Stealth right-hander Tyler Garrison, trying to evade Edmonton’s John Lintz here, is getting ready for his third NLL season. (Province Files.)
On Wednesday, the Vancouver Stealth unveiled their 2015 opening-day roster and, at first blush, it looks like the Langley Events Centre’s main tenants will be more entertaining than in their inaugural campaign.
They should score more. Their offence looks like much more dangerous, thanks largely to the blockbuster trade with the Rochester Knighthawks that brought in left-hander Johnny Powless and righty Joel McCready.
Powless, the 21-year-old phenom who was a finalist for the Lou Marsh national athlete of the year, joins a southpaw crew that includes veteran sniper Lewis Ratcliff and grinder Cliff Smith. Vancouver, on their way to a disappointing 4-14 finish, wound up last year with Ratcliff, Smith and crease specialist Jamie Lincoln.
Lincoln is a legit finisher in tight. He had eight goals in seven games last year for the Stealth. Powless is one of the game’s bright young stars. He had 30 goals in 18 games with three-time reigning champion Rochester last season, and over three seasons with the Knighthawks he put up 144 points, including 78 goals, in 50 games.
McCready joins Rhys Duch and Tyler Digby among Vancouver’s righties.
The wildcard up front is free agent pick-up Caleb Wiles, a left-hander. The younger brother of former Stealth sharpshooter Luke Wiles won himself a roster spot with a strong training camp, beating out the likes of former first-round draft pick Cody Bremner. Bremner was released outright.
Wiles will likely start the season as one of Stealth’s healthy scratches. Vancouver has 20 men on their active roster, but they dress 16 runners and two goalies on game nights. They’ll likely go with six forwards and 10 defenders.
The Stealth should also be better in transition, led by newcomer Tyler Hass, the continuing emergence of Tyler Garrison and the return of Mitch McMichael, who missed all of last season with a knee injury.
Vancouver generated little on the rush last year. They frequently turned the ball over, leading to odd-man rushes the other way. It was one of several recurring problems with the club.
With the likes of Hass and McMichael coming out the back gate, Vancouver should be more athletic on defence. The Stealth won’t be as physical or punishing as they were a year ago, though, due to the losses of Kyle Sorensen (knee injury), Matt Beers (job commitment), Mike Grimes (traded to Minnesota for Hass) and Jeff Moleski (signed as a free agent in Calgary).
It will be interesting to see how they match-up with snipers like John Grant, Jr., of Colorado and Mark Matthews of Edmonton.
Rory Smith, who came over in a trade with Buffalo, and Chris O’Dougherty, who had season-ending surgery in February for an undisclosed injury, will undoubtedly be asked to carry that load.
Goaltending is another issue worth watching. Tyler Richards is back as the starter, but Vancouver has released his long-time back-up and ally Matt Roik in favour of youngster Eric Penney.
Vancouver opens league play on Jan. 3, visiting Calgary. They host Toronto in their home opener on Jan. 10.
