Stealth Sign Mccready, Wardle & Penney Plus Seven Draft Picks

September 27, 2014

Vancouver agrees to terms with newly-acquired players & all ’14 picks

The Vancouver Stealth have announced that the team has signed newly-acquired transition player Joel McCready to a three-year contract, goaltender Eric Penney and second-year forward Chris Wardle to one-year contracts. The Stealth also signed their entire 2014 NLL Draft class (Conrad Chapman, Brandon Clelland, Dan Keane, Jakob Doucet, Matt Delmonico, DJ Saari and Steve Ferdinandi) to one-year deals, all pending league approval.

The Stealth traded for Joel McCready in a blockbuster deal, acquiring the 26-year-old along with Johnny Powless from the Rochester Knighthawks. In addition, Vancouver received Rochester’s 2014 first round pick (9th overall) as well as their third round pick (23rd overall – from Colorado). In exchange, the Stealth traded their 2014 first round pick (2nd overall) as well as their second round pick (11th overall) and first round picks in 2015 and 2017.

McCready, who resides in Coquitlam, has won back-to-back NLL Champion’s Cups with Rochester in 2013 and 2014, scoring nine points in three games in the 2014 playoff run.

“My family and I were just really excited to hear the news,” he said. “I had some great times in Rochester, but I’m really pumped to be with the Stealth and I couldn’t be happier.”

The Stealth also acquired Eric Penney from the Buffalo Bandits on draft day. Penney was drafted by the Bandits in the fifth round in the 2013 NLL Entry Draft.

Wardle enters his second year with the team, after being drafted 54th overall in the 2013 NLL Draft.

Vancouver’s 2014 draft picks include Conrad Chapman, selected 12th overall. Third round selections, Brandon Clelland, Dan Keane and Jakob Doucet. Matt Delmonico, DJ Saari and Steve Ferdinandi rounded out the Stealth draft picks.

Stealth training camp begins in December. Vancouver opens the 2015 NLL 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.