The National Lacrosse League free agency period opened today and the Washington Stealth wasted little time, signing six players for the 2013 season, pending league approval. The players will be part of the Stealth’s 40-man training camp squad this December, fighting for one of 23 spots on the team’s regular season active roster.
Of the six players signed by the Stealth today, two have experience playing in the NLL. Peter Jacobs was originally drafted as an 18-year old by the Portland Lumberjax in the 2007 NLL Entry Draft. The left-handed forward played in 36 games over a three-year span, recording 67 points (37g, 30a). Originally from Hogansburg, N.Y., Jacobs plays summer lacrosse for the St. Regis Braves of the Ontario Lacrosse Association and in 21 regular season games, tallied 77 points (38g, 39a).
Brett Hickey was the Stealth’s fifth round selection (43rd overall) in the 2011 NLL Entry Draft. The right-handed forward spent the majority of the season on the Stealth’s practice roster, appearing in six games with a goal and three assists. The Windsor, Ontario native has also become a part of the local Washington lacrosse community, serving as the assistant coach at Eastside Catholic High School where the team went to its first Washington State Championship game in 2012.
The Stealth also signed left-handed forward Jerome Thompson today. Thompson, also a product of Hogansburg, N.Y., was originally drafted in the third round of the 2011 NLL Entry Draft by the Buffalo Bandits. He has played the last two summer seasons with the St. Regis Braves, tallying 119 points (46g, 73a) in 25 games over two seasons. Thompson was named the 2009 National Junior College Player of the Year at Onondaga Community College (N.Y.), where he tallied 122 points (65g, 56a) in a single season.
Ryan Johnson is the fourth free agent forward signed by the Stealth. The Chilliwack, B.C. native was selected 15th overall in the 2012 Western Lacrosse Association draft by the Coquitlam Adanacs, where he plays his summer lacrosse. In his rookie season, Johnson tallied 39 points (17g, 22a) in 17 regular season games. He also played his Junior lacrosse in Coquitlam, notching 140 points (65g, 75a) in three seasons.
On the defensive side of the floor, the Stealth signed 6-foot-6, 220-pound enforcer David Joyce. Joyce was originally selected by the Stealth in the third round (31st overall) of the 2010 NLL Entry Draft. He plays summer lacrosse for the Maple Ridge Burrards, where he was the fourth overall selection in the 2012 WLA draft. The 22-year old appeared in 17 games during his rookie campaign in Maple Ridge, recording nine points (4g, 5a). He was a teammate of current Stealth defenseman Matt Beers on the 2010 Coquitlam Junior ‘A’ squad that won the Minto Cup (Canada’s National Junior ‘A’ Championship).
The Stealth’s other defensive signing is also out of Maple Ridge. Patrick O’Meara is a left-handed defenseman selected 33rd overall in the WLA Draft by Langley. In 14 games with Langley and Maple Ridge, he tallied 11 points (6g, 5a). He combined with Joyce to create one of the toughest young defensive tandems in the WLA in 2012. O’Meara played his Junior ‘A’ lacrosse in Coquitlam and notched 12 points (5g, 7a) in 14 games in 2011.
