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Stealth Bigger, Faster, Stronger with 2013 NLL Roster

December 20, 2012 - National Lacrosse League (NLL)
Washington Stealth News Release


EVERETT, Wash. - The Washington Stealth have announced their 2013 active roster and among the veterans that helped the team rise to prominence in its first two years in Washington state are new faces that coach Chris Hall expects to lift the club back among the NLL elite.

"I'm very exited about this team," said Hall following the club's fourth training camp last weekend at Everett's Comcast Arena. "Our general lacrosse intelligence has improved a ton since last season. We're awfully happy with these kids. We're more energized. We're bigger, faster and stronger."

Emerging from a grueling pre-season process that included four weekend camps of up to three-a-day sessions, is the club's top draft choice, 6-2, 200 pound defender Tyler Garrison of Coquitlam, British Columbia.

Garrison, who was selected in the second round (11th overall) of the NLL Entry Draft and is still on the roster of the Jr. "A" the Coquitlam Adanacs, will join the club's other second round pick (19th overall), Justin Pychel (Welland, ON), a 6-1, 210-pounder along with the team's third round selection (23rd overall), the 6-3, 220-pound West Point graduate Tim Henderson (Tully, N.Y.). Also on the roster are free agents Patrick O'Meara (Coquitlam, B.C.), and David Joyce (Coquitlam, B.C.).

The group fills out a potent defensive unit that is still stacked with proven NLL veterans including captain Kyle Sorensen (Peterborough, ON), assistant captain Mike Grimes (Peterborough, ON) along with Curtis Hodgson (Burnaby, B.C.), Chris McElroy (Orillia, ON), Jeff Moleski (Prince George, B.C.), Chris O'Dougherty (Kinnelon, N.J.), and Matt Beers (Coquitlam, B.C.).

"I thought we had a good process in camp," said Hall who added face-off depth, and challenged his veterans with new energy and on the defensive side of the floor.

In goal, the Stealth added veteran goalkeeper Nick Patterson (Victoria, B.C.) to provide back-up to Tyler Richards (Vancouver, B.C.).

Paterson, a seven-year keeper with Minnesota before sitting out the 2012 season, is expected to bring an added level of confidence behind the Stealth's already first-line stopper. During the 2012 season, Richards emerged as Hall's number one after turning-in several elite performances including a 40-save effort against Colorado that earned him NLL Defensive Player of the Week honors.

At transition, the club added 5-11, 195 pound Cornell graduate Mitch McMichael (Port Perry, ON) who along with veteran Bob Snider (Calgary, AB) are expected to bring an explosive threat in moving the ball quickly up the floor.

At forward, the Stealth have added a quick right hander in Robert Morris University graduate Kyle Buchanan (Nepean, ON). The 5-8, 160-pound Buchanan, who was drafted in the sixth round (48th overall), will join an already potent group of seasoned forwards that include three of the NLL's most prolific threats in Rhys Duch (Victoria, B.C.) Athan Iannucci (Port Moody, B.C.) and Brett Bucktooth (Nedrow, N.Y.).

With 143 goals Duch ranks third among Stealth's all-time list for goals, fifth in both assists (201) and points (344), while Iannucci, a first-round draft pick with Philadelphia in 2006, set in motion a powerful six-year NLL career after a breakout MVP season in 2008 where he set the NLL record for goals in a single season with 71. And Bucktooth, who joined the Stealth two games into the 2012 season, recorded career-high numbers during last year's campaign with 41 points and 28 assists.

Balancing out the forwards are Dean Hill (Hagersville, ON) and Cliff Smith (Surrey B.C.) along with two-time NLL Champion Lewis Ratcliff (Victoria, B.C.).

Ratcliff, whose five goals and one assist earned him 2010 Champion's Cup MVP honors while helping to bring the NLL title to Washington state for the first time in 2010, ranks eighth in the Stealth's all-time list in points with 262, seventh in goals with 123 and eighth in assists with 147.

Along with its 23-man active roster, the Stealth placed veteran forwards Brett Hickey (Windsor, ON), Mike Mallory (Pitt Meadows, B.C.) and transition player Justin Salt (Coquitlam, B.C.) on its three-man practice roster.

Seattle native and former O'Dea High School All-American Drew Snider also will be with the club - although on its injured reserve list. The 2012 graduate of two-time NCAA runner-up University of Maryland, will start the season on the IR along with rookie Billy Hostrawser (Bellwood, ON). Both suffered lower body injuries at the club's Langley, B.C. training camp.

Mitch Jones, a third-round draft pick (21st overall) begins the season on the hold-out list as he finishes out is college eligibility at Northern Michigan University on a hockey scholarship.

The Stealth begin their fourth season of play in Washington state with its 2013 home-opener against the defending NLL champion Rochester Knighthawks, Saturday, Jan. 5 at Everett's Comcast Arena. Ticket packages for all eight Stealth home games start at just $99 and are on sale now. To learn more call 877-MY-75-TIX or visit www.StealthLAX.com Washington Stealth=8A It's Like Hockey with Balls.

2013 Washington Stealth Active Roster

Forward Kyle Buchanan, F, (Nepean, ON. 5-8, 160 pounds Brett Bucktooth, F, (Nedrow, N.Y.) 6-1, 205 pounds Rhys Duch, F, (Victoria, B.C.) 5-11, 200 pounds Dean Hill, F, (Hagersville, ON) 6-3, 225 pounds Athan Iannucci, F, (Port Moody, B.C.) 6-4, 215 pounds Lewis Ratcliff, F, (Victoria, B.C.) 6-1, 200 pounds Cliff Smith, F, (Surrey, B.C.) 6-3, 200 pounds

Transition Mitch McMichael, T, (Port Perry, ON) 5-11, 195 pounds Bob Snider, T, (Calgary, AB) 6-0, 205 pounds

Defense Matt Beers, D, (Coquitlam, B.C.) 6-3, 205 pounds Tyler Garrison, D, (Coquitlam, B.C.) 6-2, 200 pounds Mike Grimes, D, (Peterborough, ON) 6-3, 210 Tim Henderson, D, (Tully, N.Y.) 6-3, 220 pounds Curtis Hodgson, D, (Burnaby, B.C.) 6-1, 195 pounds David Joyce, D, (Coquitlam, B.C.) 6-6, 220 pounds Chris McElroy, D, (Orillia, ON) 6-1, 195 pounds Jeff Moleski, D, (Prince George, B.C.) 6-1, 205 pounds Chris O'Dougherty, D, (Kinnelon, N.J.) 6-1, 205 pounds Patrick O'Meara, D, (Coquitlam, B.C.) 6-5, 215 pounds Justin Pychel, D, (Welland, ON) 6-1, 210 pounds Kyle Sorensen, D, (Peterborough, ON) 6-2, 220 pounds

Goal Tyler Richards, G, (Vancouver, B.C.) 6-1, 190 pounds Nick Patterson, G, (Victoria, B.C.) 5-11, 205 pounds Practice Roster Brett Hickey, F, (Windsor, ON) 6-2, 235 pounds Mike Mallory, F, (Pitt Meadows, B.C.) 6-2, 200 pounds Justin Salt, T, (Coquitlam, B.C.) 6-2, 195 pounds

Injured Reserve Drew Snider, T, (Seattle, Wash. - O'Dea HS) 6-0, 175 pounds Billy Hostrawser, T, (Belwood, ON) 5-11, 185 pounds

Hold Out Mitch Jones, F, (Delta, B.C.) 6-2,185 pounds

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