Starting the season 0-1 isnʼt the end of the world. It is in fact a long season at 18 games with the NLL extending the schedule from last yearʼs 16 regular season games. The franchise has a new look with with a new home and plenty of new faces.
Gone are Athan Iannucci and Dean Hill, two members of the offense who were released preseason. Opting to go with former practice roster player Brett Hickey, free agent pick up Alex Gajic and rookie Tyler Digby on the right side, joining sniper Rhys Duch. Left handers Lewis Ratcliff and Cliff Smith are proven scorers and will be joined by rookies Cody Bremner and Sean Lundstrom who will prove to play a crucial role in the offense.
If the Stealth are to be successful this year they will need secondary scoring. While Duch had a great game offensively, the offense really sputtered at times, especially in third quarter vs Colorado last Saturday. Vancouver let a reeling Colorado back in the game with frustrating offensive possession after possession in the third. Struggling to take a stranglehold of the game, momentum would shift Coloradoʼs way.
Lewis Ratcliff who is top ten in NLL all time points, will be relied upon all year long for multiple goal performances. The strength in this year’s team is the defense/transition and Tyler Richards. All defenders play hard, tough defense and can run the floor and score goals. Tyler Garrison, Ilija Gajic and Justin Salt are all dangerous with the ball and veteran guys Grimes, Hodgson and Moleski have all proven time and time again that they are great on loose balls and turning a fast break into an odd man rush.
Tyler Richards is stellar in net and can hit a man in stride with an outlet pass. The ability to stretch the other team’s defense and manufacture transition goals will be an unproven offensive attackʼs best friend.
With Richards in net you can definitely afford to take some chances. With the home opener rapidly approaching, the Stealth prepare for Saturday night where they will host the Minnesota Swarm. An arena in the suburban community of Langley, BC will play host to a new look team trying to go 1-1 to start the year. A hungry fan base should show great support for pro lacrosse coming back to Vancouver for the first time since 2004.
