Stealth stoked to take flight tonight in new digs
Talent- loaded club expects plenty of emotions, excitement as NLL returns to B. C.’ s hotbed
LANGLEY — There was a simpler time, not that long ago, when the tallest structures in the Township of Langley were silos and jacked- up pickup trucks. The postal code for this fertile patch of the province may as well have been EI- EI- OH.
The big- city types, who often labelled the area 45 kilometres east of them as “way out there” considered the valley folk akin to the unrefined characters on Duck Dynasty, Honey Boo Boo and the Beverly Hillbillies. You know, kind of like Jersey Shore in the Fraser Valley, where the stock market has a fence around it. Not anymore. As one of the fastest growing areas in the bustling Lower Mainland, the bedroom ’ burb is waking up and becoming a significant player in B. C. Odds are good your CEO, boss or the person sitting next to you at work or the Whitecaps, Lions and Canucks games lives around here.
And that, says Vancouver Stealth coach Chris Hall, makes for an extra exciting time as his relocated National Lacrosse League squad plays its first home game Saturday night at the posh Langley Events Centre, a hotbed for the sport.
“Heck, I’m really pumped and I’ve been doing this for a long time,” said the affable Hall, a Victoria native whose crew faces the Minnesota Swarm at 7 p. m. inside the 5,276seat LEC, which opened in 2009 and rivals New York as a place that doesn’t sleep.
Both the Stealth and Swarm opened the 2014 regular season on the road in the nine- team NLL, the Swarm losing 8- 6 to the defending champion Knighthawks in Rochester, N. Y., while the Stealth were clipped 13- 12 by the
Colorado Mammoth in Denver.
“I can’t tell you how thrilled I am to be back in the Lower Mainland doing scouting reports for a game that’s going to be played here. It’s a really neat feeling.
“This is the best lacrosse league on the planet, with the best athletes bar none. Without a doubt the game- day show is definitely the best bang for your sports entertainment dollar. And we want to put on a great show for our new home fans.”
Hall, a five- time all- star coach, has been working behind an NLL bench for a dozen years, including the past six with the Stealth when they called San Jose, Calif., and Everett, Wash., home.
Last year, he led the Stealth to their third championship final in four years. They lost 11- 10 to the Knighthawks in a game played at the LEC when arena negotiations in Everett turned sour. The rest, as they say, is history.
“I remember going to Ravens’ games at old GM Place as the opposing coach ( with the Calgary Roughnecks). I used to have tickets for the NBA Grizzlies and loved going there to see the show. It was both cool and strange to go there and actually be the show as part of the NLL.
“Hopefully we can pick up here where the Ravens left off,” said Hall, talking about Vancouver’s first attempt at the NLL, which lasted from 2002 to 2004 before folding.
Hall said while the home location is new, the Stealth “culture” of excellence isn’t. “We have a culture of pride, of quality performance, of being good partners in the community and of helping the minor leagues grow the sport.
“We also have a winning tradition and if we prepare properly that should continue in Langley. In fact, with the players closer to home, I think it will help us succeed even more.”
The Stealth, with 14 players from B. C. in the starting lineup, are looking at tonight’s game as a special homecoming. And Doug Locker, the team’s president and general manager, expects it to be an emotional evening with family and friends gathered at LEC for all the hoopla.
“A huge advantage of us playing at the Langley Events Centre is the fans are literally so close to the action they feel involved in the game itself. The
venue is intimate, the NLL brand is special and the game is lightning fast,” Locker said.
Some of the stars on the Stealth include Rhys Duch of Victoria, who led the NLL in goals last season. He scored four times in the tough loss in Denver. Rookie Tyler Digby of New Westminster ( three goals, three assists in Denver) and forward Alex Gajic, who had a goal and seven assists against the Mammoth, are also dangerous with the ball.
Port Coquitlam rookie Scott Jones, selected seventh overall by the Swarm in the 2013 NLL entry draft, will be playing for Minnesota Saturday night.
“Kind of funny,” Hall chuckled. “One of the best young players to come out of these parts finally comes home and will probably get booed by our fans. I’m sure he’ll be excited no matter what happens.”
POKE CHECKS: As part of opening night festivities, the Stealth will honour Canadian Hall of Famer Wayne Goss, a retired New West product once described as the Wayne Gretzky of lacrosse … There will be a special party at the LEC Fieldhouse at 4 p. m. featuring the Bombshells Dance Team, Bomber the Fox, live music and games.