Last season, the Kentucky Stickhorses saw success in the pro invitational season of NALL. In 2013, they will have some more competition with three more teams.
The Stickhorses went 5-1 in league play last season, but team owner Tony Chase, who I also spoke to yesterday about the league, said that record from 2012 does not matter.
“Last year, is just that, last year. We will not rest on our laurels, nor will we minimize the efforts of the first year. We intend to take each game, one at a time, and work toward an NALL Championship.”
The Stickhorses lost their last game of the season to the Boston Rockhoppers, a game where they did not have their best showing, So, of course, those teams face off to start off 2013.
“That is EXACTLY why the January 5 game is Boston at Kentucky.” says Chase. “It isn’t as much about revenge as it is a great rematch of a rivalry that split games last year. We are excited to welcome the Rockhoppers back to open the season.”
“I’m excited to open up the season Jan 5th at Freedom Hall vs. the Rockhoppers and I am looking forward to hitting the floor with the Stickhorses for the 2013 NALL season.” said Patrick Crosby, the Stickhorses goaltender.
Only Kentucky and Boston were teams in the NALL in 2012 and will have most of their rosters back. Chase thinks that this helps on the chemistry front. “We are a team that will be united game one. We have worked though the first year “jitters” if you will and are confident that we are the team to beat for 2013. Our coaching staff and the veteran players want to prove that the Midwest CAN compete.”
The Stickhorses saw some breakout pro players in 2012, like Crosby, Joel Zalesky, Brandon Dube and others. With more new players coming in from the draft upcoming, Chase thinks that there will be even more breakout stars. “We hope to see more of the same from the great players of last year, I will discuss what we expect after the draft on October 29, when our roster is better defined.”
Kentucky was an unorthodox choice for a pro lacrosse team, but Chase says the market is growing. He and Crosby expressed excitement about the season.
“Although 2012 started off with some bumps in the road, it was an honor and a blessing to be drafted by the Kentucky Stickhorses organization and to play in the North American Lacrosse League.” said Crosby. “My experience last season was extremely rewarding and I know the ownership groups and league are even stronger.”
Chase wraps it up saying, “The game is growing by leaps and bounds, but box lacrosse is foreign here and we have a lot of work to do to educate the public about our team. We are in it for the long haul and are confident that we will be seen as the impetus behind “box” being played at the high school level in the Tri-State area.”
