The Vermont Voyageurs were one win away from a Quebec Senior Lacrosse League title last season, and now several of those players are having big years in the North American Lacrosse League. Voyageurs head coach Chad Fairfoull is happy with what he sees.
“I was just reviewing video of the Rockhoppers vs Bombers this morning. I think it is great that they get the opportunity to play in the winter. I think that they more these guys work on the things they are learning here and with their other coaches, the better they will get as Lacrosse players (Indoor and Field) and that just makes their stock rise when they go to NLL or MLL camps. I hope to get down to Boston to see some of their games this year since seeing it live is better than on tape. I already watch enough tape.
“I like the looks of a few guys I have seen in the tape. I know some of the guys that my GM (Jeff Culkin) has reached out may be playing MLL this summer so only time will tell if we have new guys in the line up this summer. Guys like Vedder and Wasik look really good in the tapes I have seen of them.”
Jeff Culkin, the owner and general manager of the team, agrees. “I have watched some of the NALL the games on line and will be travelling to Marlboro next weekend to see the Kingfish vs Rockhoppers. It will be a fun game because there are 11-12 Vermont Voyageurs suiting up between the two teams. Hotaling, Vozzollo and Rogowski have developed a great chemistry for Vermont on the right side. Kirkaldy, Dube, Norchi, Prevost and Roberts are all lefty’s who can run the floor and finish. Vince Talbot is continuing to look strong in goal, getting better every week. Joe Evans is gaining high level experience for Rhode Island and facing a lot of shots. Also, our defense is continuing gain high level “Box” experience (Garrett Pedley, Mike Nadler, Malcolm Chase, Duke Szymanski ). This will pay off as we prepare make a run for the QSLL championship and 2013 Presidents Cup Tournament in Montreal next August.”
Culkin says he is looking at several other NALL players to complete the team for this summer. “I have been approached by a number of current NALL players to continue playing in the summer. They are all invited to our open tryout camp on May 3/4/5th in Essex. Our leagues do not overlap so NALL players can compete in the QSLL during the summer. Kyle Sminkey played midfield at UVM and I know Andrew Wasik because Vermont has hosted exhibition games vs USA Development in the past. I have also invited Jeff Joy from the Baltimore Bombers I am always looking for lefty’s who can score. It will make for a very competitive training camp. We will be bringing in 4-5 goalies for Training camp and will keep three goalies on the active roster. We may lose Dan Deckelbaum (Baltimore Bombers) this year. Dan travelled nine or ten hours each way to Vermont on weekends from Delaware in 2011 and 2012.”
Culkin also says that the team has been trying to rebound from the tough playoff loss the Voyageurs suffered last season. ” There is no excuse after winning two games in Khanawake to go up 2-0 in a five game series, only to lose the last three. I know it, our coach knows it and our players know it. Two of our losses were by one goal at home. Unfortunately , Ryan Hotaling was injured and could not dress for the QSLL playoff series, but you compete with the roster that is available. We are looking to recruit three or four more physical and athletic D/T players to add to our 2013 roster. After the loss, I immediately went back to work to reach out to college coaches to identify who can play at this level. I met with Scott Marr at Albany, Ryan Curtis at UVM, John Svec at Siena, Chris Collins at Drexel, Jack Sandler at Skidmore. I reached out to all the Vermont D2/D3 and SUNYAC coaches, as well Coach Cannella at UMASS and a number of Ivy League coaches. I think most progressive coaches know there is a benefit for their players to compete in summer box lacrosse. It supplements the field game and accelerates the learning curve.”
That coach is Fairfoull, who is also trying to move on from the bitter defeat. “Three years ago we didn’t make the final, getting beat in the first round. 2 years ago we made it to the final and were beat out with only one win in the Final round. Last year we went into their building in the first two games and took the game from them. The progression of teams that win championships, usually follows this pattern where they get there a few times before they win it. Especially in sports where there is a series to win. Most of our players are field based players that have one game eliminations in playoffs. Box in Canada is more like hockey where we have to win a series, and our players have now learn that it takes an all out effort, day in and day out to win a series. Especially against the teams that we face up here.”
Fairfoull says that he expects a bounce back season from Vermont. “I expect the players are going to be at camp and in shape. There will be a good group of players working hard to earn a spot on our roster with the prospect of playing in a local President’s Cup (Kahnawake – August 2013). I know that we will get out there and work hard every minute of every game to to get back to that final to avenge the loss from last year. I know the leaders on this team took that personally. I can wait to get to Camp on May 3/4/5 in Essex Junction Vt.”
Culkin wraps it up, agreeing with Fairfoull. “I have every high expectations for the 2013 season. Our players all know they need to report to Training Camp in game ready condition. We have a very solid “core group” of skilled and committed players who now have 3-4 years of “Box” experience. If we can mesh that group with a few more physical and athletic D/T players, we can win the QSLL and become the first American team to compete for the Presidents Cup. The Vermont Voyageurs will continue to provide opportunities for American players to gain summer “Box” experience prior to professional tryouts & training camps in the fall .”
