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NO. 1 DRAFT PICK SIGNED

Stealth Sign Ryan Benesch and others

10/02/2006

The San Jose Stealth have announced the signing of forward Ryan Benesch. The left-handed forward was the first overall selection in the 2006 NLL Entry Draft last month at Madison Square Garden. The five-foot-ten, 190 pound Bloomington, Ontario native was signed to a one-year contract.

"We feel that Ryan Benesch is a perfect fit for us," said Stealth Assistant General Manager Doug Locker. "He has a knack for scoring goals and is not afraid to do the little things."

"He has had success at every level he has played and will bring a great work ethic and energy to our club."

Benesch played for the Kitchener Waterloo Braves of the Ontario Lacrosse Association and finished the season with 81 points (42 goals, 39 assists) in 22 games, the sixth best total in the OLA. He served as captain of the club and his 42 goals was fourth best in the OLA Junior A in 2006.

The Stealth have also announced that the signing of forward Wes Green. Green was recently drafted in the second round (16th overall) of the 2006 National Lacrosse League Entry Draft at Madison Square Garden.

Green was the top scorer for Adelphi University last season leading the Panthers with 79 points (62 goals, 17 assists) in 13 games. Green was honored by the United States Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association (USILA) with the Lt. Col. Jack Turnbull award, given to the top attackman in Division II, and the Lt. Raymond J Enners, awarded to top player in Division II. Among the many awards Green received, he was named an USILA First-Team All-American, his third All-American, during his senior year.

"Wes is a very tough competitor who was Division II Player of the Year for Adelphi," said Locker. "He goes to the goal hard and has tremendous ability to score goals."

"He is the type of player who we feel can have a lot of success in the NLL."

The six-foot, 185-pound native of Adelaide, Australia played in the 2006 World Games in London, Ontario as a member of the Australian National Team where he scored 14 points (12 goals, two assists) with seven ground ball pickups in eight games.

The San Jose Stealth have also announced the signing of free agent forward Tyler Gibbons. Gibbons will be looking to make his NLL debut this season.

Gibbons is a former second round selection (15th overall) of the Toronto Rock in 2005 NLL Entry Draft but was released last December before playing his first NLL game. The six foot, 175-pound native of Owen Sound played for the Owen Sound Woodsmen of the Ontario Lacrosse Association this summer.

"Tyler is a very solid transition player who was originally drafted in the second round by Toronto last year," said Stealth Assistant General Manager Doug Locker. "He has the ability to score goals in transition and is very solid defensively."