Stealth GM not worried about coach-player relationships
Vancouver Stealth general manager Doug Locker insists he’s not concerned about the messy split this summer between Jim Milligan and the Burnaby Lakers.
Milligan is the Stealth’s offensive coordinator. He is a longtime ally of Vancouver head coach Jamie Batley.
Milligan was head coach of the Lakers this summer until he was fired with three games to go in the Western Lacrosse Association regular season, despite the fact Burnaby had a 9-5-1 record at the time.
There were rumours of a player revolt, although nothing was confirmed. Burnaby features several key members of the Stealth, most notably team captain Matt Beers and transition ace Justin Salt.
The Stealth open training camp Saturday at the Langley Events Centre. They begin the National Lacrosse League regular season Dec. 8, when the Colorado Mammoth come to town.
“The summer game is the summer game and the winter game is the winter game and they’re two completely different animals in my opinion,” Locker said. “I don’t expect any issues to arise.
“Jim has been with the Stealth for a season and a half. To me, that experience and that success will trump whatever happened this summer.”
Burnaby won the WLA regular season crown, via a 12-5-1 record, but lost out in seven games in the league semifinals to the fourth-place Victoria Shamrocks, who were 10-7-1 in league play.