A Team-By-Team Glance At NLL Teams
Canadian Press - 1/6/05
(CP) - A team-by-team glance at National Lacrosse League teams in predicted order of finish:
EAST
Buffalo Bandits
Home: HSBC Arena.
Average attendance: 8,929.
GM: Kurt Silcott.
Coach: Darris Kilgour.
Last season: 8-8; lost final to Calgary.
Returning veterans: G Steve Deitrich, F John Tavares, F Mark Steenhuis, F Jonas Derks, F Jason Crosbie, F A.J. Shannon, M Pat McCready, M Rich Kilgour, M Aime Caines, D Kyle Laverty, D Billy Dee Smith, D Kyle Couling, D Drew Candy.
In: F Delby Powless, F Dan Teat, D Chris White, D Clay Hill.
Holdout: F Curt Malawsky.
Out: F Mike Accursi, F Randy Fraser, F Kerry Susheski, D Chris Langdale, D Darren Mutch.
"We like guys that can run and press all over the floor and can cause turnovers. Delby fits perfectly into the mold." - Silcott.
Rochester Knighthawks
Home: Blue Cross Arena.
Average attendance: 8,662.
GM: Jody Gage.
Coach: Paul Day.
Last season: 8-8.
Returning veterans: G Pat O'Toole, G Pat Campbell, F John Grant Jr., F Shawn Williams, F Mat Giles, F Scott Evans, F Chris Schiller, F Ryan O'Connor, F Tim Soudan, F Casey Zaph, F Mike Hasen, D Pat Cougevan, D Marshall Abrams, D Andrew Turner, D Regy Thorpe, D Steve Penny.
In: F Mike Accursi, F Ken Millin, F Peter Morgan, D Brian Croswell, D Chris McKay, D Carter Livingstone.
Out: F Derek Malawsky, F D'Arcy Sweet, F Kim Squire, F Jon Harasym, D Brock Robertson.
"Accursi and Millin are proven winners so adding them helps, and having Grant, Abrams and Zaph back healthy is a plus. Our greatest strength is our defence and goaltending." - Day.
Toronto Rock
Home: Air Canada Centre.
Average attendance: 16,907.
GM-coach: Terry Sanderson.
Last season: 10-6
Returning veterans: G Bob Watson, F Jim Veltman, F Colin Doyle, F Blaine Manning, F Chris Driscoll, F Matt Shearer, F Aaron Wilson, D Glenn Clark, D Dan Ladouceur, D Pat Merrill, D Ian Rubel, D Sandy Chapman, D Derek Suddons.
In: F Josh Sanderson, F Rusty Kruger, F Nick Trudeau, D Phil Sanderson, D Brian Beisel, D Luke Forget, D Sean Turner, G John Preece.
Out: F Steve Toll, F Ken Millin, D Pat Coyle, D Darryl Gibson, D Pat Jones, D Carter Livingstone, G Anthony Cosmo.
"We'll be more transition oriented. We'd like to get a little more attack out of our back end. We should be harder to check because of the offensive guys we've brought in. We're hoping teams won't be able to tee off on Doyle and Manning all night and we'll be able to open up more room for them." - Terry Sanderson.
Philadelphia Wings
Home: Wachovia Center.
Average attendance: 13,640.
GM-coach: Lindsay Sanderson.
Last season: 7-9.
Returning veterans: G Dallas Eliuk, G Nick Schroeder, F Jake Bergey, F Tom Marechek, F Jeff Ratcliffe, F Keith Cromwell, F Dan Marhol, F Mark Frye, D Peter Jacobs, D Thomas Hajek, D Rich Brzeski.
In: F Rob Van Beek, F Matt Dwane, Dan Finck, Andrew Burkholder.
Out: F Tony Henderson, F Spencer Martin, D Hugh Donovan, D Andrew Guindon, D Tom Ryan.
"We're going to be younger and faster. Being in the division we're in, with three of the league's best teams, our goal is to make the playoffs. As we found out last year, once you make the playoffs, anything is possible." - Lindsay Sanderson.
Minnesota Swarm
Home: Xcel Energy Center.
GM: Marty O'Neill.
Coach: Mike Simpson.
New entry.
Expansion draft: F Jon Harasym, F Sean Pollock, D Shawn Nadelen.
Vancouver dispersal draft: F Craig Conn.
Entry draft: F Ryder Bateman, D Scott Campbell.
Acquired in trades: G Matt Disher, D Ted Jenner, F Kerry Susheski, D Eric Pacey, F Jamie Taylor, F Ryan Cousins, F Chad Culp.
Free agents: D Neil Doddridge, D Brad Boyle, D Riley Kemp, D Ray Guze, D Mike Kilby, D Jon Sullivan, F Trent Smalley.
Holdouts: F Derek Malawsky, F D'Arcy Berthiaume, D Bruce Alexander, G Nick Patterson.
"We will have solid players throughout, unlike other expansion teams from years gone by that rolled out some questionable players. Our strengths are team speed, toughness and goaltending." - O'Neill.
WEST
Colorado Mammoth
Home: Pepsi Center.
Average attendance: 17,618.
GM: Steve Govett.
Coach: Jamie Batley.
Last season: 10-6.
Returning veterans: G Gee Nash, G Erik Miller, F Gary Gait, F Gavin Prout, F Del Halladay, T Nick Carlson, F Josh Sims, D Jay Jalbert, D Dave Stilley, D Jamie Hanford, D Scott Stapleford, D John Gallant, D Brian Reese, D Tom Ethington.
In: F Dan Stroup, F Chris Prat, F Mark Miyashita, F Chris Panos, D Pat Coyle, D Randy Daly.
Out: F Rory Graham, F Shawn Cable, F John Wilson, D B.J. Potter, F Curtis Smith.
"I believe we're a contender because of our depth and athleticism. Our players had the opportunity last season to get what we have all been looking for and they failed. That in and of itself has created a tremendous desire to go back and win it this season. Having Gary Gait retire at the end of this season is also another motivating factor." - Govett.
Calgary Roughnecks
Home: Pengrowth Saddledome.
Average attendance: 9,994.
GM: Dave Bremner.
Coach: Chris Hall.
Last season: 10-6, won Champions Cup.
Returning veterans: G Curtis Palidwor, F Tracey Kelusky, F Lewis Ratcliff, F Kaleb Toth, F Jason Wulder, F Kyle Goundrey, F Kevin Dostie, M Jesse Phillips, M Devan Wray, D Taylor Wray, D Andrew McBride, D Craig Gelsvick.
In: G Matthew Morehouse, D Andy Ogilvie, D Travis Gillespie, D Rob Williams, F Chris Gill, F Andrew Biers.
Out: G Matt King, F Ted Dowling, F Brad Dairon, F Jordan West-Pratt, D Rob Kirkby, D Tyson Leies, D Brad MacArthur.
"The Taylor Wray injury (broken leg) throws a big monkey wrench into our plans but we've got a good core group. We've got a good chance of repeating." - owner Brad Bannister.
San Jose Stealth
Home: HP Pavilion.
Average attendance: 5,332.
GM-coach: John Mouradian.
Last season: 11-5.
Returning veterans: G Rob Blasdell, G Brandon Miller, F Gary Rosyski, F Scott Ranger, F Spencer Martin, F Mike Regan, D Cam Woods, D Jim Moss, D Matt Ogelsby, D Brennan Day.
In: G Anthony Cosmo, F Steve Toll, D Darryl Gibson, D Darren Reisig, F Brad Dairon, F Kevin Olsen, F Kevin Fines, F Ryan Boyle, F Curtis Hodgson, F Luke Gilbert, D Drew Virk, D Kelly Hall.
Holdout: D Rich Catton.
Out: F Josh Sanderson, F Rusty Kruger, F Dan Teat, D Phil Sanderson, F Andrew Beiers, F Ross Johnson, F Tim Fry, D Chris White, D Shaydon Santos.
"We're going to have solid goaltending and one of the best 5-on-5 defences in the NLL. We're going to be competitive every minute we're on the floor." - Mouradian.
Arizona Sting
Home: Glendale Arena.
Average attendance: 5,768.
GM-coach: Bob Hamley.
Last season: 7-9.
Returning: G Mike Miron, F Pat Maddalena, F Dan Dawson, F Kasey Beirnes, F Gewas Schindler, F Cory Bomberry, F Peter Lough, D Bruce Codd, D Scott Self, D Bill Greer.
In: D Rob Kirkby, F Jason Clark, F Lindsay Plunkett, F Cam Sedgwick, D Brock Robertson.
Out: D Travis Gillespie, D Kyle Neufeld, F Sean Pollock.
"We have improved our size and depth. We thought we were a little undersized last year and felt to compete with Calgary, Colorado and San Jose we had to improve in that area." - Hamley.
Anaheim Storm
Home: Arrowhead Pond.
Average attendance: 4,750.
GM-Coach: Derek Keenan.
Last season: 1-15
Returning veterans: G Matt Roik, F Casey Powell, F Ryan Powell, F Mike Law, F Scott Stewart, F Richard Morgan, F Marc Morley, D Chris Seller, D Chad Wittman, D Cam Bergman.
In: G Matt King, D Rory Glaves, D Bruce Murray, D Rory Graham, D Pat Jones, D D.J. Potter, F Shawn Cable, F Athen Yuen.
Out: G Matt Disher, D Ted Jenner, D John Rosa, F Roy Colsey.
"I think I've successfully addressed two areas of concern - the defensive end and our offensive left side. We are strong and deep in goal with Roik and King. I believe in building from the back end out and I think we've got a good foundation there. Our transition game will be excellent. We've got very good speed." - Keenan.
