Storm adds former Caper
Canadian centre Meshack Lufile provides size, depth, roster flexibility for Island squad
The Island Storm has gotten bigger.
The Storm signed former Cape Breton Capers centre Meshack Lufile Friday and announced the deal on Saturday. To make room for the six-foot-eight, 245-pound Burlington, Ont., native the Storm cut American guard Wayne McCullough.
“We’ve got to get bigger and stronger up front,” head coach Tim Kendrick said. “(Lufile is) a legitimate low-post threat.”
McCullough was caught in a numbers game at the wing position while the forward spot needed some help.
Lufile played for the Capers while Kendrick was coaching at UPEI. Storm guard Tyler Scott, also a former Panthers guard, appeared to be friends with Lufile during their university careers.
“We know him, we know his character and we know he can play,” Kendrick said of Lufile. “We think it’s a great chance to grab a guy that can give us some minutes and provide us great depth at that spot.”
The five-year Caper was the Atlantic University Sport’s defensive player of the year in 2015-16, his final year in the conference.
He played in Holland the past two seasons and got home on Friday.
He made his Storm debut Sunday at home against the Halifax Hurricanes, going 2-for-4 from the field for four points in four minutes.
Kendrick said they would like to bring back a lot of guys next season, which many of the league’s top teams have done. McCullough is currently playing behind a lot of guys at his position.
The Storm now has six Canadians (Lufile, Scott, Kemy Osse, Chris Johnson, Brad States and Dut Dut) while the league mandates each team must have five. It provides the team roster flexibility heading forward.