The Minnesota Swarm and Vancouver Stealth have announced a trade with the Swarm acquiring forward Johnny Powless from the Stealth in exchange for forward Logan Schuss.
“Due to Logan’s job situation in Vancouver, this season has been difficult for him to make team practices and games,” said Swarm owner and governor John Arlotta. “This move is beneficial for both parties, and we wish Logan the best of luck in Vancouver. With that said, we’re really excited to add Johnny to our team. He’s a young talent that will fit in extremely well with our offense, and we’re looking forward to having him join us for two critical games this weekend.”
Powless’ impressive resume includes three NLL Champion’s Cups, two Mann Cups, and a Minto Cup. The Mohawk Nation member also won the NLL’s Sportsmanship Award in 2012.
The 22-year-old was recently named one of five finalists for the prestigious Lou Marsh Award honoring Canada’s top athlete in 2014. Over the course of the year, Powless won the NLL Champion’s Cup with the Rochester Knighthawks, the Mann Cup with the Six Nations Chiefs and the Minto Cup with the Six Nations Arrows, where he served as team captain.
In 11 games with the Stealth this season, Powless has recorded 39 points (7g, 32a) and 22 loose balls. Prior to joining the Stealth in 2015, Powless spent three seasons with the Rochester Knighthawks where he won three-straight Champion’s Cups (2012-14). Over his career with Rochester, the 5-foot-11, 175-pound, lefty forward totaled 144 points (78g, 66a) and 130 loose balls in 50 games.
During his last season with Rochester in 2014, Powless recorded career-highs in points (53), goals (30) and loose balls (50). Powless joined the NLL as an 18-year-old in 2011 when he was selected in the first round (fifth overall) by the Knighthawks. As a rookie in 2012, Powless was named to the NLL All-Star team, the All-Rookie team and won the NLL Sportsmanship Award. Powless collected MVP honors during the Minto Cup this past summer after leading all players with 29 points (8g, 21a) in six games.
Schuss, 24, has posted 33 points (14g, 19a) and 44 loose balls in nine games thus far in 2015. The Ohio State University product was named the 2014 NLL Rookie of the Year after recording 73 points (36g, 37a) in 18 games last season. Minnesota selected the 6-foot, 210-pound, lefty forward with the No. 1 overall selection in the 2013 NLL Draft.
“I am very thankful to be joining the Vancouver Stealth organization and to start this new lacrosse journey in my home province,” said Schuss. “I am excited to join many familiar faces in the locker room and compete with these guys Friday in Edmonton. I would like to thank the entire Minnesota Swarm franchise, support staff, coaches, fans, and especially teammates who have become great friends of mine.”
En route to the 2014 NLL Rookie of the Year award, Schuss led all rookies in goals (36), assists (37), points (73) and power play goals, and finished fourth in loose balls (77) last season. The 36 goals by Schuss were tied for the sixth-most in the NLL and his 73 points ranked second on the Swarm and 16th in the league overall. The Ladner, B.C. native recorded at least one point in all 18 games played and four or more points in 10 contests.
“We are ecstatic to bring Logan home to Vancouver,” Locker said. “The opportunity to add a player of his caliber brings an additional goal scorer to a lineup that we already like, and the fact that we can bring a prominent BC player home to represent his local team makes it all the more special. Logan had similar travel-related issues playing in Minnesota, so this was a timely trade to get the reigning NLL Rookie of the Year lefty forward with a long playing career in front of him. We are looking forward to seeing him in his Stealth debut on April 3 in Edmonton and his first home game as a member of the Stealth on April 4.”
Stealth president and general manager Doug Locker discussed the emotional decision to trade Powless.
“The decision to trade Johnny after such a short time in Vancouver was a difficult one,” he said. “We have immense respect for him both as a player and a person, but the reality was the travel demands were becoming increasingly difficult for him. The current situation was not working and the Schuss opportunity presented itself just prior to the league trade deadline. It was an honor to have Johnny and we wish him great success with a fine organization that shares our respect for him.”
The trade marks the second deal for the Swarm in less than 24 hours after the team traded captain Andrew Suitor to the New England Black Wolves in exchange for their captain Joel White and a second-round selection in the 2017 NLL Draft. The 2015 NLL trade deadline ends today at 3 p.m. ET.
