Stealth Acquire 2005 NLL MVP Colin Doyle From Toronto
December 28, 2006 - National Lacrosse League (NLL)
San Jose Stealth News Release
In a blockbuster deal with the Toronto Rock, the San Jose Stealth acquired 2005 NLL MVP Colin Doyle, face-off man Darren Halls and a 2007 Entry Draft first round pick in exchange for forward Ryan Benesch, defenseman Kevin Fines, defenseman Chad Thompson and the Stealth's 2008 and 2009 First Round Entry Draft Picks. All terms of the contract deals are pending NLL approval and were not disclosed due to club policy.
Doyle comes to the Stealth with a laundry list of offensive credentials. The 6'2" 210 lbs. forward has won five NLL Championships with the Toronto Rock and has finished first or second in Rock scoring every year since the team's inception in1998. Doyle was named NLL Most Valuable Player in 2005 and has been named playoff MVP an unprecedented three times - in 1999, 2002 and 2005.
"The acquisition of Colin Doyle is similar to the San Jose Sharks trade for Joe Thornton last season," said Stealth General Manager/Managing General Partner Johnny Mouradian. "He is among the top five players in the National Lacrosse League and we look forward to his goal scoring and play making, as well as his leadership on and off the floor. When the late Les Bartley and I worked with Colin in Hamilton and then in Toronto, we knew that he was a special player and were able to build our franchise around him. He is a franchise player and our players are really excited to have him in San Jose."
"I'm looking forward to a new start on a young team and looking forward to making a good team better," said Doyle.
A nine year veteran, Doyle was originally signed into the NLL by San Jose Stealth G.M. Johnny Mouradian when he worked for the Ontario Raiders in 1997. During Doyle's rookie season, he garnered 34 goals and 27 assists, leading the Raiders in scoring and earning NLL Rookie of the Year honors. Between 1998 and 2006 Doyle scored 297 goals and 388 assists ranking him sixth in all-time scoring and fifth in all-time assists in the NLL.
Darren Halls comes to the Stealth after being traded to Toronto on Nov. 28 from Arizona for Brad MacDonald and Brian Beisel. Halls played in 12 games for the Arizona Sting in 2006. The Orangeville, ON native was drafted by the Sting with their first selection (fourth overall) of the 2004 NLL Entry Draft. In 19 career games, Halls has totaled six points on two goals and four assists and has collected 67 loose balls.
In exchange for Doyle, Halls, and a 2007 Entry Draft first round pick, Toronto will receive the Stealth's No. 1 2006 NLL Entry Draft pick Ryan Benesch. Benesch played Canadian Junior A lacrosse in 2006, serving as the captain for the Kitchener Waterloo Braves. The native of Bloomingdale, Ontario was sixth in the Ontario Lacrosse Association (OLA) with 81 points (42 goals, 39 assists).
Chad Thompson goes to Toronto after recording nine points (4 goals, 5 assists) and 37 loose balls in nine games last year for the Stealth. A former first round draft choice (ninth overall) in 2005, Chad Thompson was acquired from a trade with the Philadelphia Wings in early March of 2005 for Mike Regan and a 2006 first round draft pick.
Acquired by the Stealth as a free agent in 2005, Kevin Fines netted 27 points (15 goals, 12 assists) last season. A defenseman and transition player, Fines goes to the Rock after scoring 46 career points (26 goals, 20 assists) and 74 loose balls in 29 games.
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National Lacrosse League Stories from December 28, 2006
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- Stealth Acquire 2005 NLL MVP Colin Doyle From Toronto - San Jose Stealth
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