The Kentucky Stickhorses were the only NALL team to play a full schedule in 2012. Now they have three teams joining them, but they have bettered their roster and are ready for the competition.
Goaltending
This is the advantage Kentucky has over other teams with having two strong goalies. Patrick Crosby played as well as any goaltender could in NALL last season and in 2013 he will be joined by Spencer Lyons, who was drafted last night. Lyons played well with the Jacksonville Bullies of the PLL this fall before the team folded. Expect Kentucky to hold opposing offenses down.
Offense
Joel Zalesky was the best offensive player in the league last season, and don’t expect him to slow down. He will now be joined by Travis Bland who can be a dynamic player in American box lacrosse.
Also on the offense will be Cody Johnson, who was a stud in Canadian juniors. Mike McClellan is one of the best pickups in the entire draft, as he had played before with the Toronto Rock of the NLL.
George Castle put up a good performance with the Reading Rockets of the PLL this fall as well, and the Stickhorses also added Ethan Farrell, who led the Vermont Voyageurs to the QSLL playoffs.
Brandon Dube is also a player with Vermont who was protected by Kentucky, and other offensive players returning are Brian Caufield, Joel Derechinsky and Ryan Macasizek.
Defense/Transition
Transition is a big part of American boxla, and the Stickhorses have an advantage. They have two great faceoff men in Anthony Kelly and Eric O’Brien, and O’Brien is a solid defender as well.
Mike Unterstein is returning on the transition along with Greg Bice, Pete Mezzanote and Dave McCarthy.
