NLL Insider

NLL Insider will be posting blogs from Zach Heffner, a member of last year’s regular season Western Division champion San Jose Stealth squad, Zach has since started his own company, VERDICT Photography, and looks to promote the team and the sport through his photographs.

Zach joined the Stealth after a stint with the Chicago Shamrox and is currently a player with the San Francisco Dragons after putting in two seasons with the Chicago Machine. An NCAA National Champion while at the University of Virginia, Zach lists winning a bronze medal with the USA National Indoor Team at last years’ World Indoor Championships in Halifax, Nova Scotia as his top lacrosse moment.

SAME DAY, DIFFERENT SCHEDULES

Game Day – Home Opener/Eye Opener

I woke up on Friday, January 9th with one thought in my head – Stealth Game tonight. Kind of a nostalgic moment for me. The game later that day would be my first time in the HP Pavilion in downtown San Jose since I walked off the turf with the rest of the teammates following a loss to the Portland LumberJax in last years’ Western Quarterfinals. I was stoked to see some of my old friends, but at the same time I knew it was going to be hard viewing the night’s events from the other side of the glass.

I found myself wondering what my former teammates were up to as I moved through my day. It was only a year ago, but the game day jitters that I was used to experiencing seemed like they only happened in some book I read. So as I poured myself a hot cup o’ joe I tried to put myself back in my own year-old shoes. Season opener – at home – yeah, the guys were fired up.

9:30am
Coffee mug in tow, I hop into the car, set the radio to 105.3, and head south.

The Stealth players are probably getting ready to head over the HP for their morning shoot-around. It gets the blood pumping, especially for the fly-in guys. Those hours on the plane are great for stiffening you right up. I’m feeling pretty stiff right now as I fight my way through the 101 traffic as I head to the studio where my company is based. After some drills the boys split between ‘D’ and ‘O’ to go over the last minute tweaks to the gameplan. Things like match-ups, powerplay options, and man down issues are finalized during the shoot-around. I roll into the studio, finish some editing and start setting up for a commercial shoot.

12:30pm
The few hours after the shoot-around usually consist of finding some food then heading back to the dark confines of a bedroom for a quick nap. Not unlike my situation at the studio, minus the nap, of course. Each player has his own way of preparing for the game. For example, Tom Johnson is all about getting his R.E.M. while Jeff Zywicki can be found making friends at the local Subway, and Frank Resetarits is usually standing in front of a mirror wielding a pair of clippers. Do you think that handlebar mustache trims itself? Well, it doesn’t.

5:30pm
I wrap up the studio shoot and start packing my camera bag for the game. I have been shooting a lot of sports lately, but I have yet to shoot in an arena. I am a bit nervous about the lighting in the HP – it’s way different than shooting in daylight. I definitely feel some added pressure to take some great pics tonight. Not only do I want to represent my company well, I also want to take sweet pics of my friends doing what they do best. Your whole job as a photographer is to make your client look as good as possible. No reason why tonight should be any different.

The Stealth players have the same in mind as they get ready to board the bus heading to the HP. It is NLL policy for all players to wear suits to and from games and some dudes go all out. Goalie Tyler Richards was always in the running for ‘the freshest ensemble of the night’ award. Other notables usually included Cam Sedgewick, Aaron Bold, and Curtis Hodgson, while Colin Doyle often took honorable mention for his All Under Amour attire.

I lace up my Chuck Taylors, fire up the Chevy Blazer and get on the 101 again…next stop…HP Pavilion.

6:30pm
I pull up to the HP, get my photo credentials and head inside. I walk down into the belly of the HP following the same steps I did a year ago and make my way to turf for warm-ups. I run into Kyle Sorensen on my way. We catch up for a second and talk about his summer in Peterborough. Sorrie has made a name for himself as one of the league’s best D-men and is one of my favorite guys on the team. I hear Ryan Boyle doesn’t like him much…I wonder why….hmm?

In their black shooting shirts, the Stealth players take advantage of the un-official warm up to hone their shots, stretch those problem muscles and break a sweat. Some players stay out until the last possible second while others do a few laps, take a few shots and head in. Whatever works, right?
I take this time to break out my Nikon D300 and take some test shots. I focus in on Tom Johnson doing the same…making sure his shot is on point.

6:50pm
The players hit the floor in their jerseys for the official warm-up. Line drills, three man weave…the usual. I stick my camera through one of three camera ports in the glass to get as close as I can to the action.

7:15pm
The moments leading up to player introductions is a fury of activity in the locker room. Man-up meetings, defensive talks, tape jobs, shaft switches. Through all the commotion I end up right where I would have a year ago – defense meeting. Defensive coach, Art Webster leads the guys through the match-ups and areas of focus for them as a unit. I take a few photos in these sensitive moments leading up to game time. The team seems totally comfortable with having a photographer in such close proximity. I keep clicking…My camera picks up Stealth rookie Paul Rabil sitting in on the defensive meeting. Hold on, what? Yup, the Stealth look to use Rabil’s size and athleticism to help in the transition game. I would expect the #2 draft pick to put a few shots on goal tonight.

7:25pm
The lights are low, the PA system is on full blast, and the fog machine looks as if it’s about to blow a major fuse in the HP electrical room. The Stealth players get introduced for the first time to their 2009 fans. Energy in the building is tangible. I take a few shots of the players running through the dense fog. They barely notice all of this spectacle as they have only one thing on their minds’. As the music blares you can see a calm of the faces of the players of both squads.

7:35
Moments before the opening faceoff, I make my way up to the catwalk high above the playing floor. I’m not sure if my credentials allow me access to the catwalk, but I just act like I know what I’m doing and no one bothers me. The players below me take their places on the floor.

TWEET!

The 2009 San Jose Stealth season has begun! I position my 200mm lens directly down over top of Calgary keeper Pat Campbell for one specific reason. Pat Campbell knows why…Heck, the whole Calgary defense knows why. Anyone who has spent anytime watching the San Jose offense knows how athletic they are…namely Jeff Zywicki. I knew it wasn’t long before a Zywicki crease-diving seminar was going to take place.

7:38pm
Tom Johnson opens by scoring off a money feed from Colin Doyle. Teams trade goals and the first quarter ends in a 1-1 tie.

7:55pm
Got it!…well sort of. After a few dive shots by Zywicki, Rabil and Doyle I finally get my sweet dive shot!! Jeff Zywicki, the master of improvised shots, picks up his own rebound, dive across the back of the goal and sticks it opposite side. Shows how lethal this Stealth attacker can be.

8:15pm
Colin Doyle scores the 379th goal of his career. I don’t think I have ever been on a team with a better leader than Doyle. Earlier today, the NLL insider named Doyle the #1 player in the NLL…not at all an overstatement. This guy is one of the greatest to ever touch the floor. I feel a sense of accomplishment when I realize that my name appears on his phone when I call him…unless he has recently erased my number…which is possible, I guess. I haven’t called him in a while.

8:30pm
The second half opens with Eric Martin helmet-less on the bench. Not a good sign. I make way down to rink-side as Calgary makes their way to a five goal third quarter lead. I hate to say it, but Tracy Kelusky, Kaleb Toth and Curt Malawsky are a pretty lethal combo in their own right. I guess I should take pictures of them too…

8:55pm
The Stealth rattle off four straight goals to get it back to within one. Rookie Rhys Duch gets in the books and the crowd goes crazy when sophomore Tom Johnson sticks his second goal of the night. Tom is currently fielding suggestions from fans on what exactly to do with his hair. He has one of the best coifs in the league and he wants your help.

9:15pm
Calgary’s Josh Sanderson extends the Calgary lead to 11-9 late in the fourth quarter but San Jose stays alive as Frank Resetarits strikes the back of the net the way Steve Wilcos strikes his talkshow guests. Fast and with pin point accuracy…in case you were wondering.

9:20pm
I snap the last few shots of the night as Calgary’s Scott Ranger tallies one with under 20 seconds remaining to put this one out of reach. Calgary takes it 12-10. A tough win on the road. Something to be applauded in the rough and tumble world of the NLL.

9:30pm
The Stealth players file off the floor obviously disappointed in the outcome of the evening. The photographer in me tells me to keep shooting, to capture this moment, but I then realize that I am, in fact, not that far removed from these feelings, these experiences. I know, maybe too well, how this feels. These players are my friends first and my subject second. I put my camera back in its bag.

10:00pm
I shake some hands and talk with some front office staff. They know how good of a team they have in San Jose and they know how long the season is. I leave the HP and embark on the long journey to wherever it is I parked my car.

To view the full photo gallery from the day, click on the ‘Behind the Scenes San Jose Stealth’ window at NLLInsider.com/Photos

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