The Vancouver Stealth will be one of three teams not participating in the 2014 National Lacrosse League playoffs after they finished with the second worst record in the league. This was their first year in Vancouver after they moved from Everett, Washington, but most of the roster had stayed intact, but it still led to an unexpected bad season.
Naturally, after a down season, blame is placed on coaching and management. However, Stealth owner Denise Watkins yesterday told The Province that both general manager Doug Locker and head coach Chris Hall are safe.
“It’s not like I’m going to dump the coaching staff or dump the GM,” Watkins told The Province. “I think we’ve got great coaches. That’s obviously an issue for Doug to make a determination of and whether everybody can come back and if it works with their schedules. But I am happy with the coaching staff and I’m happy with the GM. Doug is my GM.”
Watkins mentioned that the roster will be different next year, and it likely does project to be. Lewis Ratcliff has another year left on his contract while Rhys Duch was signed to a one year agreement before the season. Duch lives in British Columbia so there is almost no doubt he will be back. Brett Bucktooth and Chris O’Doughtry also signed one year deals before the season.
Cliff Smith is signed through next season and Tyler Richards is signed through the 2016 season. Ilija Gajic is also signed through next season. Some of their potential free agents this off season include Matt Beers, Neil Tyacke, Tyler Garrison, Matt Roik and Brett Hickey.
One way or another, the Stealth have a very busy off season ahead of them as they head into a rebuild mode. One thing is for certain, and that is the coaching and front office will return for 2015.
