Third-year pro & local product agrees to two-year deal with Vancouver
The Vancouver Stealth have announced that the team has re-signed transition players Tyler Garrison and Wenster Green both to two-year contracts, pending league approval.
Garrison, a local product from Coquitlam, BC, enters his third season with the Stealth after being drafted 11th overall in the 2013 NLL Draft.
“Tyler is one of the best up and coming players in the National Lacrosse League and continues to get better with each season he plays,” said Stealth President and General Manager Doug Locker. “He is an extremely important part of our team. He brings a great work ethic, a high compete level and tremendous skills and we are thrilled to have him back with the Stealth.”
“I’m fired up about it,” said Garrison. “There’s not anywhere else I’d rather be in this league, playing in front of the hometown crowd.”
Garrison’s numbers have improved in each of his two seasons with Vancouver, playing in all 18 games last season, scoring 20 points (9G, 11A). He posted nine goals and had 36 forced turnovers which ranked second in the NLL. Garrison led the Stealth in loose balls with 106 in 2014.
The 22 year old was the main faceoff man for the Stealth, winning 176 of 392 (44.90%) of his draws last season.
In summer ball, Garrison spent three seasons with the Coquitlam Adanacs Junior ‘A’ lacrosse club. In 2013, he led his team to the Minto Cup Final where they finished second.
“I had a good year last year but there’s a lot of room for me to up my game and that’s the plan this year,” he said. “Focusing on being a solid hard-hitting defender back there and transitioning the ball and bringing to the team what I can bring.”
Green, who hails from Ohsweken, Ontario, spent the 2014 season on the Rochester Knighthawks’ practice roster. Green was drafted 40th overall as an 18-year-old by Buffalo in the 2012 NLL Entry Draft.
“Wenster has a tremendous level of experience for a young player and possesses the size and skill that we continue to look for,” Locker said. “We love the versatility that he brings, being able to play at both ends of the floor and feel he is ready to contribute – we are very happy to welcome him to the Stealth Organization.”
Green most recently played with newly acquired Stealth forward, Johnny Powless, winning the 2014 Minto Cup as a member of the Six Nations Arrows. He played in all six games, putting up three points and 16 penalty minutes.
“I had a chance to see Wenster play at the Minto Cup in Langley,” said Stealth Head Coach Dan Perreault. “He had a very good tournament. He’s a big, strong defensive player with a good skill set and appears to understand his role very well.”
Stealth training camp begins in December. Vancouver opens the regular season on the road against the Calgary Roughnecks on January 3. The Stealth’s home opener is the following week when they host the Toronto Rock on Saturday, January 10 at 10 p.m. ET at Langley Events Centre.
