By Canadian Press

Fresh start for Warriors extends to roster as Richardson focuses on local talent

Dec 14, 2018 | 11:45 AM

After a new ownership group moved and rebranded Vancouver’s National Lacrosse League franchise, new general manager Dan Richardson was given a mandate to remake the entire roster.

Canucks Sports and Entertainment bought the NLL’s Stealth in the off-season, moved them from the Langley Events Centre to Rogers Arena in downtown Vancouver and renamed them the Warriors. Richardson was installed as the team’s new general manager and in just a few months of work he has left his mark.

“Canucks Sports and Entertainment people didn’t bring me on board to stand pat,” said Richardson on Thursday. “We took a look at our roster from top to bottom and we needed to make some changes.

“Even though we didn’t have a first- or second-round draft pick we still had unrestricted free agents and restricted free agents and kids that had never really been given a shot in this league so we started the rebuild from the day we took over.”

Richardson released franchise all-time leading scorer Rhys Duch on Nov. 28. Duch had 19 goals and 65 points last season and wound up on the Calgary Roughnecks, who the Warriors will play on Saturday in the season opener for both teams.

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That same day he traded 2017 league MVP candidate Corey Small to the Buffalo Bandits for Mitch Jones.

Small led Vancouver with 28 goals and 77 points last season but requested a trade to one of the three NLL teams around Lake Ontario so that he could be closer to his hometown of Mississauga, Ont., where he moved back to this summer. Five years younger, Jones can be the focal point of the Warriors’ offence after he had 38 goals and 81 points last season.

“(Jones) is just starting to spread his wings and show this league what he can do offensively,” said Richardson. “He had a very good year last year and we expect bigger and better things from him this year.”

Jones, from Delta, B.C., is also part of Richardson’s plan to fill the Warriors’ roster with players from British Columbia. Heading into the start of the season only five players of the 21-man roster are from outside the province. Richardson did this by design, so Vancouver could have a mid-week practice along with a Friday-night film session to prepare for Saturday games.

Putting an emphasis on local talent is something Jones can get behind.

“B.C. lacrosse has been a strong point in Canada for a long time,” said Jones. “I believe in Dan and I think he’s brought in players that he believes in and he’s familiar with. It’s good to have guys that are local.

“I know from past teams I’ve been on the more local guys you can have it builds team chemistry and camaraderie. I think it’s a good move.”

After a shortened training camp period due to labour unrest, the NLL kicks off its 2018-19 season on Saturday as Vancouver visits Calgary, Buffalo travels to Philadelphia and New England is in Georgia. The Roughnecks made the NLL playoffs last season with an 8-10 record.

“There’s going to be lots of energy, going to be a fast game, I’m sure about that,” said Jones. “Going to be mistakes made but we’re going to come back, stay resilient, and learn what we’re made of.”

The Toronto Rock open their season in Buffalo on Dec. 21 and the defending champion Saskatchewan Rush kick things off Dec. 28 in New England.

Toronto missed the playoffs last season at 8-10. The six-time NLL champions are looking for their first title since 2011.

Saskatchewan finished 14-4 last regular season and went on to win their second championship in three years since the team moved from Edmonton to Saskatoon.

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John Chidley-Hill, The Canadian Press