Family, and winning a Mann Cup, were the main drawing cards for Kevin Crowley when his hometown New Westminster Salmonbellies came calling.
After three summers based in Philadelphia, the siren call of home has brought Crowley back for the 2017 Western Lacrosse
Association season.
“I want to win a Mann Cup in a ‘Bellies jersey,” Crowley told the Record. “We’ve got a great group of players, many of whom grew up in New West. It’s a special thing to get to wear the Salmonbellie crest, and nobody knows it better than someone who was born there.”
The six-foot-four righthander is the biggest catch so far in a busy offseason for the ’Bellies and general manager/president Dan Richardson.
Earlier acquisitions of defensive linchpin Brett Mydske and forward Joel McCready added talent and depth to both sides of the floor. Getting Crowley back in fish colours demonstrates to observers in the boxla world that New West is seriously pushing the envelope.
While Crowley reached out to the team a few months ago, the details were ironed out over the past few weeks, Richardson said.
“I knew (Crowley and Mydske) were good buddies, but what got us moving was Kevin had let it be known through different sources that he was interested in coming back,” said the GM. “He was really good to deal with and we are excited to have him back in a ’Bellies uniform.”
The first overall draft pick in the 2010 WLA draft by Burnaby, Crowley didn’t launch his senior A career until 2011, after New West made a late-season deal to acquire his rights. Over three seasons and 31 games, he tallied 56 goals and 63 assists.
Prior to that, he was a dominating force at the junior A level in New West, racking up 112 goals and 154 assists over 103 games over five seasons. In a four-year career at Stony Brook University, Crowley established school scoring records that still stand. He was also the first choice overall in both the Major League Lacrosse, a pro-field circuit based in the eastern U.S., and the National Lacrosse League.
His passion for the sport also saw him launch Fusion Lacrosse, a program to develop lacrosse players which runs mainly on the U.S. eastern seaboard out of Philadelphia, but sees him and a stable of talented coaches run camps in select cities. Crowley's camps have been popular in his hometown, and the plans are to expand and offer more camps this summer while he stays in B.C.
The past few summers he’s began each year with a new team, playing in Chesapeake in 2015 and last year for the Charlotte Hounds. On the international stage, Crowley was also instrumental in Team Canada’s world field lacrosse championship gold medal win in 2014, scoring five goals in the team’s 8-5 final win over the U.S.
“Having the ability to bring in a big body righty offensive player of Kevin’s ability is a big signing for our organization,” said Richardson. “The fact he’s a hometown kid who played all his minor, junior and now senior again is just a bonus.”
This season with the NLL’s New England Black Wolves, the 28-year-old has racked up 16 goals and 13 assists despite the club’s 2-4 start.
By acquiring all-star defender Mydske from Langley three weeks ago, Richardson gained a valuable promoter when it came to securing Crowley’s commitment, joining family and friends in nudging the sniper home.
“They had a major part. I joked with (Mydske that) if he got traded back to the ‘Bellies I would try to play,” said Crowley. “Fortunately our company I run in Philadelphia has a front-loaded summer schedule allowing me to suit up for the Fish in July and August, with the ultimate goal of playing in September for the Mann Cup.”
He was also eager to spend more time with family, citing that opportunity as a big reason for relocating to the Royal City for the summer months.
“To be honest, being close to my family again. We’ve suffered some losses that were tough over the past few years but we also celebrated the birth of my nephew Luke and this gives me the opportunity to be closer to him and the rest of my family,” he noted.
Although New West will look scoop up a possible solid impact depth player with the 10th selection in tonight's (Thursday - past the Record's deadline) WLA draft of graduating juniors, the landscape around the league has had a seismic shift since the start of last season. While perennial challenger Victoria will continue to be a major player, and is expected to continue drawing from its resources to rent players from Ontario, the emergence of Maple Ridge, who went on to win the 2016 WLA playoffs, and Burnaby, who swung a blockbuster on the weekend to acquire NLL star Mark Matthews and defender Nic Bilic, should enhance a strong four-team battle for first place.
Langley, Coquitlam and Nanaimo may be not in the same category, but have shown last year they are capable of spoiling anyone's plans in any given weekend.
But for now, Richardson has reason to bask a little in the deals he has made to put the 'Bellies in the Mann Cup conversation. The earlier acquisitions of Mydske, McCready and Nathan Stewart address needs at both ends of the floor, as the club looks to improve on last season's 12-4-2 record. Getting an all-star calibre player like Crowley without losing any players is a major coup, but the GM hinted at more moves in the coming weeks.
“We’re working hard on some things and could have an announcement or two soon,” said Richardson.
The Salmonbellies launch the 2017 season on May 25 when Nanaimo visits Queen’s Park Arena.
