Published: Sunday, January 10, 2010
Scores, fights and a win: Fans warm up to new game in town
EVERETT — The game is fast, spirited, emotional and exciting.
And, yes, a bit puzzling at times.
But if some fans at Comcast Arena were still trying to figure out the rules, strategies and nuances of the National Lacrosse League on Saturday night, they at least understood the outcome — a lopsided 17-8 victory by the Washington Stealth in the team's debut game in its new hometown.
As opening-night acts go, this was a dandy.
And the crowd seemed to agree. They cheered players they barely knew and a game many are still learning, and the final score sent everyone home happy.
No question, the Stealth — which relocated to Everett from San Jose, Calif., last summer — has some NLL studs. Forward Jeff Zywicki, a diminutive 5 feet, 9 inches, is a goal-scoring whiz. He totaled five against the Mammoth to go with three assists.
Transition player Paul Rabil, one of the few Americans on the roster and a terrific all-around athlete, had two highlight-reel goals and three assists.
And goalie Tyler Richards was solid in the net. He gave up eight goals, which might seem like a bunch, but lacrosse scores are not quite like hockey scores. Richards repeatedly turned away Colorado scoring chances, including a handful of Mammoth breakaways, and finished with 45 saves.
And just so you know, fans of hockey fights will feel right at home at an NLL game. There were five fights in this game, with players beating a regular path to the penalty box.
These combatants, unlike hockey players, aren't trying to keep their balance while wearing skates on slippery ice. They square off, drop the gloves, ditch the helmets and the punches fly.
Washington's Matt Beers, a burly defenseman with a wicked right and a stout jaw, seems to be the team's No. 1 enforcer. He had two haymaker-tossing bouts, the second drawing a game misconduct penalty in the late minutes.
And if Colorado was getting licked on the scoreboard, its players did a good job of dishing out the rough stuff. By the game's end, the Mammoth had nearly as many players in the penalty box as on the team's bench.
Meanwhile, the Stealth's game-night staff kept things rocking even during timeouts. This is a full-sensory experience, with blaring rock music, a perky dance team — leggy lasses known as the Bombshells — and dual public-address announcers.
Tom Lafferty, a familiar voice at Snohomish County sporting events, handled the traditional announcing duties. And Teddy Jenner, who had a roving mike, kept up continuous fan-exhorting commentary, including playful jabs at the refs.
To be honest, there were some curious moments, too. Before the game, Jenner urged fans to cheer for a division championship banner won by the Stealth, except that was two years ago and the team was in San Jose, Calif., at the time.
Still, being good fans, the Everett folks cheered anyway.
Afterward, in a classy gesture to their new fans, the Stealth players circled the arena, tapping their sticks against the glass in a salute.
If there was any disappointment, it was maybe that there were so many empty seats at the Comcast Arena. The crowd was 4,737, or roughly one empty seat for every patron.
Last year in San Jose, the Stealth averaged around 4,000 spectators a game, and the league average was approximately 10,000, so obviously, the Stealth still have work to do to sell this product.
But a winning team sure should help.
And, yes, a bit puzzling at times.
But if some fans at Comcast Arena were still trying to figure out the rules, strategies and nuances of the National Lacrosse League on Saturday night, they at least understood the outcome — a lopsided 17-8 victory by the Washington Stealth in the team's debut game in its new hometown.
As opening-night acts go, this was a dandy.
And the crowd seemed to agree. They cheered players they barely knew and a game many are still learning, and the final score sent everyone home happy.
No question, the Stealth — which relocated to Everett from San Jose, Calif., last summer — has some NLL studs. Forward Jeff Zywicki, a diminutive 5 feet, 9 inches, is a goal-scoring whiz. He totaled five against the Mammoth to go with three assists.
Transition player Paul Rabil, one of the few Americans on the roster and a terrific all-around athlete, had two highlight-reel goals and three assists.
And goalie Tyler Richards was solid in the net. He gave up eight goals, which might seem like a bunch, but lacrosse scores are not quite like hockey scores. Richards repeatedly turned away Colorado scoring chances, including a handful of Mammoth breakaways, and finished with 45 saves.
And just so you know, fans of hockey fights will feel right at home at an NLL game. There were five fights in this game, with players beating a regular path to the penalty box.
These combatants, unlike hockey players, aren't trying to keep their balance while wearing skates on slippery ice. They square off, drop the gloves, ditch the helmets and the punches fly.
Washington's Matt Beers, a burly defenseman with a wicked right and a stout jaw, seems to be the team's No. 1 enforcer. He had two haymaker-tossing bouts, the second drawing a game misconduct penalty in the late minutes.
And if Colorado was getting licked on the scoreboard, its players did a good job of dishing out the rough stuff. By the game's end, the Mammoth had nearly as many players in the penalty box as on the team's bench.
Meanwhile, the Stealth's game-night staff kept things rocking even during timeouts. This is a full-sensory experience, with blaring rock music, a perky dance team — leggy lasses known as the Bombshells — and dual public-address announcers.
Tom Lafferty, a familiar voice at Snohomish County sporting events, handled the traditional announcing duties. And Teddy Jenner, who had a roving mike, kept up continuous fan-exhorting commentary, including playful jabs at the refs.
To be honest, there were some curious moments, too. Before the game, Jenner urged fans to cheer for a division championship banner won by the Stealth, except that was two years ago and the team was in San Jose, Calif., at the time.
Still, being good fans, the Everett folks cheered anyway.
Afterward, in a classy gesture to their new fans, the Stealth players circled the arena, tapping their sticks against the glass in a salute.
If there was any disappointment, it was maybe that there were so many empty seats at the Comcast Arena. The crowd was 4,737, or roughly one empty seat for every patron.
Last year in San Jose, the Stealth averaged around 4,000 spectators a game, and the league average was approximately 10,000, so obviously, the Stealth still have work to do to sell this product.
But a winning team sure should help.
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