If you are a Vancouver Stealth fan, you may be wondering about the team’s salary for the upcoming NLL season. It is an interesting question, as it could be a big factor in your decision to watch a Stealth game at Langley Events Centre.
The Vancouver Stealth have signed several key players to contracts. These include goaltender Eric Penney, forward Chris Wardle and defenceman Corey Small.
1. Goaltender Eric Penney
The Vancouver Stealth Salary for goaltender Eric Penney has gone up over the past couple of seasons. His salary is a reflection of his rise as the team’s starter, which has largely been due to the work he’s put in since training camp with head coach Dan Richardson, goaltending coach Rob Maetche and the rest of the staff.
In the last couple of years, Penney’s goaltending has improved significantly and he’s becoming much more accustomed to executing a successful game plan in net. He’s gotten a lot of praise from his teammates and coaching staff and has felt a confidence boost as he’s started in more games than he’s been able to previously.
One of the things that has helped Penney’s game tremendously is the fact that he’s a very good passer, and he understands how to use his body to make the most of situations in net. This is something that has been a focus for him for years and it’s one of the reasons that he has become such an effective netminder.
Penney has also worked hard to develop his positioning in net, which is another thing that’s a huge part of his success. He’s able to read offence and make key saves in critical moments, especially late in the fourth quarter.
Despite being a relative newcomer to the NLL, Penney is making a strong impression on the Vancouver Stealth as they get set to begin their second season in the league. He’s currently averaging a career-best 9.81 goals against average and a.790% save percentage.
He’s also shown a lot of improvement in his communication with Bold and the rest of the coaching staff. This is a huge step for the young goaltender, who was relegated to a backup role last year after Tye Belanger and Brodie MacDonald struggled early in the season.
After a slow start, Penney has come on strong and has been able to win games for the Stealth. He’s made a great impression on the fans and has done a fantastic job of improving his game. His chemistry with Bold and the rest of the coaching crew has helped him to become more comfortable in the NLL, and he’s starting to put up some really outstanding numbers that have boosted his overall confidence in himself.
2. Forward Chris Wardle
Chris Wardle, who was selected by the Vancouver Stealth in the eighth round of the NLL draft, has a salary of $180,000 for the 2015 NLL season. He is one of the top scoring forwards in the league and has a solid record as a power play scorer.
He had a great summer with the Langley Thunder of the BCJALL last season, potting 46 goals and adding 48 assists for 94 points. He is a good team player and will be able to fit in with the Shamrocks well.
The lanky lefty also has experience in the Western Lacrosse Association, spending the past two summers with the Nanaimo Timbermen. In 34 games he scored 123 points, showing that he is ready to take the next step in his career.
This season he has already scored eight goals and five assists for the Stealth so far and is in a tie for second on the team with 13 total points. He has made a difference in all areas of the game, working hard and going to the dirty areas.
Wardle’s versatility means he can be used as a power play specialist, as a penalty killer and even a pinch hitter in some situations. He has also shown a willingness to work with the younger players on the team, learning to understand their needs and developing a rapport with them.
While he is not the biggest player on the field, he does a great job of putting himself in the best position to score goals and has an excellent work ethic. He is a grinder that plays hard for his teammates and has the skills to be a key part of the Shamrocks offensive attack.
A native of Victoria, he has been playing professionally for four years and is looking to build on his 65 points in 31 games from 2016 where he was in the top 5 goal scorers as well as the power play goal leader. He is also a great fit on the ice with his slick skating ability and quick feet.
3. Defenceman Corey Small
The Vancouver Stealth have made a number of high profile moves this season, but one of their most significant is the acquisition of defenceman Corey Small. The former Edmonton Rush captain was acquired in a trade with the Stealth for two first round draft picks.
The deal gives the Stealth a top flight left hander for a relatively low cost. Having sat out the entire 2014 NLL season due to a knee injury, Small has thrived in his comeback year. He has already tied his career high for goals and points this season, and has matched it with a career high in assists as well.
He is a key part of an offensively talented Stealth squad that has scored an NLL leading 42 goals so far this season. The Stealth are close to the playoffs, but need a win in their next two games and a Calgary loss in the Roughnecks lone remaining game to make it.
GM Doug Locker told THW that Small is a player who can “make a difference” for the Stealth. He added that Small has the “indefinable look of a guy who’s reaching his full potential.”
A native of Mississauga, Ontario, Small attended Holy Cross Catholic Secondary School in St. Catharines.
His career took off in the NLL with the Rush, where he had an impressive rookie campaign in 2009. He finished fourth on the team in goals with 28 while also adding 40 assists and 64 points.
When he was with the Rush, Small established himself as an offensive threat and was one of the top defencemen in the league. He left the team with a reputation for being an outstanding leader and was a key member of the club’s 2013 Champion Cup run.
The Stealth have been looking to upgrade their defence throughout the offseason and snagged a high quality player in Small. The former Winnipeg Jet is currently the third highest scoring NLL defenceman and has a solid track record of combining strong leadership with a high level of production in his 197 career NLL games.
4. Forward Matt Beers
Despite a disappointing year last season, Vancouver Stealth captain Matt Beers was still able to secure his highest salary in NLL history. The Maple Ridge, B.C., product was named to the league’s All-Rookie Team in 2010 and made an appearance in three NLL championship games while with the Washington Stealth.
He was also one of the most dependable defenders in the league, as evidenced by his 271 penalty minutes. But he’s not just a tough guy on the field; Beers is a great leader and has proven to be a team-first player.
A steady performer on both sides of the ball, Beers has also proven to be an important part of the offense, contributing with a high number of loose balls and caused turnovers. His 119 so far this season is well ahead of his previous career best of 95 set two seasons ago.
As for his off-field life, Beers is a fly fisherman and has his favorite spots in Southern California where the ocean comes alive with big waves. He prefers Mavericks, a spot where he often charges the waves to get to the beach, but also enjoys surfing and going to other surf spots across the state.
On a bike, Beers has competed in marathon mountain biking and is a three-time national time trial champion. He’s also competed in cyclocross and has worked with Specialized for both their bikes and clothing.
In a recent interview with Outside+, Beers said he was looking forward to taking the time to travel around North America and see how good it’s really like to ride gravel. He got his chance at Belgian Waffle Ride in San Diego and will go for a couple more gravel races this month.
He’ll compete in Gravel Locos in Hico, Texas on May 14, and then head over to Bentonville for the Rule of Three on May 21. He’ll race alongside the likes of Laurens ten Dam, Pete Stetina, Colin Strickland and Adam Roberge.
Beers has a long list of goals for the future, including defending his national marathon title on May 29 in Coquitlam, British Columbia, and making an attempt to win a major stage in a UCI World Tour race. But first, he has a few other things on his plate before those goals happen.
Among many other things, David A. Grantham is a contributing author to UmassExtension West Vancouver Blo. He is a renowned expert on real estate in BC.
Born in North Vancouver, Louisiana, Dr. Grantham grew up in Lower Lonsdale. He then went on to complete his business degree at the University British Columbia. As of this writing, Grantham has completed over 100 projects, including the development of a high rise building in Vancouver.
He is a husband, father, son, brother, and friend. He was a dedicated outdoorsman and enjoyed sports such as hunting, fishing, scuba diving, and snow skiing. His wife, Alison Grantham, and their two daughters survived him. He is survived by his wife Alison Martin Grantham and two daughters.