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Stickmen Make Moves Before Season Starts

April 7th, 2008
With the camps now finished and pre-season around the corner it's time for teams to start looking at their rosters and filling in the blanks where needed. For the South Fraser Stickmen it meant looking long and hard at the roster and making some tough decisions on the team's future.

Long time South Fraser Stickmen goalie, Brandon Smith was traded today to the Burnaby Lakers in exchange for a future draft pick in next years Junior ‘A’ Midget Draft.  Smith started with the Stickmen in the 2006 season as a first year Junior player full filling the role of back up tender behind then starter Codey Lewis. 

Last season Smith challenged for the starting role by playing in all 21 games and facing over 553 shots.  When Lewis moved to Alberta in hopes of taking his new team to the Minto Cup, Smith assumed the role of starter for the last three games of the year.  Over the two years with the Stickmen Smith played in 40 games amassing over 900 minutes of playing time.

Last month the Stickmen signed free agent Mike Lowe, a first year Junior, in an effort to solidify the youth side of the team with the goal of challenging for a top spot next year in the BCJALL.  Another first year Junior player and former Stickmen Intermediate goalie, Graham Chandler will support Lowe in net this year for the Junior team.

The South Fraser Stickmen wish Brandon all the best in what is his final year of Junior A lacrosse.

In an additional trade this week the Stickmen dealt another long time team player, Shawn Rowan to Delta for a 2009 Junior 'A' Midget draft pick. Shawn played both Intermediate years and two additional years of Junior for the Stickmen.

It's a hard thing to do trading a dedicated, loyal and local player like Shawn' says GM Paul Sparrow. 'However Shawn has a chance of getting more floor time in Delta as we feel he will fit their system better'. With Shawn in his last year of Junior the Stickmen staff want to see him get the opportunity to show case his talent. The staff and fellow players thank Shawn for all his support and wish him well.

In the last of the trades this week the Stickmen picked up Anthony Besse from Coquitlam for a 2009 draft pick. Besse brings his intense style of play along with the ability to play transition as well as solid defense for South Fraser. A third year player, Besse played 18 regular season games with the Adanacs last year as well as five post season games.

Stickmen Junior 'A's Land Huge Free Agent In Mike Lowe

It was like an early Christmas present to the Stickmen when Mike Lowe walked into their camp back in February wanting to showcase his goalie talents. At a soon to be 19 years of age Mike Lowe has already got a solid year of Junior 'A' action when he was aged up by the Delta Islanders last year. He faced a league leading 833 shots in net and still managed to record a very respectable 81.87 save percentage.

As a free agent Lowe was looking around for what he felt was going to be the best fit and place to be over his next three years of Junior 'A' ball and South Fraser was one of just a few stops. With the re-building of the South Fraser Stickmen Junior team, a young but experienced goalie would be one very big step towards propelling the team towards being a top contender in the BCJALL league.

Lowe played his minor career in Langley and upon graduation played his first year of Intermediate for New Westminster where he split time in net. Since Lowe was aged up into Junior last year and resides in Langley he became eligible to be a free agent going into the 2008 season despite being signed by Delta the previous year.

Last season the Stickmen had third year veteran Codey Lewis as their starter until he was traded to Alberta where Lewis hoped his new team could make a run for a Minto Cup. Brandon Smith moved into the starter role for the remainder of the season.

Stickmen Juniors Sign A Warhawk And A Yank

In addition to the signing of free agent Mike Lowe the Stickmen added some other new faces on the roster. The Stickmen now include Winnipeg’s Scott Davidson, traded to the Stickmen from Victoria in the off season.

Formerly with the Winnipeg Warhawks Junior B program, Scott also was MVP and an All Star in the U19 Field Nationals two years ago.

' He'll add strength in our transition game, and may also find a
spot on the power play,’ said Sparrow.

From the US, Seattle high school standout Greg Mahoney joins the Stickmen this season. He was a high school All American in field lacrosse while playing for Seattle’s Mercer Island High School.

He comes to the Stickmen for this season, then moves on to the Ivy league where he has been recruited by Yale University.

'These players including Lowe are all great additions and, with the players returning from last season, we expect to be much more competitive this year', said Sparrow.

The Stickmen Jr. A home season opens on Sunday, April 27th with an afternoon face off at 1:30 pm against the Victoria Shamrocks.

Stickmen Intermediates Get Final Approval For Move

After months of meetings, preperations and voting the South Fraser Stickmen received final approval to relocate the Intermediate franchise to Abbotsford.

After last season the executive realized that moving the team was their only option if they ever wanted to put out an top rated 'A' program. After the Maple Ridge minor association approached the Stickmen and past approval to obtain arena time, the Stickmen ran into a wall with the city and were not able to finish the deal.

With a base of players coming from Hope to Surrey it only seemed natural to make Abbotsford the home arena. So after three months and three sets of votes the Intermediate 'A' league approved the moving of the franchise out to the valley.

The Stickmen Intermediates will play their home games out of M.S.A. arena on the scheduled Monday nights with three home games slated for North Surrey arena for the Victoria and Nanaimo matches.

The Junior's will continue to play out of North Surrey arena for 2008

2008 Junior 'A' Midget Draft

(Curtis Gulliford / Head Coach Juniors, Josh Kaiser / Langley Minor, Joe Willmott / Governor)

The second annual Junior Midget Draft was held this Sunday February 10th at Poco arena. Last year the Stickmen drafted goal tender Devon Winters from Mission first over in the inaugural 2007 draft and this year the Stickmen continued to show their support for Valley lacrosse players.

Stickmen Picks:

Rd #1 (6th) - Jordan Schulstad - Abbotsford
Rd #2 (9th) - Joshua Kaiser - Langley
Rd #3 (22nd) - John Minot - Ridge Meadows
Rd #3 (24th) - Adam Schulstad - Abbotsford
Rd #4 (25th) - Jesse Peters - Abbotsford
Rd #4 (29th) - Kail Clarke - Quesnel
Rd #4 (30th) - Darcey Bell - McKenzie
Rd #5 (33rd) - Grady Begg - Langley
Rd #6 (41st) - Cody Thompson - Langley
Rd #6 (48th) - Trevor Janzen - Abbotsford
Rd #7 (49th) - Mark Larsen - Kamloops
Rd #8 (57th) - Brody Pierce - Mission
Rd #9 (65th) - Dayton Pagiericci - Chilliwack
Rd #10 (73rd) - Lyndon Voth - Chilliwack
Rd #10 (77th) - Keenan Lambright - Kamloops
Rd #11 (81st) - Mike Pascucci - Hope
Rd #12 (88th) - Kellen Ferguson - Delta
Rd #13 (95th) - Wesley Lambright - Kamloops
Rd #14 (101st) - Anthony Zanusso - Langley
Rd #15 (106th) - Mathew Withers - Surrey

Complete Draft Results - (By Draft Order)
Complete Draft Results - (By Team)

With more picks then any other team in the draft the Stickmen took advantage and grabbed much of the hot local talent here South of the Fraser. They started in the first round by picking Abbotsford player Jordan Schulstad followed up closely by Langley's Joshua Kaiser in the second round.

This year the Stickmen have proposed playing their Intermediate team out of Abbotsford's MSA arena and they showed their commitment to the community by picking three of their first five players from Abbotsford Minor Lacrosse. As well the Stickmen added four Langley , 1 Ridge Meadows, 1 Mission and 2 Chilliwack players to the mix to clearly state that they are building true South Fraser team.

Harris goes 1st overall in Midget Jr. Draft - Official Junior 'A' Website - By Jen Mutas

South Fraser Stickmen Intermediate 'A' Lacrosse Club Have New Coach

Jamie Scott of Abbotsford has agreed to coach the South Fraser Stickmen Intermediate 'A' lacrosse club and the Stickmen are excited.

"Look at Jamie's lacrosse history;" said Paul Sparrow, the club's director of operations, "he's an outstanding veteran. He has played at all levels and now he is returning to his roots to coach with the Stickmen."

Jamie has been playing or coaching lacrosse for over 34 years- and his trophies and medals tell the tale. He has won Provincial and National Championships in minor lacrosse then played 5 years of Jr including his final year with the South Fraser as the teams first MVP.

Jamie played 14 years of senior lacrosse and the highlight of this was his President's Cup National Championship in 1999. He joined the New Westminster Jr 'A' Salmonbellies coaching staff in 2005 - and shared the 2005 coach of the year award.

Jamie is looking forward to be the head coach of the South Fraser Intermediate 'A' team. "I love to working with young men who really like to learn about the game of lacrosse."

Jamie has added Dennis Bull, Cam Janzen, and Tod Olson to the coaching staff and thinks this will be one of the best coaching combinations in the league.

Camps for the South Fraser Stickmen begin February 23 at the Langley Sportsplex (200th & Highway #1)

Stickmen Continue Off Season Training

Langley, Feb 2, 2008

The Stickmen hit the floor again in early January as they continued their intense off season training with both dry floor and fitness components.

With both the Juniors and Intermediates playing along with some prospects, alumni and masters the pace has been fast and furious.

This year South Fraser is excited as the move into their second year of rebuilding with more changes on the way. Joe Willmott stated 'In order for us to move forward we had to start fresh and bring change. This off season program being just one of those changes'.

Last year South Fraser added all new jerseys for both teams, a new head coach for the Juniors and an aggresive plan to bring back top ranked lacrosse to the South of the Fraser district.

The turnout has been great and the players are excited about the new year. With the Junior 'A' Midget draft less then a month away the Stickmen are ramping things up for the 2008 season. Coach Gulliford has these boys working harder then they have ever done so before knowing that hard work will pay dividends later.

More Photos - Jan 19th
More Photos - Feb 2nd

Q&A With Former Stickmen And No. 1 Overall Selection, Jordan Hall
December 20th, 2007 by Steve Kojima (NllInsider.com)

This is the first installment of our weekly Q&A session with a 2008 NLL Rookie. Throughout the season, we’re going to follow the best rookies and their impact. And we’re going to sit down with them to find out more of what they’re all about on and off the field.

To kick it off, I thought it only makes sense to start with the No. 1 overall NLL Entry Draft selection, Jordan Hall.

Hailing from B.C., Canada, Hall finished at the University of Delaware as the leading career scorer among all active NCAA Division I midfielders. He was a three-time All-CAA selection and the 2005 CAA Player of the Year.

The 6'0, 190-pound transition player was also a member of the World Champion Canadian National Team that defeated the US at the 2006 Worlds. He played this past summer in the WLA for New Westminster.

I spoke with Hall last night…

You’re calling me while on a date. Already putting that pro status to good use?
(laughs) I mean, it doesn’t hurt.

What’s going on with that move you wanted to make to New York?
I just flew in and out for training camp last week… I’m pretty excited to move down there. We’re appartment hunting right after Christmas. I’m going to have my first new year’s in the Big Apple, I’m pretty pumped about that. We’re just pulling a big list together of places that may be good for me. The team and I just have to find an option that will work.

How was your first NLL camp?
It was good, actually. New York’s strong with a lot of American players. It was a little different. They are very good players, they’re extremely athletic. We’re going to be a fast team. It’s just going to be like moving to any team though. We’re going to have to get use to the guys we’re playing with.

What can fans expect to see from you this year?
Fast-paced lacrosse. Anytime I’m playing, the best attribute I have I think is trying to keep my feet moving. Once I get into game shape, I always think that I’m one of the fastest guys on the floor. They can expect a strong effort at both ends, and getting up the floor. Now that I went to camp, it seems like I’ll be playing a lot more offense. I thought I’d be more of a transition guy. So hopefully a lot of production. We’ve got a strong right side… I don’t know, a lot of goals.

What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever received?
The best advice I’ve received was from my buddy who is a plumber, Matt Levesque. He also plays lacrosse… Two rules about plumbing: S**t runs down hill, and never lick your fingers.

You’ve had a lot of success. What’s been your favorite lacrosse moment?
Winning the Worlds. To go more into that, cutting the net up after the Worlds. We all took a piece of it after the game. I’ve got a jersey, a medal, the net and a picture that’s all going to go into a big frame.

How close are you to reaching your potential?
To be honest, I’ve always kind of been the guy who’s almost been afraid to shoot and I just need to build confidence. So I’d say I’m a couple years off. When I went to the Worlds I learned something, when I played in the WLA I learned something. You know, it’s a learning process. You learn a lot through guys you play with or against. And I think in three to four years I’ll still be in my physical prime, but I’ll also have that mental edge.

Going back a few years, how’d you end up at Delaware?
I wanted to go down to the States and get a scholarship. I realized hockey wasn’t the way to do it. I was in Grade 11 and went to 205 – a skills camp that’s basically designed for recruiting. From there I got hooked up. Delaware was just like listen, “We had a guy here that was amazing, and we want some more Canadians”. That player they were talking about was actually John Grant Jr… Some of the teams that have had success with Canadians, keep asking for Canadians. Scott Evans was also at Delaware when I was there. I recently helped recruit another Canadian to the program.

What was your major?
Business Marketing major

Any plans to put that to use in the near future?
Well, if it’s going to happen in the US, I need a green card… So it looks like I’m just going down to New York for the year. I need a job though. I’m looking for something back here in Vancouver after the season. If a company has an offer, I’m interested!

Do you have pre-game rituals?
No. I’m a big fan of stretching before games, I eat a light meal, and I always have a banana. That’s about it.

What’s playing on your iPod right now?
You grow up in Canada and you play hockey and you play lacrosse, and basically it’s a lot of AC/DC and Metallica.

Tell us something people don’t know about you?
I don’t know. I’m an open book. I really don’t know…

— If there’s something you’d like to know about Jordan though, we’ll be doing another article with him in the near feature. We expect Jordan to make some noise this year.