Washington Stealth Signs Six Free Agents

Published on August 2, 2011 under National Lacrosse League (NLL)
Washington Stealth News Release


Everett, Wash. - The National Lacrosse League opened the door for teams to begin signing free agents for the 2012 season this week, and the Washington Stealth has wasted little time adding to its roster. The Stealth announced today the signings of six free agents that will join the team in training camp later this fall, pending league approval.

Two of the six players signed today have previous NLL experience, highlighted by five-year veteran transition player Nenad Gajic. Gajic has played in 50 games during his tenure in the league, all with the Colorado Mammoth, and has tallied 80 points on 22 goals and 58 assists. The 27-year old was originally drafted by the Stealth in the 2004 NLL Entry Draft, but did not play to continue his education and pursue a hockey career. In 2007, he was signed by Colorado and burst onto the NLL scene with 37 points (13g, 24a) and 102 loose balls his rookie season, earning NLL All-Rookie team honors. He followed that up with 24 points (6g, 18a) and 121 loose balls in 2008. Injuries kept the 6'0", 195 pound righty from playing a full season in each of the last three seasons, when he tallied 19 points (3g, 16a) and 78 loose balls in 18 games. He appears to be healthy now as he captains the New Westminster Salmonbellies of the Western Lacrosse Association (WLA) this summer, where he has impressed Stealth Head Coach Chris Hall.

"We are very excited to have Nenad with us," said Stealth Head Coach Chris Hall. "He's worked very hard to recover from his injury and he's playing well this summer in New Westminster. He's an outstanding player and a guy that will bring a lot of character and leadership to our locker room and add another piece to our back end that will be a weapon in our transition game."

The Stealth also signed left-handed forward Martin Cummings, who will join the Stealth for training camp. Cummings spent last season on the Stealth's practice roster and appeared in one game and scored his first NLL goal versus the Edmonton Rush. The Port Coquitlam, B.C. native plays his summer lacrosse in New Westminster, where he's recorded a career-high 28 points (14g, 14a) in 15 games this season. Cummings has played three WLA seasons with the Salmonbellies, tallying 76 points (39g, 37a) in 43 regular season games with a .262 shooting percentage.

The Stealth will bring two more goaltenders to training camp as they search for a backup for starting netminder Tyler Richards. One of those goaltenders is Chris Seidel, who spent all of 2011 on the Stealth's practice roster. Seidel, 22, is currently in his rookie season playing for the Maple Ridge Burrards of the WLA, where he's appeared in nine games this season, posting an 8.99 goals against average and .785 save percentage. He was a goaltender for the 2010 Minto Cup Champion (Canadian Junior 'A' Lacrosse National Championship) Coquitlam Adanacs prior to being drafted by the Stealth in the fifth round of the 2010 NLL Entry Draft.

The other free agent goaltender brought in by the Stealth is Zack Boychuk, who plays for the Nanaimo Timbermen of the WLA. The 2010 British Columbia Junior 'A' Lacrosse League Goaltender of the Year in Nanaimo, Boychuk has played in ten games in 2011 and finished with an 8.62 goals against average and .795 save percentage.

The Stealth has also signed a pair of tough, young defenders in Mike McNamara and John Rae. McNamara, 21, was originally drafted by the Toronto Rock with the 40th overall pick in the 2010 NLL Entry Draft. The 6'2", 220 pound lefty is currently a co-captain for the Six Nations Arrows of the Ontario Junior 'A' Lacrosse Association. He was a First Team OLA All-Star in 2011 and a finalist for the IL Indoor Junior 'A' Defender of the Year.

Rae, 22, was originally drafted by Colorado with the 42nd pick in the 2010 NLL Entry Draft. The 6'1", 225 pounder plays his summer lacrosse for Ajax Pickering of Major Series Lacrosse in Ontario, where he joined the team during the 2011 season and has appeared in seven games.

"It's a good day for the Stealth," said Stealth General Manager Doug Locker. "Each one of these guys has the potential to make us better in the coming season. It will definitely make for a spirited training camp as we brought in guys at every position that will challenge for a spot on our roster. And there will undoubtedly be a few more signings in the coming weeks as we continue to prepare for 2012."

These six players will get their first chance to impress the Stealth coaching staff at training camp later this fall. Teams are allowed to invite up to 36 players to training camp, with the 23-man active roster announced prior to the start of the 2012 season in January.

Season tickets for the 2012 Washington Stealth season start at just $99 and are on sale now. For more information, visit www.stealthlax.com or call 877-MY-75-TIX.

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