Compiled and Written by Ross McLoughlin
2019-2020 Record: 6-6. 3rd place West Division
The 2019-2020 season could be summed up by saying the Seals suffered from Injuries to Austin Staats (knee), Casey Jackson (concussion) Frank Scigliano (foot). Without those 3 players the Seals suffered 4 losses to start the season. Once they came back, they had 6 wins and 2 losses, to finish the season with a 6-6 record. With momentum on the Seals side they were poised to go into the final 6 games at full strength and gelling as a team. But as we know Covid shutdowns had different plans.
The 2020 Draft was very strong but the 20-21 season was canceled. And that leads us to the 21-22 season.
Offense
Returning faces on Offense
RF Wes Berg, Jeremy Noble,
LF Austin Staats, Casey Jackson
Key Free Agent Signings– LF Dane Dobbie, RF Jay Carlson
Offensive Draft Picks– LF Mac O’Keefe(2020), RF Tre Leclaire(2020), RF Jacob Dunbart (2021), RF Garrett Winter (2021)
Defense
Returning faces on Defense/Transition
Cam Holding, Graydon Bradley, Eli Gobrecht, Tor Reinholdt, Matthew Sykes, Mark Glicini, Oliver Bolisteri, Brandon Clelland, Brodie Merrill, Drew Belgrave
New Faces on Defense– Tyson Bomberry, Alex Woodall, Devyn Mayea, Joel Tinney
Defensive Draft picks– Dox Aitken (2020) Patrick Shoemay (2021), Jacob Dumbar (2021)
Goalies Returning faces
Frank Scigliano
Goalies Free agent Signing
Moose Whinery, Brody Harris
Goalies Draft Picks
Chris Origlieri
Player Losses since the last time the Seals were on the floor
Jules Henningberg, Kyle Buchanan, Garrett Mcintosh, Johnny Pearson, Nick Damude, Connor Kearnan, Connor Fields. Zach Greer (has not signed at the time of this writing) 2021-22 Season Outlook.
Outlook
The Seals are looking to Build Momentum off the biggest Free Agent Signing of the Offseason, of signing Dane Dobbie and a great Draft 2021 draft. Head Coach Patrick Merrill has his work cutout for him. It’s not a bad thing, having such a strong Group of players to build a team out of.
Counting on a strong returning Transition/defense and a fired up more balanced Offense. The weak link could be in the goalie area, but if Frank Scigliano is on the top of his game he should be more than capable. Look for breakout years from a healthy Austin Staats, and 2 rookie of the year Candidates in Mac O’Keefe and Tre Leclaire. And former NLL MVP Dane Dobbie should keep all the moving parts focused on the WINNING.
Gary Groob has been involved with Lacrosse for the majority of his life, whether playing, coaching, or covering the sport for the media.
An avid fan, with a real drive about helping to “grow the game”, Gary became part of podcasts about the game in 2010. Through the podcasts, Mr. Groob was given an opportunity to write about lacrosse, and the rest as they say, is history.
Through many miles (flying and driving) Gary has made inroads with the National Lacrosse League, Major Series Lacrosse League, the Ontario Lacrosse Association, as well as the Arena Lacrosse League, covering the leagues, their teams, and players, working for, and in concert with all of them.
In the year 2020, Mr. Groob was made the media person for the Arena Lacrosse League, voted onto the board of directors of the Brampton Excelsiors Lacrosse Club, as well as being made administrator of the Lacrosse page “Global Lacrosse” with a membership of 9000 members in over 90 Countries. Gary was also made an administrator of Lacrosse History Past Present and Future in 2022.
Mr. Groob co-hosts a weekly Lacrosse show on Spanglish Sports World, and ZingoTV channel 250, as well as writes a weekly lacrosse column for La Portada Canada News (both in print, and online).
Gary also hosts a Lacrosse talk show and podcast for The Edge of Philly Sports Network, seen live Sunday nights at 9pm (ET), and archived on the Edge of Philly YouTube page, as well as Spotify.
Mr. Groob’s other sports interests include Hockey, Football, Boxing, Wrestling, and Baseball, competing competitively in Boxing and Wrestling for many years.
Latest Articles
Rochester completes comeback over CalgaryLacrosse, NLL
Philadelphia Wings Flying In The Right DirectionLacrosse, NLL
Round 1 In The Battle Of PA Goes To The FlyersFlyers
Jake Withers runs wild over the Saskatchewan RushLacrosse, NLL
Going The Distance, Coming Up ShortSixers
