Stealth bank on Penney’s return
Former starter striving for consistency as he moves back between the pipes
It’s easy to forget Eric Penney is just 24 years old, considering how much he’s crammed into his lacrosse career already.
Penney is getting another crack as the Vancouver Stealth’s No. 1 netminder after he was bumped up from third-string status on Jan. 13 and made 52 saves in an 11-10 overtime win on the road against the Buffalo Bandits.
Coming off a bye week in the National Lacrosse League, Vancouver (1-4) visits the Colorado Mammoth (3-1) on Friday before hosting the Georgia Swarm (2-3) on Saturday at the Langley Events Centre in one of those quirks of the regular-season schedule.
Penney was Vancouver’s starting goalie through the first half of 2016, but lost the job to Tyler Richards, who in turn was supplanted last winter by Tye Belanger.
Belanger’s sparkling play was one of the main reasons the Stealth went 9-9 and made the playoffs for the first time since moving to the LEC for the 2014 season. It also prompted the New Westminster Salmonbellies to sign Belanger as a free agent for last summer’s Western Lacrosse Association campaign.
To make room for Belanger, the Salmonbellies traded Penney to the Burnaby Lakers for a 2019 second-round draft pick.
Belanger was Vancouver’s starter to begin this season, but both he and backup Brodie MacDonald struggled early on, prompting the move to Penney.
The win over Buffalo marked Penney’s first NLL appearance since splitting duties with Richards in a 14-6 road loss to the Swarm on April 30, 2016, in the Stealth’s season finale.
“I’m still young. I think there are only three goalies in the league who are younger than me and they’re all currently backups,” said Penney, a 6-foot-1, 200-pounder.
“The last couple of years have been a roller-coaster of emotions. It’s just about fighting through the process and waiting for your name to get called again. Part of what’s kept me going is that my teammates have been so supportive.
“Guys like Cliff Smith and Rhys Duch and Logan Schuss have been telling me again and again to stick with it. Right now, I just have to be consistent. I think that’s the main thing the team is looking for.”
Penney said he’s stepping out and challenging shooters more than in the past, but doesn’t feel like he’s changed his game that much overall.
A summer with the Lakers did give him a chance to get to know the tendencies of several of the Stealth defenders. Burnaby’s Matt Beers, Justin Salt, Peter McFetridge and Chris O’Dougherty also play out the back gate for the Stealth.
Penney was named the WLA’s top goalie this year after leading the league in goals against (7.02) and save percentage (.856) during the regular season while fashioning an 8-2-0 record. Burnaby lost in seven games to the Victoria Shamrocks in the league semifinals.
“I think I have a better feel now for how those guys work,” Penney said of his Lakers mates on the Stealth.
Penney is a native of Rexdale, Ont., who grew up cheering for eastern-based goalies Bob Watson and Anthony Cosmo. Watson, 47, who retired in 2011, is one of the NLL’s best ever big-game goalies, evidenced by his leading the Toronto Rock to six championships over his 14-year career.
Cosmo, 40, wrapped up his 17-year career last season. A starter with the Stealth when they were based in San Jose, Calif., he spent the past six seasons with Buffalo, following a three-year run with the Boston Blazers. He’s the NLL’s all-time leader in saves.
“I try to emulate parts of both of their games,” said Penney.
Salt was placed on injured reserve by the Stealth on Tuesday, so he won’t be available for the weekend.