Hays Nash, Beat Writer Vancouver Stealth
Lacrosse is Awesome
The Vancouver Stealth (0-4) hosted the Toronto Rock (2-2) at Langley Events Centre, in Langley, B.C. The Stealth fans 4,206 strong were wishing for a win to get their team of its slump. At this point in the season, not only does Vancouver have the worst record; they are also at the bottom of attendance with only 7,407 in two games less than 50% of the Rush; they are tied for first with the least goals for and only 36; and they have the highest goals against with 67. At this point in the season, it can’t get much worse and the only place is to go up. Final Score: Toronto 24—Vancouver 7.
The Rock were unstoppable in the first shutting out the Stealth and scoring 10 goals. They started the run at the 49 second mark and finished with 2:43 remaining in the frame. Toronto would see Tom Schreiber (5G, 7A) open it up and he’d get two in the quarter. We’d also see Rob Hellyer (3G, 9A); and Dan Craig (3G, 2A) each with two apiece. Brett Hickey (2G, 3A); Sheldon Burns (1G); Kieran McArdle (3G, 6A); and Adam Jones (4G, 6A) hit twine. What the Stealth fans experienced was the worst 15 minutes imaginable. Score at the end of one: Rock 10—Stealth 0.
The second was just a painful as the first, but the Stealth finally got on the board at 5:20 with Peter McFetridge (1G) assist to Brandon Goodwin. The Rock would again control with seven-goal run after continuing their run in the first. Toronto would break an NLL record for most goals in a half. All the fans could do was watch Toronto finding the twine time after time. For the Rock, Craig would notch hat-tricks; and we’d see one-goal apiece from Reid Reinholdt (1G, 2A); Billy Hostrawser (1G);
McArdle; Schreiber; and Jones. Vancouver would pull Tye Belanger with 1:58 in the second in favor of backup net minder Brodie MacDonald. Hickey would be unsuccessful on his penalty shot at 13:56. It was getting ugly in the second as tempers flared, fights began and between the two teams there were a total of 15 penalties, as many penalties as minutes in the frame. Score at the end of two: Toronto 17—Vancouver 1.
Toronto just kept firing on all cylinders in the third. Schreiber; Jones and McArdle would notch hat-tricks starting off only 30 seconds in. For another painful seven and a half minutes all the fans could do was watch, but at this point with the switch between the pipes, MacDonald was able to hold off the red hot Rock for the remaining 12 minutes, quite a feat considering their on the spot shooting in the first half. The Stealth would see Ryan Fournier; Logan Schuss; Corey Small; and Evan Messenger all score one apiece. Score at the end of three: Toronto 20—Vancouver 5.
By this point in the game, Vancouver would not be able to redeem themselves, lest a miracle happened. Toronto would again control the fourth with four goals, Hellyer; Challen Rogers; Jones; and Schreiber. The Stealth would have two, Tony Malcolm; and Schuss. Toronto’s 24 goals scored in the game was the second best in franchise history. Final Score: Toronto 24—Vancouver 7.
The Stealth have now lost four in a row and are playing lack luster lacrosse, with very little intensity. They are literally last in every statistical category and only had 44 shots on goal as opposed to Toronto’s 79. There needs to be some deliberate roster moves starting now if they want to salvage this season. They need to control their tempers as can be seen with a total of 71 minutes in penalties during the game, more than the actual playing time.
Vancouver (0-4) has one week to regroup and figure out how to put the puzzle back together before they head to Buffalo (2-2) at KeyBank Center on Saturday January 13, game time 7:30 p.m. EST. Toronto (2-2) will host the Eastern Division first place Rochester Knighthawks (3-1) at the Air Canada Centre on Friday January 12, game time 7:30 p.m. EST.
Hays Nash, Beat Writer Vancouver Stealth
Lacrosse is Awesome