The 2013 NLL season has come to an end. The same exact end as 2012. Rochester Knighthawks winning the Champions Cup, and Wings fans once again looking at a 7-9 finish and a first round exit in the playoffs to the Knighthawks.
As the 2012 season drew near, we seen the Dawson’s change address, we seen 8 goalies in camp, and saw the departure of a young goalie Steve Fryer in favor of veteran Kevin Croswell (biggest blunder of the season) as backup to Brandon Miller. We ended the season with a goalie from the Toronto Shooting Stars Angus Dinely who was welcomed into the NLL by the Swarm in a 20-10 defeat.
A goalie I thought had a great chance to make it here was Scott Komer. Komer played a total of 2 minutes in the PLL for the Reading Rockets before he was shelved with a concussion. He played the previous season in the CLAX hoping it made him ready for the NLL.
Well when I arrived at camp, I couldn’t find Komer….so I asked around and was told from one of the players in camp because he wasn’t suiting up today he decided to sleep in. Then the day he was to suit up, he arrived late. Needless to say, it was easy to decide what to do here. Word of advice for ANYONE wanting to wear Wings colors, whether you are schedule to dress or not, unless you are told by coaches to stay behind, you get your behind to the practice facility.
For the 2014 season we will have an 18 game schedule. Most likely a few more 2 game weekends. That means 1 thing for the Wings…
A need for a DEPENDABLE back-up to Miller. Miller is entering his 14 season, so we can say, time is not on his side.
With the draft being a bit loaded this year and the Minnesota Swarm again having 4 picks in round 1 (1,2,5,7)
I started to wonder if the Swarm may go after goalie Dillon Ward with one of their picks, this would leave a possibility of either Evan Kirk or Tyler Carlson for a trade, but at what cost? But no worries here. Acoording to a mock draft by ilindoor.com Stephen Stamp, Dillon Ward would be going 8th to the Stealth to backup Richards
Mock Draft selections for Minnesota by Stephen Stamp ilindoor.com
1—(LF) Logan Schuss (Delta Islanders/Ohio State)
2—(LD) Jason Noble (Orangeville Northmen/Cornell)
5—(LT) Adrian Sorichetti (Hofstra/Whitby Warriors)
7—(RT) Nick Diachenko (Brooklin Redmen/University of Delaware)
Wings select first in round 3, 19th overall. There are three dark horses. All need some polishing, but with the right seasoning they can go very far
Mitch Wilde Right side defensemen
JoJo Marasco Left Transition from Syracuse
Rob Pannell Right Forward from Cornell
Wings fans are tired of seeing players come for a few years and then get traded, “we need stability in the roster”. With that being said another name came to mind. CROSBY! No not the cry baby who plays in the NHL, but Patrick Crosby.
Crosby who turns 28 on July 17th is a local boy out of Sayerville NJ. Patrick played goalie for Temple University Ice Hockey from 2003-2006. He also has an extensive box lacrosse experience having played multiple seasons in the Iroquios Lacrosse Association (Akwesasne Mad Mohawks), Quebec Senior Lacrosse League (Vermont Voyageurs), Can/Am Lacrosse League (Rochester Greywolves) as well as with the U.S. Indoor Lacrosse National Developmental Team (2009–2011). In 2011 Crosby represented Slovakia at the 2011 World Indoor Lacrosse Championships in Prague, CZ
Crosby also plays professionally for the Kentucky Stickhorses where he was the third overall draft pick and was the starter for the NALL championship game against Boston.Last season eight goaltenders were invited to camp and none of them stuck. At the very least Crosby deserves a shot.
Crosby’s amateur career played in the Baltimore Indoor Lacrosse League, Philadelphia Box Lacrosse Association and Philadelphia
Indoor Lacrosse League. He also played for the United States Developmental Team in the Freedom Cup in Richmond, Virginia in 2010. Crosby also played for the United States Developmental team in 2010 and 2011, and in 2012 played with the Rochester Greywolves of the Can-Am Lacrosse League. He helped lead the Greywolves to the playoffs that season. This should be a no brainer to bring Crosby in. Local product, extensive canadian and pro box lacrosse experience.. It’s amazing how a local american box goalie with this type of pedigree has not been invited to camp in recent years.
How funny is it… The only Dallas we rooted for here in Philadelphia sports is the great Dallas Eliuk. Now can Philadelphia fans cheer for CROSBY?!
As far as other areas of assistance… hopefully a health Seibald for 2014 can bring help to the transition game. A couple big veteran defensemen are needed. On offense we seen Rabil have a slow start but still put up his second best set of numbers in his NLL career (first on offense) so he can only get better here. Same with Kevin Buchanan (Bucky) who established himself as a player to definitely watch.
We seen Ethan Farrell have a few cups of coffee here, and showed some promise. No doubt he should be invited back to camp. Same with Will Harrington, Harrington was a product of the numbers so hopefully he gets another shot to make the 23 man roster.
Goaltending is the biggest gift Wings fans want under the tree this year. Another interesting thing. Troy Cordingley was let go as head coach by the Toronto Rock. Rumor is that if Kilgour is let go by Buffalo, Cordingley may go there. What would Wings fans think of Cordingley behind the bench, and keeping Johnny Mouradian as the General Manager.
Only time will tell. We are only 3 months away from the draft slated for sometime in early September, then we start getting ready for 18 games!!! And all questions start to get asked…
Rochester 3-peat? No team in history has done this
Buffalo bounce out of basement?
Johnny T….is this his last run?
Swarm… another 4 first rounders, Suitor returns, is this there year?
Wings… can they get above sea level, obtain home playoff game, and be a serious contender
The list can go on and on.
