The new-look Coquitlam Adanacs insist they'll be bigger and meaner on the back end this Western Lacrosse Association season, and more spry and explosive on the front end - the latter minus their leading scorer last year, Cory Conway.
Rookie general manager Randy Delmonico felt Conway - second in WLA scoring last campaign with 82 points in 17 games - was no longer a good fit on the A's and traded him to the Nanaimo Timbermen, with whom the Victoria-born player refused to report and is currently on Coquitlam's holdout list. But with the quick-stick likes of Dane Dobbie, Daryl Veltman and Kevin Olson due to return and five freshly drafted hotshots expected to make Coquitlam's roster, Delmonico is certain his squad has improved greatly from last season when it finished last among seven teams with a bleak 7-11 record.
The A's begin regular-season play Sunday when they visit the Maple Ridge Burrards, before hosting the New Westminster Salmonbellies in their home opener next Saturday (May 26, 7 p.m. at Poirier Sports Complex).
One of the reasons for Delmonico's optimism is the committed attitude his players brought into a rigorous training camp, where they showed up ready and raring to go, some despite having come fresh of playing in the National Lacrosse League.
"I've looked at the line-ups and I think the league is going to be very close this year," Delmonico said. "Everybody's got a pretty good-looking line-up, so it's going to be the little stuff that's going to make the difference and fitness certainly is one of those. In the third period when the other team starts pulling a piano around behind them, if you still got the horses that could make the difference in the outcome."
Six-foot-two Travis Cornwall - a former Coquitlam Jr. Adanacs who was the Sr. A's first overall pick in February's WLA draft - is being counted on to be one of those thoroughbreds, along with fellow newbies Travis Irving, Ryan Johnson, Jaxson Lee and Daniel McQuade.
"The pleasant surprise from the draft, and now in training camp, is that how many of them showed up in great physical shape, and the attitude they came in with," said A's new president Ed Ponsart. "I don't think they walked in thinking I'm a first- or second-round draft pick and I'm a walk to make this team because we're doing a bit of rebuilding. Their attitude is they want to learn, they want to get better and they really work hard in practice."
Adanacs' returning bench boss Bob Salt began his coaching career in the late 1970s and is a six-time winner of WLA coach of the year. He was most impressed with the skill and tenacity his first-year players exuded during the A's two pre-season games -- a 10-7 win over the defending playoff champions, the Langley Thunder, and an 11-9 triumph over the Burnaby Lakers.
"It's fabulous," Salt said of mentoring the young players."I don't think I've had this many changes and young kids coming in right out of the draft. Let's hope they can maintain it as the season progresses."
Hulking captain Bruce Murray is set to again anchor the A's defence, and he'll have plenty of power beside him in the form of six-foot-two Brad Richardson, six-foot-three Mike Kilby and the six-foot-four Irving, among others.
Not only will they give starting goalie Nick Rose plenty of space to see shots, they will also be there to protect their smaller, gifted offensive teammates like Dobbie.
"Last year we got beat up because we had nobody to look after Dobbie and those [smaller] guys," Delmonico said. "We said that's not going to happen again this year."
Delmonico was pleased to report he's already looking up to some players -- literally.
"The thing I noticed about our defence is when I talk to these guys, I have to look up," he said. "The defensive end is way bigger than it was last year, I mean waaaay bigger. I don't think there's anybody on our d-end under six feet."
