The goal this season for the New Westminster Salmonbellies in the Western Lacrosse Association is to get themselves back to 2009.
Although the gravity of that overtime loss to Brampton in the Mann Cup still weighs heavy on the minds of players and fans alike, it's a demon that must be faced.
The results of the last three seasonss showed a slow but steady decline that had to be addressed.
In a number of ways, the Salmombellies should be better equipped to put last year's unexpected fifth-place finish out of their minds for good and start down a new road.
For starters, the senior A 'Bellies drafted well this year with playmaker Logan Schuss and versatile defender Jeff Cornwall sure to make an impact on their chosen ends of the floor this summer. Also incoming are righthand-ers Keegan Bal, Matt Zinn and Reagan Harding, who could find the WLA very much to his liking and playing style.
Not expected back this season due to work or time commitments are Tyler Crompton, Ian Hawksbee, Eric Lewthwaite and possibly Corbyn Tao. Jeff Zywicki was released earlier this season and picked up by Coquitlam, while Kevin Crowley has been penciled into the lineup for at least five games this season. Curtis Manning is also expected to play this season after taking 2012 off.
All in all, this gives incoming head coach Steve Goodwin a good starting point to right the ship that last year posted an 8-1 home record but was a league-worst away from Queen's Park.
"Who knows where it will all end up. Some changes we made and others are work contributed, but my goal is to be more athletic. We need to be," Goodwin said.
While Goodwin likes the young blood incoming this year, he also feels the league as a whole is tightening up.
"If you take a night off, I think you can be had," Goodwin added. "But Langley is the team to beat."
Neil Tyacke will most likely be the backup to veteran stalwart Tyler Richards. With Manning once again leading the transition up the floor, including Cornwall, rookie Reid Mydske and veterans Curtis Hodgson, Kyle Ross and Shayne Bennett, it will play right into the system Goodwin wants to play.
"That's what we're after," he said. "Goaltending, defence and tra-nisition, those will be our strong points."
But Goodwin also confesses that all the other teams in the league are similarly improving.
"Youth brings enthusiasm," he said, and with it a faster game.
That's why Goodwin believes fitness will be the key this season.
"I want to be very, very aggressive on the ball and in transition. I think that's what the fans will expect and I'm probably more extreme," Goodwin added.
Last season, New West boasted the second-best power play percentage but managed just 30 goals on 76 advantages. The team also possessed a strong shortman system, but only scored a league-low six shorthanded counters.
New Westminster kicks off its league opener on the road on Sunday, May 19, when the Salmonbellies face the Nanaimo Timbermen.
The following Thursday will be New West's home opener at Queen's Park Arena against the Victoria Shamrocks. Game time is scheduled for 7: 45 p.m.
