Jeff Zywicki (pictured) will be joined by former NLL MVP Colin Doyle on the Stealth offense this season.
SEASON PREVIEW: SAN JOSE STEALTH
Doyle brings veteran experience to young offense
01/02/2007
After finishing 11-5 in their first season in San Jose, the Stealth have combined for a 9-23 record in 2005 and 2006. San Jose has been able to keep games close, but have at times lacked offensively, largely because of their youth. That all may have changed late last week, when the Stealth went out and traded for former league MVP Colin Doyle to add experience to their young offense. With the addition of Doyle and a year of experience for Jeff Zywicki and Luke Wiles, the Stealth are starting to look like a serious contender in the West.After their second consecutive losing season, the Stealth decided it was time to make some changes in the off-season, trading former rookie of the year Ryan Boyle, and Matt Alrich to New York. The team also lost star defenseman Cam Woods and goaltender Matt Vinc in the expansion draft. Armed with three first round entry draft picks, the Stealth drafted Ryan Benesch, Kyle Sorensen and Paul Dawson, and also added Wes Green in the second round.
The Stealth made the biggest deal of the off-season last week, acquiring former league MVP Colin Doyle from Toronto. The Stealth gave up first-overall draft pick Ryan Benesch in the process, but Doyle's experience will be key for San Jose this season. Doyle will join sophomores Jeff Zywicki and Luke Wiles as well as the club's leading veteran attacker, Gary Rosyski on offense.
The Stealth have had one of the toughest defenses the past few seasons, but have lost a bit in the off-season. Former ream captain Cam Woods was lost in the expansion draft and All-Star defender Jim Moss has not yet re-signed. Number two overall draft pick Kyle Sorensen will have some big shoes to fill as he joins Chad Thompson, Shaydon Santos, Andrew Guindon and Eric Martin on the Stealth defense.
The most important key returning player for San Jose may just be All-Star goaltender Anthony Cosmo, who will again anchor the club's back end. Cosmo will be backed up by Aaron Bold and fist round draft pick Paul Dawson.
The Stealth open on Friday, January 25th at 10:39 PM Eastern at home against the Rochester Knighthawks.
San Jose Stealth - 2006 Recap
Finish: Missed the playoffs
Regular Season Record: 5-11
Post Season Record: 0-0
Home Record: 3-5
Road Record: 2-6
Goals For: 151
Goals Against: 174
2007 Roster (As of January 2nd)
1 - Callum Crawford, Forward
2 - Paul Dawson, Goaltender
3 - Tim Booth, Defenseman
4 - Andrew Guindon, Defenseman
6 - Curtis Hodgson, Forward
7 - Colin Doyle, Forward
8 - Sterling Mitchell, Defenseman
9 - Jeff Zywicki, Forward
11 - Kyle Sorensen, Defenseman
15 - Luke Wiles, Forward
16 - Joe Vasold, Defenseman
19 - Wes Green, Forward
20 - Shaydon Santos, Defenseman
21 - Steve Holmes, Defenseman
23 - Gary Rosyski, Forward
24 - Kyle Neufeld, Defenseman
25 - Eric Martin, Defenseman
29 - Cam Sedgwick, Forward
33 - Matt Miller, Defenseman
44 - Anthony Cosmo, Goaltender
77 - Aaron Bold, Goaltender
88 - Ian Hawksbee, Defenseman
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