Stealth Makes Coaching Change, Beats Rush
from press releases
The San Jose Stealth have announced a change on the bench for
the remainder of the 2009 National Lacrosse League season. Chris
Hall, who has served as the offensive coordinator for the club this
season, will take over as the team's Head Coach. Jeff Dowling will
swap positions with Hall, and stay with the team as the offensive
coordinator.
The change comes after a slow start for the Stealth, who are 3-7
this season and in the midst of a three-game losing streak. Most
recently, the Stealth suffered a 14-11 loss at home to West
Division rival Colorado Mammoth on March 14.
Hall is no stranger to being a Head Coach in the NLL; he led the
Calgary Roughnecks to a Champion's Cup in 2004. He spent six
seasons with the Roughnecks (2001-2007) and never experienced a
losing season in that span.
He first delved into coaching with the Victoria Shamrocks, the
most recognized box lacrosse team in Western Canada. After
assisting the Shamrocks as a coach, he became the Head Coach in
1983 and led Victoria to a Mann Cup title while being named Rookie
Coach of the Year. He was the Head Coach for seven seasons, and won
the Western Lacrosse Association's Coach of the Year honor in
1986.
In the field lacrosse game, Hall served as the Head Coach and
General Manager for the Canada National team from 1988 through
1994. He was also the Head Coach and General Manager of the
Victoria Seasprays for a decade (1980-1990).
"We are very happy that Chris has accepted this new role," said
Stealth President and General Manager Johnny Mouradian. "We have
underachieved so far this season and look forward to turning around
the last part of the season and making a push for the
playoffs."
Hall takes the reigns just two days after the NLL Trade Deadline,
when the Stealth made a number of roster moves. Hall will have a
few new faces on defense for the final six games. Defenseman
Shaydon Santos came out of retirement to join his former club, and
in his 12th NLL season, will provide leadership out of the back
door. Andrew Biers was acquired in a trade with the Edmonton Rush
and Steve Holmes was activated from the Physically Unable to
Perform list.
The Stealth took the floor Saturday to host the Edmonton Rush at
HP Pavilion and won, 11-10.
Colin Doyle scored the game-winning goal in the final minute of
regulation, and Matt Roik stopped every Edmonton shot in the fourth
quarter to give the Stealth a win that gets them back into the
playoff race.
It was a critical game for both clubs, who each entered the
contest with a 3-7 record and on the outside looking in of the West
Division playoffs.
With the score tied 5-5 in the second quarter, Edmonton got
consecutive goals from Callum Crawford, Mike Hominuck and Ryan
Benesch to take an 8-5 lead into halftime. In the third quarter,
Hominuck and Dan Teat scored for Edmonton, who took a 10-8 lead
into the fourth quarter.
A Cam Sedgwick goal four minutes into the fourth quarter pulled
San Jose to within one at 10-9. Midway through the quarter, Paul
Rabil scored his second goal of the game to tie the score at 10-10.
Rabil wasn't finished though. With the scored tied and in the final
minute of regulation, Rabil threw a beautiful behind the back pass
to Colin Doyle who shot it past Brandon Atherton to give San Jose
an 11-10 lead, its first lead of the game since early in the first
quarter. Stealth goaltender Matt Roik made several key saves down
the stretch, and San Jose picked up an important win, improving to
4-7. Following Sunday's game between Colorado and Minnesota, the
Stealth will be only one game behind the team in the fourth and
final playoff spot in the West Division.
Jeff Zywicki led all scorers with three goals. It was a game highlighted by defense and goaltending, and very few penalties. Roik made 38 saves for San Jose, including all eight shots faced in the fourth quarter. Atherton was equally up to the task in the Edmonton net, stopping 38 out of 49 shots faced.
