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Around the ECJLL - Lions Preview
2016-05-30
Another tough defeat at the hands of the Hurricanes in the 2015 ECJLL finals puts the Halifax Northwest Marley Lions right back where they started. Can they get over the hump in 2016?
May 30, 2015
Colin Beiswanger
In what has been an offseason of change for the Marley Lions, third year coach Tyler James is once again regrouping after a crushing Game 5 defeat in the ECJLL Finals at the hands of the Halifax Southwest Hurricanes. Losing three of their best players, the Lions had a lot of holes to fill. That being said, many young players are expected to and have been stepping up in 2016. With a large rookie unit and a strong core of players, the Halifax Northwest Marley Lions should once again compete for an ECJLL Championship in 2016.
Offseason Transactions
The Lions were also active acquiring depth with the acquisitions, picking up the rights to Gus Doane, Matt Mayer, and Braeden Drysdale via trade. Mayer ended up cracking the Lions roster as a 20-year-old rookie, and has seen action on the defensive unit twice in three games.
Graduating Players
The Marley Lions are seeing the departure of a number of significant contributors from 2015. Paddy Quinn, Gavin Quigley, and Keith Langille, all three team captains in 2015, are leaving the club. Longtime netminder Pat Keats is also leaving as an overager.
This is a significant group and represents a changing of the guard for the Marley Lions, who will have to replace 57 goals and 110 points from a year ago, as well as a top defender in Langille. In addition, ECJLL Defensive Player of the Year Gee Clarke is sidelined for all of 2016 after a knee injury in Game 4 of the ECJLL Semis against the Dartmouth Bandits.
Looking to replace this group, head coach Tyler James will need significant contributions from a young core that played behind these stars in 2015.
Draft Picks
***The Lions also retained the rights to 20 other players as a result of all other teams passing selections in the draft.
Due to major trades involving Ryan Daley and Cole Davis to the Dartmouth Bandits and Southwest Hurricanes respectively, the Lions had four of the first eight selections in this year’s ECJLL Entry Draft. Prior to the season starting, goalie needy Sackville traded Adam Grimmitt (3rd Round 2016 pick) and a 2018 2nd round ECJLL draft pick in exchange for Ryan MacDonald. With that being said, all four of Wilson, Seward, Grimmitt, and Walsh have seen game action so far in 2016 and are expected to be contributors throughout this season. Wilson (2G 3A) and Seward (2G) have seen the most success, while Aidan Walsh and Adam Grimmitt have appeared in three combined games to this point.
Matt Wilson had 41 points in 2015 with the St. Margaret’s Storm, leading the team along with Wolves first overall pick Michael Anthony. Seward was part of a Sackville team featuring 3rd overall pick Mitchell Broussard, as well as Zac Carrigan who spent this year with Linsly in West Virginia.
The Lions will benfit from these picks, who are needed to replace players leaving such as Quinn and Quigley.
Rookies and Young Impact Players
The Lions will be in tough this year trying to replace much of the talent at the top of their depth chart from a year ago. With a right side void left by Quinn and Quigley, the Lions are expecting Jerome Glowacki and Justin Misener to be contribute substantially in 2016. Both have found success so far in 2016, scoring crucial goals in games against the Sackville Wolves and Dartmouth Bandits.
Between the pipes, expect a healthy goaltender competition behind fifth year player Brendon Deveau. Jack Nielson and Alex Mitchell, both entering their second year, will be looking to separate from the other to prove their value down the stretch for the Lions. Alex was the Lions first round selection in last year’s ECJLL draft, while Nielson is homegrown talent, having played under Coach James in years past. With the disparity of goaltending in the ECJL becoming more and more apparent, the Lions will need one if not both to contribute significantly this year leading into the starting role in 2017.
Expect John MacDonald and Chris Walker to lead the multi-tool Lions offence at the end of the day. MacDonald is sitting in 3rd place in ECJLL Scoring with 14 points (3G 11A) and Walker sits in 16th with 10 pts (8G 2A). In transition, expect steady two-way play from Assistant Captain Clark Hannam and second year player Riley Ambrose. Ambrose, a castoff from the Southwest Hurricanes in 2016, had 19 pts (6G 13A) for the Lions a year ago, and is expected to produce after a slow start to 2016 (4A).
Coaching Staff
The coaching staff for the Marley Lions remains almost wholly in tact, with third year coach Tyler James leading the group once again in 2016. Assistant Coaches Ryan Fougere and Colin Beiswanger are joined by Ali Rehman, who will replace Josh Vincent on the bench this season. Statistician and Assistant Coach John Gagnier as well as Trainer Chris Clarke will also be welcomed back in 2016.
This group has a growing ECJLL resume with back-to-back finals births, as well as considerable playing experience in the league. Ali Rehman will bring with him experience with the Nova Scotia U19 Field Team that finished third at Nationals a year ago, as well as playing experience in the Rocky Mountain Lacrosse League and MUFLL.
2016 at a Glance
The Lions got off to a rocky start with a tie against the up-and-coming New Brunswick Mavericks. If not for a goal with 40 seconds left, a season opening loss would have spelled disaster. However, a renewed sense of pride has filled the Lions den after a key victory over the Dartmouth Bandits 5-3 on Friday night. Both teams had trouble hitting the back of the net, with the Lions failing to get inside on Dartmouth’s big defensive unit, and the Bandits being shut down by Brandon Deveau.
Expect Tuesday to be a tough test for the Lions against the Sackville Wolves after narrowly defeating them 11-9 two weeks ago.
Season Outlook
The Marley Lions will be hard pressed to score at the same rate they did a year ago, and will need to rely on a balanced attack on offence, defence, and in goal to get back to the ECJLL finals this year. With familiar faces gone, now is the time for those waiting in the wings to step up and contribute.
Expect breakout years for players along the right side including Glowacki, Misener, and rookies Matt Wilson and Seward. There is a good amount of scoring that needs replacing and with Chris Walker, John MacDonald, and Clark Hannam locking down the left side, solid contributions from these young players will go a long way to providing a balanced attack.
The Lions will be in contention again this year, the biggest question is where do they fit among the other two top tier teams. The Lions changing of the guard is taking place this year whereas other dominant clubs such as Dartmouth and Halifax Southwest will be seeing this more in the years to come. The challenge for the Lions will be maintaining the same level as competition as in years’ past. With a well rounded defence led by Assistant Captain Dan MacEachern and Neil McCallum, expect this unit to be one of the league’s best.
Dartmouth Bandits Preview
Halifax Southwest Hurricanes Preview
Colin Beiswanger
In what has been an offseason of change for the Marley Lions, third year coach Tyler James is once again regrouping after a crushing Game 5 defeat in the ECJLL Finals at the hands of the Halifax Southwest Hurricanes. Losing three of their best players, the Lions had a lot of holes to fill. That being said, many young players are expected to and have been stepping up in 2016. With a large rookie unit and a strong core of players, the Halifax Northwest Marley Lions should once again compete for an ECJLL Championship in 2016.
Offseason Transactions
The Lions were also active acquiring depth with the acquisitions, picking up the rights to Gus Doane, Matt Mayer, and Braeden Drysdale via trade. Mayer ended up cracking the Lions roster as a 20-year-old rookie, and has seen action on the defensive unit twice in three games.
Graduating Players
The Marley Lions are seeing the departure of a number of significant contributors from 2015. Paddy Quinn, Gavin Quigley, and Keith Langille, all three team captains in 2015, are leaving the club. Longtime netminder Pat Keats is also leaving as an overager.
This is a significant group and represents a changing of the guard for the Marley Lions, who will have to replace 57 goals and 110 points from a year ago, as well as a top defender in Langille. In addition, ECJLL Defensive Player of the Year Gee Clarke is sidelined for all of 2016 after a knee injury in Game 4 of the ECJLL Semis against the Dartmouth Bandits.
Looking to replace this group, head coach Tyler James will need significant contributions from a young core that played behind these stars in 2015.
Draft Picks
| Round | Pick | Name | Association |
| 1 | 4 | Matt Wilson | St. Margaret’s Storm |
| 1 | 5 | Mark Seward | Bedford Rock |
| 2 | 7 | Ryan MacDonald | St. Margaret’s Storm |
| 2 | 8 | Aidan Walsh | St. Margaret’s Storm |
| 4 | 20 | Sean McNutt | St. Margaret’s Storm |
| 5 | 25 | David Worth | St. Margaret’s Storm |
| 6 | 30 | Kyle Bevan | Bedford Rock |
| 8 | 40 | Cameron Jackman | Valley Thunder |
***The Lions also retained the rights to 20 other players as a result of all other teams passing selections in the draft.
Due to major trades involving Ryan Daley and Cole Davis to the Dartmouth Bandits and Southwest Hurricanes respectively, the Lions had four of the first eight selections in this year’s ECJLL Entry Draft. Prior to the season starting, goalie needy Sackville traded Adam Grimmitt (3rd Round 2016 pick) and a 2018 2nd round ECJLL draft pick in exchange for Ryan MacDonald. With that being said, all four of Wilson, Seward, Grimmitt, and Walsh have seen game action so far in 2016 and are expected to be contributors throughout this season. Wilson (2G 3A) and Seward (2G) have seen the most success, while Aidan Walsh and Adam Grimmitt have appeared in three combined games to this point.
Matt Wilson had 41 points in 2015 with the St. Margaret’s Storm, leading the team along with Wolves first overall pick Michael Anthony. Seward was part of a Sackville team featuring 3rd overall pick Mitchell Broussard, as well as Zac Carrigan who spent this year with Linsly in West Virginia.
The Lions will benfit from these picks, who are needed to replace players leaving such as Quinn and Quigley.
Rookies and Young Impact Players
The Lions will be in tough this year trying to replace much of the talent at the top of their depth chart from a year ago. With a right side void left by Quinn and Quigley, the Lions are expecting Jerome Glowacki and Justin Misener to be contribute substantially in 2016. Both have found success so far in 2016, scoring crucial goals in games against the Sackville Wolves and Dartmouth Bandits.
Between the pipes, expect a healthy goaltender competition behind fifth year player Brendon Deveau. Jack Nielson and Alex Mitchell, both entering their second year, will be looking to separate from the other to prove their value down the stretch for the Lions. Alex was the Lions first round selection in last year’s ECJLL draft, while Nielson is homegrown talent, having played under Coach James in years past. With the disparity of goaltending in the ECJL becoming more and more apparent, the Lions will need one if not both to contribute significantly this year leading into the starting role in 2017.
Expect John MacDonald and Chris Walker to lead the multi-tool Lions offence at the end of the day. MacDonald is sitting in 3rd place in ECJLL Scoring with 14 points (3G 11A) and Walker sits in 16th with 10 pts (8G 2A). In transition, expect steady two-way play from Assistant Captain Clark Hannam and second year player Riley Ambrose. Ambrose, a castoff from the Southwest Hurricanes in 2016, had 19 pts (6G 13A) for the Lions a year ago, and is expected to produce after a slow start to 2016 (4A).
Coaching Staff
The coaching staff for the Marley Lions remains almost wholly in tact, with third year coach Tyler James leading the group once again in 2016. Assistant Coaches Ryan Fougere and Colin Beiswanger are joined by Ali Rehman, who will replace Josh Vincent on the bench this season. Statistician and Assistant Coach John Gagnier as well as Trainer Chris Clarke will also be welcomed back in 2016.
This group has a growing ECJLL resume with back-to-back finals births, as well as considerable playing experience in the league. Ali Rehman will bring with him experience with the Nova Scotia U19 Field Team that finished third at Nationals a year ago, as well as playing experience in the Rocky Mountain Lacrosse League and MUFLL.
2016 at a Glance
The Lions got off to a rocky start with a tie against the up-and-coming New Brunswick Mavericks. If not for a goal with 40 seconds left, a season opening loss would have spelled disaster. However, a renewed sense of pride has filled the Lions den after a key victory over the Dartmouth Bandits 5-3 on Friday night. Both teams had trouble hitting the back of the net, with the Lions failing to get inside on Dartmouth’s big defensive unit, and the Bandits being shut down by Brandon Deveau.
Expect Tuesday to be a tough test for the Lions against the Sackville Wolves after narrowly defeating them 11-9 two weeks ago.
Season Outlook
The Marley Lions will be hard pressed to score at the same rate they did a year ago, and will need to rely on a balanced attack on offence, defence, and in goal to get back to the ECJLL finals this year. With familiar faces gone, now is the time for those waiting in the wings to step up and contribute.
Expect breakout years for players along the right side including Glowacki, Misener, and rookies Matt Wilson and Seward. There is a good amount of scoring that needs replacing and with Chris Walker, John MacDonald, and Clark Hannam locking down the left side, solid contributions from these young players will go a long way to providing a balanced attack.
The Lions will be in contention again this year, the biggest question is where do they fit among the other two top tier teams. The Lions changing of the guard is taking place this year whereas other dominant clubs such as Dartmouth and Halifax Southwest will be seeing this more in the years to come. The challenge for the Lions will be maintaining the same level as competition as in years’ past. With a well rounded defence led by Assistant Captain Dan MacEachern and Neil McCallum, expect this unit to be one of the league’s best.
Dartmouth Bandits Preview
Halifax Southwest Hurricanes Preview