There has been a major shakeup within the Coquitlam senior Adanacs' organization: four players defected to other teams in the 11th hour of the trade deadline - and general manager Randy Delmonico was fired in the aftermath.
While there has been no confirmation that Sunday's events are linked to Delmonico's termination, senior Adanacs' president Ed Ponsart was able to reveal that his former GM was indeed fired.
"Yes, he was," Ponsart told The Tri-City News Wednesday. "That's a private matter with the club. I'll make no comment on that."
It was Adanacs' goalie and reigning Western Lacrosse Association MVP Nick Rose who orchestrated the players' exit, according to Coquitlam head coach Bob Salt. It's his assertion that Rose wanted to take teammates Dane Dobbie and Damon Edwards with him to the more triumphant Langley team.
Salt said it's been widely rumoured that the trio, who hail from Ontario, would not be returning to the WLA next season. And playing for the Langley Thunder - who are currently No. 2 in the standings - would offer their greatest chance at winning a Mann Cup.
Disheartened by the sudden departure of these players, Salt said his hands were tied.
"When you deal with these nowaday athletes, they seem to have an opinion of where different players should go," he said.
Adding insult to injury, a condition of the trade is the Adanacs continue to pay Rose, Dobbie and Edwards' rent at "Ontario House" in Coquitlam, where the team's eastern players reside. Traditionally, WLA teams will take care of flights and accommodation for players they acquire from back east.
Still, Salt has no ill words for Dobbie, who he says played his heart out with the team, even through injury.
"[Dane] is a terrific lacrosse player who deserves a shot with Langley because his career is coming to an end," said Salt.
When reached by phone Thursday afternoon, Rose was hesitant to talk about the Adanacs' roster restructuring.
"I mean, I'm not going to get too much into it," said Rose. "All I can worry about is my new team - Langley."
Rose was able to confirm one thing: the guys that got traded aren't coming back to B.C. next summer. He also disputed Salt's claim that he coerced the other players into leaving the Adanacs.
"I think it's ridiculous that [Bob Salt] thinks I brainwashed four grown men into being traded," said Rose.
When asked why he chose Langley, Rose responded, "Honestly, I don't even know why."
He then added, "Two of his better friends in this world" - all teammates from the National Lacrosse League's Toronto Rock - were already playing for the Thunder.
Dealt to the Adanacs in the Langley trade were Brandon Goodwin, Matt MacGrotty and the Thunder's third round draft pick in 2015. There is also a conditional pick attached to that deal: if Dobbie plays more than four games for the Thunder in 2014, the Adanacs will receive Langley's first round pick in 2015.
When asked about Dobbie's uncertain future - he will move to Calgary in the winter to play for the Roughnecks of the NLL - Salt said there was no choice but to trade him to Langley.
Other transactions on Sunday saw the Adanacs trade defender Jon Harnett to Victoria for a second round pick in 2014, and send Jimmy Delaney to Nanaimo in exchange for Mike Berekoff and Ryan Keith.
"Jonny [Harnett] just wasn't happy," said Salt. "[Trading him] was my decision. He's a young man. He was sitting on the sidelines; it drove me nuts. I thought he should go down and play senior 'B' [lacrosse]."
Meanwhile, incoming Adanacs' GM Kevin Hill brings a wealth of lacrosse experience to the team. Starting in 2002, he played with the West Coast Senior Lacrosse Association's North Shore Indians before joining the senior Adanacs two years later.
Hill was voted top goaltender in WCSLA in 2010 and 2011. Currently, he's an assistant coach for Junior Adanacs and a Western scout for NLL's Rochester Knighthawks.
Prior to his GM appointment on Monday, he was named the Adanacs' assistant GM in March.
"I wasn't expecting [the GM job] so quickly," said Hill. "Yes, definitely, it's a little nerve wracking being tossed in right away."
When asked why Hill was a good fit, Ponsart said his lacrosse connections back east will help the Adanacs going into a draft situation.
"[Kevin's] got an incredible lacrosse mind," said Ponsart. "He has a good manner in dealing with people. He's not confrontational, that's important in our sport."
Hill is confident acquiring "gritty players" Goodwin and MacGrotty from Langley was the right choice.
"We have a bit more sandpaper in our dressing room," said Hill. "They have added size to our club. They will go into the corners and battle every shift."
Saturday night will be show time for the refocused Adanacs squad - who are tied for fifth overall in the WLA - when they play the Victoria Shamrocks and try to gain a foothold in the run for the playoffs.
"Our first goal is to make the playoffs, and then we will take it from there," said Hill. "One step at a time."
