Stealth snatch another sniper in deal for Edmonton’s Small

Vancouver Stealth general manager Doug Locker isn’t shy about wanting attention this season.

The Stealth, looking to win games and fans in their second National Lacrosse League campaign based out of the Langley Events Centre, landed left-handed sniper Corey Small from the Edmonton Rush on Monday for first-round draft picks in 2016 and 2019.

With the deal, Locker doesn’t have a first rounder to worry about until 2020. This off-season, he dealt the 2015 and 2017 firsts to the Rochester Knighthawks in the Johnny Powless trade and then sent a 2018 first rounder to the Buffalo Bandits as part of the Rory Smith swap.

The Stealth moved to the LEC from Everett, Wash., before last season. Despite a veteran lineup, they finished 4-14, and saw their attendance drop through the campaign. They wound up averaging 3,590 in games at LEC, which lists capacity at 5,276.

They brought in the celebrated Powless, who helped Rochester to the past three NLL titles, to quarterback the offence and helps park attendance. Vancouver is off to a 1-2 start; they drew 4,724 for a 20-11 loss to the Toronto Rock and then attracted 3,478 Saturday’s 14-13 defeat to Buffalo.

“I think this gives us another weapon,” said Locker. “When the opportunity was presented to acquire a player of this calibre, we jumped at it.”

Small, 27, didn’t play last season for the Rush due to knee surgery. He did suit this summer in the Western Lacrosse Association with the Victoria Shamrocks and put up 76 points, including 34 goals, in 18 regular season games. That gave him a share of the league scoring title, along with Victoria teammate Rhys Duch, 28, who is also a member of the Stealth.

Teams in the NLL generally use six forwards and 10 defenders in a game, but Locker says that Vancouver will run with a seven-and-nine ratio for their next contest, a visit Saturday to the Colorado Mammoth (2-0).

They aren’t likely to stick with that setup long term, which means that Vancouver will either put a forward into a checking role and or pull someone from the starting lineup. Lefty Cliff Smith, 29, has played in a defensive spot before. Lewis Ratcliff, 33, is the lefty with the most similar skill set to Small.

Vancouver has had trouble defending, too, so far this season. When asked about why he opted to instead add an offensive player, Locker said that he likes the look of his checking crew once they’re completely healthy.

Defenders Chris O’Dougherty (lower body injury), Tyler Garrison (lower body injury) and Rory Smith (upper body injury) are currently sidelined. Locker expects at least one back for the team’s next home game, a Jan. 31 visit from Colorado. He wouldn’t say which one.