NLL Insider

Lewis Ratcliff (Photo: Graig Abel)

The Colin Doyle trade towards the end of ‘06 has affected pro lacrosse more than any other before, and probably, after it.

Lewis Ratcliff was about as far away from Toronto as you could get in the National Lacrosse League when the switch was flipped on Doyle’s trade to San Jose, but outside of maybe Ryan Benesch, Ratcliff has felt the affects of that blockbuster, himself a key piece of two monster moves made since, more than anyone other player.

An innocent, point-producing, bystander turned pawn, Ratcliff will be wearing his third pro jersey in three years since leaving Calgary.

Now back in the West where a ball player like Ratclif truly belongs, the Washington Stealth’s likely offensive leader is back playing close to home in Victoria, where he tore the WLA apart this past summer.

Although Doyle wasn’t a part of the trade that saw Ratcliff moved to Toronto, the Rock’s lack of Doyle’s inside, big body, sharp shooter presence was why Lewis was moved to the city. The two play vastly different games, with vastly different styles, and the expectations placed on Ratliff in his new environment weren’t, for lack of a better word, fair.

Ratcliff played well in Toronto, gave 100% on every shift, and still broke that 30-goal mark like he always seems to do, but it wasn’t the dominating performance many Western fans were used to from Lewis, and again, it was far from entirely his fault.

Although Lewis ran over the WLA scoring charts (winner of league MVP, 3-star, and 1st team all-pro), leading the province in scoring, we moved him down the ladder a bit due to the fact that his pro numbers were his lowest since his rookie season in Calgary in ‘03.

Playing alongside players he’s thrived with (Rhys Duch, Luke Wiles, etc…)  and with a coach (Chris Hall) he’s excelled tremendously under, Ratcliff’s move to Everett made as much sense as Doyle’s return to Toronto. Everything fits.

Is Ratcliff Colin Doyle or Josh Sanderson? No, no one in the game is made in the same mold as those two. There will never be another Doyle or another Shooter, ever.

Lewis Ratcliff is Lewis Ratcliff, one helluva a ball player in his own right, bringing different weapons to a fight other ball players just don’t own, or ever will.

Fact: A two-time Mann Cup winner, Ratcliff has been a lifelong Victoria Shamrock, beating both Doyle and Sanderson during the ‘03 Mann, the Shamrocks spanking the Excels in a dominating 4-1 series win.

# (last year)
16 (12) Lewis Ratcliff, Washington Stealth
17 (8) Gavin Prout, Edmonton Rush
18 (NR) Andrew McBride, Calgary Roughnecks
19 (NR) Rhys Duch, Washington Stealth
20 (31) Chris White, Buffalo Bandits
21 (42) Matt Vinc, Orlando Titans
22 (25) Pat Maddalena, Orlando Titans
23 (NR) Jeff Moleski, Calgary Roughnecks
24 (34) Kyle Sweeney, Philadelphia Wings
25 (15) Scott Self, Minnesota Swarm
26 (NR) Dan Teat, Philadelphia Wings
27 (5) Jeff Zywicki, Washington Stealth
28 (38) Brian Langtry, Colorado Mammoth
29 (44) Shawn Evans, Rochester Knighthawks
30 (41) Jeff Shattler, Calgary Roughnecks
31 (NR) Dane Dobbie, Calgary Roughnecks
32 (NR) Merrick Thomson, Philadelphia Wings
33 (NR) Daryl Veltman, Boston Blazers
34 (NR) Ian Hawksbee, Edmonton Rush
35 (NR) Phil Sanderson, Toronto Rock
36 (11) Ryan Cousins, Minnesota Swarm
37 (NR) Tyler Codron, Toronto Rock
38 (33) Luke Wiles, Washington Stealth
39 (47) Steve Toll, Rochester Knighthawks
40 (19) Blaine Manning, Toronto Rock
41 (37) Sean Pollock, Minnesota Swarm
42 (NR) Mike Carnegie, Calgary Roughnecks
43 (NR) Scott Stewart, Edmonton Rush
44 (NR) Kaleb Toth, Calgary Roughnecks
45 (NR) Matt Disher, Edmonton Rush
46 (23) Ryan Ward, Edmonton Rush
47 (NR) Kyle Ross, Boston Blazers
48 (NR) Matt King, Calgary Roughnecks
49 (NR) Mac Allen, Rochester Knighthawks
50 (NR) Nick Inch, Minnesota Swarm

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