The Vancouver Stealth announced that they have re-signed 10 year veteran defensemen Curtis Hodgson, transition player Justin Salt, and goaltender Neil Tyacke, to one contracts for the 2015 season. These are the first signings for the 2015 season, as the player signing period opened earlier this month.
Hodgson is entering his 11th season all with the Stealth organization, while Salt and Tyacke are both entering their fourth National Lacrosse League season. Salt has played all three years of his career with the Stealth, while Tyacke has spent the last two seasons with the organization after starting his NLL career with the Colorado Mammoth.
For Hodgson, it’s another year of NLL lacrosse close to home and where his career began. Hodgson grew up playing lacrosse in Burnaby, BC where he won two Minto Cups with the Burnaby Junior ‘A’ Lakers in 2000 and 2002. This past season Hodgson appeared in all 18 games for the Stealth collecting 57 loose balls and 18 forced turnovers.
Hodgson was originally drafted by the Vancouver Ravens back in 2004 and since then he has become an integral part of the Stealth,
“Curtis has been an ironman with the Stealth having played in 161 of 162 games and all 14 playoff games since coming to the organization in 2005,” said Vancouver Stealth President and General Manager, Doug Locker.
“A consummate leader in the room and on the floor, he brings a steady veteran presence to our defense and is a very important part of our team. We are very happy to have him back with us for the coming season.”
Justin Salt has continued to improve with each year he has played with the Stealth, and this past season he did not disappoint. In the 2014 season Salt accumulated career highs in points (10), assists (7), loose balls (63), forced turnovers (9), and games played (16).
The Stealth expect Salt to take big strides again next season,
“Justin is coming off a very solid season and brings tremendous versatility to our lineup,” said Locker.
“He is an exceptionally hard worker and a player that can play a variety of important roles for us either on the offensive or defensive ends of the floor.”
The re-signing of goaltender Neil Tyacke, adds some depth between the pipes for the Stealth. For the last two years Tyacke has been on the Stealth Practice Roster, appearing in three games in that span.
