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'Bellies pick McDade to lead the way in 2018

Rory McDade is no stranger to Queen’s Park Arena. The one-time junior A Salmonbellies star is now the New West senior A squad’s head coach, taking over a team that came two-wins shy of a Mann Cup championship this past summer.
Rory McDade
The New Westminster Salmonbellies announced on Tuesday that they have hired one-time junior 'Bellies star Rory McDade. The 36-year-old former Burnaby Lakers head coach is replacing Steve Goodwin, who announced after the Mann Cup series that he was retiring from coaching.

Rory McDade is no stranger to Queen’s Park Arena.

The one-time junior A Salmonbellies star is now the New West senior A squad’s head coach, taking over a team that came two-wins shy of a Mann Cup championship this past summer.

Salmonbellies’ president and general manager Dan Richardson said the hunt to replace Steve Goodwin, who retired from coaching following the six-game championship series with Peterborough, led straight to McDade.

“We talked to some other guys and did our due diligence, but (McDade) made it known early he wanted the job,” said Richardson.

“After I took some time to regroup (after the Mann Cup) I reached out to him and we had some very productive discussions, on the team, (and) what we need to do to get back to the Mann Cup.”

McDade last coached in the Western Lacrosse League in 2016, when the Burnaby Lakers replaced him with Ontario transplant Jim Milligan. The Lakers didn't stick with Milligan long, firing the Vancouver Stealth assistant coach in July, with three games remaining in the regular season.

McDade, a New West native, spent four seasons behind the Lakers bench, posting a 40-31-1 record.

“I was surprised when Burnaby let him go,” said Richardson. “He’s always been well-prepared and had his teams compete hard.

“I like his compete level. He’s a compassionate coach and is active behind the bench.”

McDade has also served as an assistant coach in the National Lacrosse League, with Minnesota in 2015.

Richardson said the new coach has already secured an accomplished staff of assistants: Ian Paterson, Darren McEwen and Curtis Palidwor.

McEwen and Palidwor are well-known in New West circles, having either grown up in the ’Bellies system (the latter) or spent a good portion of his career playing with the senior squad (the former). McEwen served as one of the New West's captains during his four-year stint in the Royal City, while Palidwor was the 1994 Minto Cup MVP during the junior 'Bellies' Cinderella season.

Paterson, meanwhile, was a regular thorn in the side of the 'Bellies during his playing days with the Lakers.

“To me, (the coaches) tick all the boxes. When (Goodwin’s assistant coaches Russ Heard and Kevin Stewardson) made it clear they were looking to take some time off, we set our sights on a new direction.

“(McDade) is a young guy (36) who can relate to these young players, he’s played in the B.C. junior league, the WLA and the NLL.”

Filling the new position relatively early after the end of last season was important to send a signal to returning players and those who Richardson hopes to recruit.

“I wanted to send a message to our players, some who may be thinking over whether they will return. We have a real good (coaching) staff in Rory and his team. It shows we know what direction we’re going in, to play a fast transition, solid defensive game, and we are aiming to get back to the Mann Cup (in 2018).”

McDade will also be able to take part and contribute in the next few weeks planning, as the league AGM approaches and the team prepares its draft list for the 2018 Junior Draft. New West doesn’t own a pick in the opening first two rounds currently, and Richardson said he is skeptical on the depth of talent available.

In his view, Richardson sees McDade as a well-groomed successor for Goodwin and having the experience and motivation to keep the ball rolling.

“I think he wants to prove Burnaby wrong and show them they made a mistake,” added Richardson. “I think he’ll fit in nicely.”