The Columbus Landsharks: The Expansion West

By Ted Montour

I am as much a Jimmy Buffett fan as anyone, but "Landsharks" is not a name that leaps to my mind for a lacrosse team. Nevertheless, the name may be the only lasting legacy bequeathed to Columbus lax fans by John Livsey.

    


The former NLL Commissioner is now the former 'sharks owner, having relinquished title to Brad Watters and the Montreal ownership group in exchange for their assumption of his debts. Meanwhile, the Saints' Mike Gongas and Charlie Russo stepped up, to the relief and approval of the other NLL owners, taking proprietorship of a new Columbus franchise with the old name (I am certainly not the first to suggest a name change to Phoenix, but there you go). They also announced a new marketing partnership with the Nationwide Arena and the Columbus Bluejackets of the National Hockey League. [Historical note: Bluejacket was a white man who was raised by the Shawnee, and grew up to become the friend and right hand man of Tecumseh.]



The Landsharks had 3 wins against 11 losses in their inaugural season last year, and drew an average of 7,023 to the Nationwide Arena. Most of their roster went to Montreal as part of the expansion deal.


In the transition, Head Coach Marty Cooper left his post, bound for Ottawa. Gongas and Russo appointed former Bandits' assistant Ron Roy to the twin posts of Head Coach and General Manager. They also later tapped the NLL office, hiring Chris Bandura to be their new Vice President of Operations.


The Landsharks' expansion draft garnered goaltender Phil Wetherup from the Bandits, and Attacker Gewas Schindler of the Onondaga Nation from the Saints. Wetherup played in 12 NLL games last season, finishing in 10th place among his peers with a 15.75 goals-against average. Schindler, originally a 1st-round entry draft pick by the Philadelphia Wings, had 7 goals and 7 assists in eight games for the Saints last winter. He's on a tear in 2002 and was named the NLL player of the week on January 15 after tallying three goals and three assist as the Landsharks defeated the Washington Power 19-15 and two goals and an assist, including the game winner as the Landsharks beat the Montreal Express 13-12.

The Landsharks had ten selections in the first three rounds of the entry draft this summer, including three first-rounders, and six of the players chosen made the roster. Derek Suddons was the 4th overall pick, a 6-foot 1-inch, 220-pound Defender from the University of Hartford (Connecticut), and the Hawks' Captain in his final year. Derek also won 1997 and 1999 Minto Cup championships with the Whitby Warriors of the OLA.

     
Mike Benedict

Chosen 5th overall, Forward Ryan Cousins was the 2nd leading scorer for the OLA Jr. A Toronto Beaches club, with 20 goals and 39 assists in 20 games last season, second to the Storm's Cory Leigh. 6th overall, Forward Spencer Martin was a member of Mann Cup champion Coquitlam Adanacs.




HATS @ E-LACROSSE!


Second rounders, Goaltender Mike Miron and Defender Greg Floris, also come from the Ontario Lacrosse Association. Miron won a Canadian Jr. B championship Founders Cup with the Clarington Green Gaels in 2000, and was the 2001 Junior A MVP (Dennis MacIntosh Trophy) with the Orillia Kings. Floris was an integral part of the St.Catharines Athletics' defensive corps in their 2001 Minto Cup victory.

Kasey Beirnes of the Elora Mohawks, taken in the third round (28th overall), is a former scoring champion of the OLA Junior B circuit who finished second to Onondaga's Pete Benedict this past season with 47 goals and 62 assists in 20 regular-season games.

Forwards Kyle Jamieson of the Six Nations Arrows (4th round) and Miron's team-mate Jason Wiles from Orillia (5th round), and Defender Daniel Dawson from the Brampton Excelsiors (6th round), were other OLA Jr. A draftees who made the roster. They were joined by Ohio boys, Defenders David Harvey from the University of Massachusetts Minutemen and Ryan Stopper of the Butler University Bulldogs.

Adding to the rookie crop are Forwards Steve Gleockner (Ohio State), Mark Steenhuis (St. Catharines Athletics), and Jaret Billich (Clarington Green Gaels), and Defenders Wes Suddons (brother of Derek, Whitby Warriors) and Bill Greer (Whitby Warriors).

Four veterans wore the Landsharks jerseys last season, Forwards Kory Kahoun (3 goals, 2assists in 14 games), Matt McSweeney (2 goals, 2 assists in 3 games) and Kyle Arbuckle (6 goals, 4 assists in 13 games), and Goaltender Ken "Monster" Montour (sat out with a bad wheel, and yes, he's my cousin). In 1999, Ken won the Dennis MacIntosh Trophy as the OLA Jr. A MVP, as well the Bob Melville Trophy for the fewest goals allowed in the season.

Arriving via free agency or trade are Forward Neal Powless of the Onondaga Nation and Nazareth College, who broke into the MILL with the Rochester Knighthawks, and Brent Rothfuss (Smash), and Defenders Niall Maynard (Rock) and Bill Warder (Bandits).

Wetherup will start in goal for the 'sharks, backed by Montour or Miron. Both youngsters should see action this season.


Nationwide Arena

Head Coach Roy will look to veterans Warder and Maynard for leadership of his defence, but youngsters Derek Suddons, Floris, Harvey and Stopper will have to play well from the start.

Neal Powless, a season or so out of the pro ranks notwithstanding, should make a major contribution to the offence, however, the rookie attackers must contribute goals if the 'sharks are to make any early progress. Cousins and Martin both have balanced offensive games. Beirnes is a natural scorer, who chose to stay home in Elora rather than play OLA Jr. A, and Jamieson's game will pleasantly surprise. Steenhuis, fresh from a Minto win, has an inside game well beyond his size.

Clearly, the Landsharks have to fight hard to get into the WIN column in 2002, but they are just as clearly building with an eye to the future, with the youngest club by far in the NLL, and a strong hometown contingent to give Columbus fans something to cheer for when victories are scarce.

With the commitment to build exhibited by Russo and Gongas, and a lot of patience, the re-invented 'sharks have a future in the League. Let's hope they can win a couple this season, to give them a taste of success.


1/12/02

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