old. But the Stealth were on a mission!! They went into the Saddledome and pulled of another 1 goal victory 14-13 So we would end the 2013 season the same way we started it in week 1 Rochester Knighthawks vs Washington Stealth. This time it was for it all. Both teams have split the previous two meetings, both winning at home by 1 goal. The game would be at the Langley Events Center in Langley BC as the arenas were booked for the Stealth to play at home. The game would be another one goal affair, with both teams leaving it all out on the floor. The Stealth down by 1 would force a turnover and fire a shot just wide with a few seconds remaining, that would be the final shot fired by the Stealth as they fell 11-10 to the Knighthawks.
In my opinion, this was an unbelievable season for the Stealth. Their draft picks contributed when needed, Duch had a fantastic season, Doug Locker is the General Manager of the Year, and T-Rich seems to be back to his old form.
Since the move to Washington at the start of 2010 season, If the Stealth make the playoffs, they make the finals.
Since 2010 the Stealth have made the Champions round 3 of 4 years. All with the goalie combo of T-Rich and Roik
Could 2014 be their year to bring home title #2? Can they be the dominating team in the NLL?
What does 2014 hold for the Stealth? Time will tell….
They do have 7 picks in this year’s draft
Washington (7): (Rd 1/8, 2/17, 3/26, 4/36, 5/41, 5/45, 6/54)
Final note…. Hold your heads high Stealth fans. Your team is back!!!!!!!!
Kudos to the fans who made the trip from Washington to Langley, and paid extra $$$ to get their passports so they can support their team!! WAY TO GO!!!!!
