NLL Insider

Joel Weber, one half of Portland's impressive backup goalie depth. (Photo: Matt J. Wiater)

Like we did earlier this week with the East, today we’ll take a quick look at some of the prospects already in the National Lacrosse League’s Western Division, but have yet to fully breakthrough into a full-time, impact role in the pros.

The West had a ton of rookies like Kevin Buchanan, Rhys Duch and Tyler Richards come outta the gate and blow things up ASAP, while second year guys like Dane Dobbie, Kevin Croswell and Cory Conway used their first year in the league in ‘08 as a stepping stone for mainstream success this year.

Who might fit into those roles next winter? Find out, after the jump.

CALGARY ROUGHNECKS

Curtis Manning – Defender/Transition
Manning was picked up in last year’s Entry Draft even though he had a year left at Simon Fraser University. Being a Canadian school, and not a US one, Manning was NLL draft eligible being an ‘87, but could have lost his standing at SFU if he did go fully pro. Long story short (actually even longer), he couldn’t play in the bigs last year, but the hope is he’ll be ready to go in 2010. Manning was NLL Insider’s Jr. Defender of the Year last summer, playing for both the Jr. and Sr. Bellies, including going to Brampton with the Sr. team during the Mann Cup. He’s big, fast, skilled at both ends of the court, and is considered a true leader with every team he’s played for. This past spring, he helped lead SFU to yet another PNCLL title. So far this summer… 5GP, 4A, 4PIM with Sr. Salmonbellies

Others to keep your eyes on this summer… GM’s and scouts were split over the potential of Cayle Ratcliff, but there’s no denying this kid has a pretty impressive resume already. Ratcliff was named to NLL Insider’s All-Canadian First Team last summer, and impressed the Necks enough that they took him with the 15^th overall pick last September. Ratlciff’s game has been compared to Craig Conn, mainly due to his work off ball and tenacious, never say die attitude in traffic. Ratcliff’s former Jr. Shamrock teammates told NLL Insider that Lewis’ little bro is the ultimate team player that would do anything for the W. Cayle is getting his first taste of Sr. ball this summer with the Sr. T-Men… Drafted as an ‘88 last year, Joel Henry is having another strong summer with the Jr. Rocks, already with 25 Pts in just five starts… And yet another O prospect, Joey Vetere, drafted outta Burnaby last fall, is getting his feet wet in Sr. ball with the Langley Thunder, already with seven points in three games.  

COLORADO MAMMOTH

Andrew Potter – Forward
It’ll be his third pro training camp in the bigs come next fall, but Potter, the “other” name in the Gary Gait trade, still has pro potential written all over him, so don’t read too much into the fact he’s only seen three NLL games in two years. Currently tearin’ it up with the St. Catharines Athletics in Ontario’s junior loop, Potter easily leads Canada in scoring and just grabbed the top spot in NLL Insider’s Jr. A Money Ballers too. He’s smart, smooth, is unselfish but can also bring the house down with the rock in his pocket. Just needs to transfer that at a higher level of ball, which most feel is coming. So far this summer… 9GP, 27G, 36A, 63Pts, 2GWG

Others to keep your eyes on this summer… Two major knee surgeries definitely have set him back a year (or more), but many feel Matt Wilson can still make the jump to the next level, this summer with the Sr. Thunder being a major litmus test for him. Last year he was one of the country’s best junior aged pure defenders and led the Adanacs to an impressive 17-4 regular season record… Mike Ward’s speed and athleticism impressed, showing a ton of potential in the box game last winter. He’ll be spending his summer in Denver with the Outlaws again. With a number of D and T guys expected back at 100% in Colorado next year, it’ll likely be tough to find quality minutes for the former Blue Devil.

EDMONTON RUSH

Mike MacLeod – Forward
Another former Rock prospect who’s floating around and catching a spot on other clubs, Mike Macleod looked like he mighta found a permanent new home with the Rush, coming-on a bit towards the end of the season, including a six helper showing against his old team during a 16-12 win over Toronto. MacLeod is currently one of six guys on the Rush who were either drafted or passed through Toronto before landing in Edmonton. Mike, like handful of guys this summer, will be splitting time between the MSL’s KW Kodiaks and OLA Sr. B’s Owen Sound Woodsmen, the defending President’s Cup national champs. MacLeod has vet leadership a lot of prospects in these rundowns just don’t have yet, and definitely has the chops to find a role in the big leagues. So far this summer… 3GP, 3A with KW, 3GP, 6A, 32PIM with OS

Others to keep your eyes on this summer… The Rush’s second highest pick behind Jamie Floris last year, Ryan Campbell, failed to find a regular gig in Edmonton’s game day lineup, but another summer playing with the Brampton Excels might help him become an everyday pro. He’s yet to play for the defending champs two games in so far… Unless the ship really gets rocked again, you’d have to think Brandon Atherton will play as a full-time backup to Chris Levis, maybe even more in 2010. Atherton and Levis currently also suit up alongside one another with the Coquitlam Adanacs… Tyler Gibbons, drafted by the Rock way back when Terry Sanderson ran the show, like MacLeod, will see time with both the Kodiaks and Woodsmen. The kids an absolute firecracker who leaves it all on the floor and has an attitude any coach would love to have on his squad… Not sure if Kelly Kilpatrick, a guy high on the Rush’s prospect list heading into the ‘09 draft, still factors into the team’s future, but if he does, his performace in Langley this summer will give a better indication of what he’s capable of in the NLL. He’s big, strong and has proved he can score during his time with the Jr. Adanacs. Only question is, can he do it against the toughest competition in the game? Check back in late August.

MINNESOTA SWARM

Joe Cinosky – Defender
Cinosky climbed the charts after a strong showing at the combine in ‘08, spending much of the winter learning the indoor game and not playing with a long pole for the first time in a long time. Cinosky told Inside Lacrosse, “It’s kind of hard  to use a shortstick, but I’m learning. Even how you play defense is completely different.” Like we mentioned with Brett Queener earlier in the week, Cinosky might be in the best place this summer to continue learning the nuances of the box game, outside of course playing either MSL or WLA ball. Cinosky is currently one of a small handful of Americans playing for the Toronto Nationals, and will also be taking part in the US’s World Cup tryout camp. So far this summer… 4GP, 1A, 3.5PIM, 8GB

Others to keep your eyes on this summer… Although Croswell took the NLL’s Oscar for best breakthrough performance in ‘09, Minny still has a tender prospect in their ranks via Angus Goodleaf. The ‘07 Entry Draft pick backstopped the Six Nations Arrows last summer, and this year gets his first full-time taste of senior lacrosse, playing for a strong St. Regis team who’ll need him to perform 24/7. So far so good for the Swarm’s third stringer…  Brad Favero, also picked up at the ‘07 draft, will be playing for a young, athletic Lakershores team over the summer, already with three goals and two helpers in two starts in Barrie.

PORTLAND LUMBERJAX

Matt Flindell & Joel Weber – Goalies
These two were fighting tooth-and-nail against one another during last year’s BCJALL season, Flindell in Victoria and Weber in Coquitlam, but a few months later they found themselves competing for the same backup role behind Matt Disher. Both put in just over 100 minutes behind Dish, with Flindell getting the call in the playoffs after Disher pulled up in the first period. Weber is currently playing alongside Kurtis Wagar and former NLLer Mike Miron in Brooklin, while Flindell is on the holdout list in Nanaimo. Their success this summer will speak volumes as to who’s more pro everyday ready 2010 and beyond. If the Jax franchise doesn’t get moved previous to June 15^th, expect both to garner some interest from team’s with zero depth between the pipes.

Others to keep your eyes on this summer… Behind the two tenders, the most probable prospect to make the jump to full-time pro lacrosse is defender Dayne Michaud, currently with the Maple Ridge Burrards. Michaud, who’ll be playing alongside NLL teammate Tyler Codron all summer, is a hard hitting pure D guy that many considered one of the better D-first players in the BC junior game last year. He definitely fit the bill of the kinda defender Derek Keenan loaded up his own end with.

SAN JOSE STEALTH

Kevin Huntley – Forward
The potential with Huntley is huge, just not with the Stealth. San Jose sent Luke Wiles away for the chance to draft Huntley in that three way swap with Toronto and Rochester. Huntley told Inside Lacrosse, “Ultimately the team and I didn’t mesh. But I have a tremendous amount of respect for San Jose and the NLL.” Word was Huntley was close to being moved just prior to this past season’s trade deadline, but sources say the move was yanked off the table before becoming more than just verbal. Huntley is as natural and gifted a goal scorer as they come and considered by virtually anyone that matters in the league as a lock for success in the NLL. With that said though, the Stealth should be able to get something decent in return for Huntley’s services next year, just not sure it will add up to a stud like Wiles. Huntley, who was named the MLL’s best rookie in ‘08, is not surprisingly, ripping it up again in the pro field league. So far this summer… 4GP, 9G, 5A, 14Pts

Others to keep your eyes on this summer… The Stealth’s biggest O prospect, past an unuseable Huntley, is most definitely Alex Turner, who did end up seeing seven games in ‘09 for the Stealth. Turner, a former New West Jr. scoring ace who’s as skilled as he is unselfish, is currently playing his first season in the WLA with the Langley Thunder. Turner sits second in Thunder scoring with six goals and six assists after Langley’s first four. Alex definitely has potential to be an effective power forward in the NLL… Nick O’Hara, a former Duke defender who grew up watching the Bandits (from Orchard Park), not only has the tools most NLL GM’s look for when drafting US field-only players, his enthusiasm and eagerness to learn the box game is the other half of the equation team’s don’t always get. Nick is another American currently playing for the Nationals, which will hopefully help is box learning curve… Steve McKinlay, a hardnosed worker who can be useful at either end of the court for the Stealth, should also factor in for the franchise in 2010, again already off to a good start with the Coquitlam Adanacs.

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