The San Jose Stealth traded Wednesday for three-time National
Lacrosse League MVP Colin Doyle as the fourth-year NLL squad
prepped for the 2007 season opener at 7:30pm Jan. 5 at HP Pavilion
against the Rochester Knighthawks.
By Bob Burch Staff Writer
San Jose – The San Jose Stealth traded Wednesday for three-time National Lacrosse League MVP Colin Doyle as the fourth-year NLL squad prepped for the 2007 season opener at 7:30pm Jan. 5 at HP Pavilion against the Rochester Knighthawks.
Johnny Mouradian, the Stealth GM, sent 2006 first overall Entry Draft selection Ryan Benesch, defensemen Kevin Fines and Chad Thompson along with first-round draft picks in 2008 and 2009 to the Toronto Rock. San Jose also obtained a first-round 2007 Entry Draft pick and face-off man Darren Halls from Toronto.
In its fourth season in the NLL, San Jose will feature just nine returning players after completing Wednesday’s blockbuster.
Doyle, the principal player in the trade, collected 43 points and 53 assists for 96 points in 16 games in 2006. The 29-year-old forward has won five NLL Championships with the Rock and was either first or second in scoring for that squad every year since the team’s inception in 1998.
Doyle was the 2005 league MVP, repeating the honor received in 1999 and 2002. His NLL career includes 297 goals and 388 assists, making him sixth all-time in scoring and fifth all-time in assists in the league.
Halls played 12 games for the Arizona Sting last season before a trade sent the face-off specialist to the Rock. He has scored two goals along with four assists in 19 career games.
San Jose had the first two selections in this year’s Entry Draft, the first time in league history one organization possessed both spots. While Benesch has moved on to Toronto, second pick Kyle Sorensen is in camp for the Stealth and is expected to make an immediate impact.
Fines was sixth in scoring for the Stealth in 2006, earning 15 goals and 12 assists. Thompson, who appeared in nine games for San Jose and produced four goals and five assists, is a former first-round pick, ninth overall.
Sophomore sensations Jeff Zywicki and Luke Wiles are both expended to continue to contribute to the Stealth playoff push this season in the West Division. Zywicki led the club with 27 goals. Wiles posted 13 goals in just nine games. Both were named to the NLL All-Rookie Team.
The 16-game schedule features the road opener Friday Jan. 12 at Calgary, then a home date Jan. 13 against Arizona.
