Wings 2009 Game 2 (at Rochester 1-10-09)

By Tom Hoffman

The Philadelphia Wings (0-1) will look to rebound from their opening night loss in Buffalo when they travel to Rochester to face the Knighthawks on Saturday night. Faceoff at the Blue Cross Arena is at 8 PM. The game can be seen for free at NLL.com.

Last Week

The Wings opened the season with a 15-11 loss to the Buffalo Bandits. Drew Westervelt scored the first of his three goals just 10 seconds into the game. Westervelt also added a pair of assists. Geoff Snider added a goal and five assists while Mat Giles and Kyle Wailes each scored two goals and an assist. Rob Blasdell gave up 10 goals through three quarters before yielding to Brandon Miller in the fourth.

History

The Wings are 14-17 all time versus Rochester, inluding a 4-10 record at Blue Cross Arena. The Wings have lost five straight in Rochester with their last win at the BCA coming on December 27, 2003 (13-7). In 2008 the teams split their two meetings, each winning at home. Philadelphia led 13-7 after three quarters and held on to defeat Rochester 15-14 at the Wachovia Center on January 18. Athan Iannucci used an eight point (5 G, 3A) night to overcome a five goal night from the K-Hawks John Grant Jr. On March 29 the Wings were hammered 20-12 by the Knighthawks at the BCA behind an eight point (4G, 4A) game from Grant and seven points (3G, 4A) from Ken Millin. Iannucci and Geoff Snider each scored three goals for the Wings.

The Gaits are back!

Saturday night's game will mark the return of Gary Gait to the NLL playing field. Gait, who had retired following the 2005 season, had his playing rights acquired from the Colorado Mammoth by Rochester after losing John Grant Jr to a season ending injury. Brother Paul also makes his return to the NLL and to Rochester, this time as the Knighthawks coach. Paul was hired to coach on December 26, two days after Paul Suggate resigned after less than four months on the job. As a player, Paul Gait was an original member of the Knighthawks and helped them to their first title in 1997.

Next Game

The Wings will return to action on January 23 when they host the Boston Blazers in the start of a home and home weekend with the NLL's newest team.

Wings 2009 Game 1 (at Buffalo 1-3-09)

By Tom Hoffman

The 23rd season of Philadelphia Wings lacrosse will begin where the 2008 season ended for them. The Wings will head back to the site of last season's 14-12 postseason defeat, Buffalo's HSBC Arena, to do battle with the defending champion Bandits Saturday night. Faceoff is at 7:30 PM.

History

The Wings are 17-18 all time in regular season play against the Bandits. At Buffalo the Wings have a 7-11 record, but are 6-7 at HSBC though they have lost in their last four visits including last season's playoff. The Wings last victory in Buffalo was on February 25, 2005 (14-8).

For Openers

The Wings are 12-10 in season openers and have won four of their last five opening games. In season openers on the road the Wings are 7-7. Philadelphia has opened the season four times against Buffalo and are 1-3 in those games, the lone win coming in the 1998 opener in Buffalo (14-12).

Last Season

The Wings and Bandits split their two regular season matchups in 2008. The Wings needed overtime to defeat Buffalo 15-14 on January 26th at the Wachovia Center. Jake Bergey's goal just twenty seconds into the extra period gave Philadelphia the win after Jamie Rooney's score with less than two minutes in regulation forced the overtime period. On March 1st the Bandits handed the Wings their first loss of the 2008 season at HSBC by a score of 21-12. Philadelphia jumped out to a 5-0 lead 6:34 into the first quarter before being outscored 21-7 the rest of the night. Including the postseason, Athan Iannucci scored 12 goals against Buffalo last year while Rob Blasdell started all three games in net for the Wings. For Buffalo, Mark Steenhuis (8G, 10A), Cory Bomberry (5G, 13A) and John Tavares (5G, 13A) each had 18 points in the three meetings with the Wings.

New Faces

The Wings have nine new faces on this season's 23 man roster (as of 12-28). One face isn't quite new as Kyle Wailes returns to the Wings lineup after missing the 2008 season due to work visa issues. Wailes scored 16 goals and added 21 assists in 2007 and will be looked upon to add to the teams offense especially with the losses of Jake Bergey (expansion draft), Jason Crosbie (free agency) and Jamie Rooney (Arizona dispersal draft). Also missing from the lineup (pending a physical) is last season's MVP and leading goal scorer Athan Iannucci as he recovers from a knee injury suffered last summer playing for the St. Regis Indians in Major Series Lacrosse in Ontario. Three of the new faces for 2009 came via September's entry draft, first round pick Sean Thomson, second round choice Matt Bocklet and fourth rounder Jordan Levine. Also added, and expected to help pick up the offense, was Mat Giles via the Chicago dispersal draft. Giles led the Shamrox last season with 27 goals.

2008 Numbers

Goals: Athan Iannucci - 71

Assists: Jason Crosbie - 40

Points: Iannucci - 100

Penalty Minutes: Geoff Snider -103

Loose Balls: Snider - 244

Goals Against Average: Brandon Miller - 12.18 (in seven games with Wings), Rob Blasdell - 13.92

Next Game

The Wings travel to Rochester to face the Knighthawks on January 10th.

Wings revised 2009 schedule

By Tom Hoffman

With the announcement of the Chicago Shamrox folding yesterday, the National Lacrosse League revised its 2009 schedule. For Wings fans, the home dates and opponents will remain the same but now the Minnesota Swarm will make a second visit to the Wachovia Center on February 21, the night the Shamrox would've played in Philadelphia. The road schedule had a few more tweaks done to it. Gone, in addition to Chicago, are visits to Minnesota and San Jose, replaced by a second trip to Rochester (January 10) and a weekend trip to Edmonton and Portland (February 27 and 28). The Wings visit to Madison Square Garden also was a casualty of the new schedule, that game is now on February 8 at Newark's Prudential Center. Here is the new Wings schedule for 2009 (home games in bold):

Sat. January 3 at Buffalo 7:30

Sat. January 10 at Rochester 8:05

Fri. January 23 Boston 8:00

Sat. January 24 at Boston 7:30

Fri. February 6 Buffalo 8:00

Sun. February 8 at New York (Prudential Center) 7:00

Fri. February 13 Boston 8:00

Sat. February 21 Minnesota 7:30

Fri. February 27 at Edmonton 9:30

Sat. February 28 at Portland 10:30

Sat. March 14 Minnesota 7:30

Sat. March 28 Colorado 7:30

Sat. April 4 at New York (Prudential Center) 7:30

Sun. April 5 New York 2:30

Sat. April 11 Toronto 7:30

Sat. April 18 at Rochester 7:35

In the Shamrox dispersal draft, also done yesterday, the Wings took Mat Giles. Giles had 27 goals and 23 assists last season for Chicago and is a 10 year veteran in the NLL.

Where Are They Now?: Garrett Burnett

By:Kevin M.Neibauer

Garrett Burnett, former NHL player with the Anaheim Mighty Ducks, former long-time minor leaguer who played in six different leagues on thirteen different teams.

Burnett, always known as a fighter, fought Scott Parker 11 times in his career, including three times in one game.

Burnett realized his dream when he finally made it to the National Hockey League and played one season as the Ducks enforcer, the tough guy actually got to feel the thrill of scoring an NHL goal.

Ice time dwindled and Burnett switched sports, he went back to Western Canada and signed up to play professional lacrosse.

The Vancouver native may go down in history as the most popular player in minor league history. With a heart and personality far bigger than his talent, Burnett won fans over with his movie star good looks and rugged “never say die” attitude that everyone loves.

Always the last to leave the autograph sessions and always making time for a child, Burnett came across as everyone’s brother, son or more importantly, their friend.

When he wasn’t playing hockey, he could be found on the Lacrosse rink. Burnett played on the legendary Burnaby Lakers team that featured two future hall of fame goaltenders, Pat O’Toole and Dallas Eliuk.

Burnett was a third string goaltender who also played the field, normally a defender, Burnett gained a reputation with Eliuk.

“He was always in the middle of things, big hitter, he could play a little bit…” said the now retired netminder.

All of that ended on Boxing Day in 2006, the 6’-3” 235 pound tough guy entered a bar in Vancouver with a friend for a night on the town.

The establishment apparently was host to a collection of thugs and unsavory types. At least two men started an argument with the Burnett party and things came to a head. The exchange began to get physical, and while the bouncers idly sat by, Burnett was hit with a barstool and rendered unconscious.

The injuries were life threatening and left Burnett in a coma. If not for the fact that an off-duty EMT was on the scene, Burnett may have died.

“They (doctors) said that it probably because of my being in such good physical shape, it probably saved my life.” Burnett commented.

Of course, his playing days are over. He now is an outpatient who is working on his physical and mental impairments.

Burnett is still unable to drive, has nerve damage in his face, “pins and needles” in his face, orbital damage and still some swelling in the brain that causes memory loss.

Does he complain? No. In fact he spends his time working in the Vancouver community and “trying to give something back to the communities in the cities that I played.”

“The fans have been great, I get letters from everywhere, I can’t wait to get into Philly and see my old friends….see how big some of the kids have grown, see the faces of these people.”

His main passion these days is a charity for children with LUPUS and arthritis. Celebsforkids.ca is an organization that celebrities and athletes such as Burnett use to gather memorabilia for auctions,

Burnie also keeps himself busy with the Seniors in Vancouver, visiting and playing BINGO and trying to make a difference.

Burnett freely admits that his parents, Bob and Vicci and his sister were by his bedside, “Non stop from the day of the accident.” His parents are currently on a cruise and Burnett expects to have Christmas with his family.
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Wings come back to defeat Titans in scrimmage

By Tom Hoffman

In a spirited pre-season scrimmage at the Center Circle in Rahway, NJ, the Philadelphia Wings used a solid second half to defeat the New York Titans 13-11 Saturday evening. While the game did take place at the Titans practice facility, the group of fans there gave it a definite pro-Wings feel.

"I thought it was a good game by both teams," Wings coach Dave Huntley said. "I was real pleased with a lot of the new stuff we're trying to do. A lot of our new guys did a good job."

Wings fans worried about about the losses on offense (Jake Bergey, Jamie Rooney and Jason Crosbie), as well as how Athan Iannucci will be after his recovery from knee surgery, had to impressed with the play from two returnees. After sitting out last season due to visa issues, Kyle Wailes played like he hadn't missed a beat, putting up four goals. Drew Westervelt added three tallies, including a shorthanded no look, back to the net roll shot that obviously surprised Titans goalie Matt Vinc early in the second quarter while the Wings were killing off a five minute major to Taylor Wray. Wailes's play definitely caught his coach's eye.

"It was good to see Kyle Wailes back," Huntley said. "Obviously he's a real good player and he played terrific. It didn't look like he hadn't played lacrosse for a year."

Also scoring for the Wings were Merrick Thomson (two goals), A.J. Shannon, Kyle Sweeney, Geoff Snider and Taylor Wray. Rob Blasdell played 55:05 and gave up 10 goals in a solid effort. Rookie free agent Mickey Hover finished the game for Philadelphia. Marc Burton had a hat trick for New York while Mike McLellan, Jamie Rooney and Jordan Hall each added two scores. Titans coach Ed Comeau used four goaltenders in the scrimmage (Matt Vinc, Erik Miller, Kurtis Wagar and Angus Dineley). Missing from the Wings lineup last night were Rob Van Beek, Brandon Miller, Sean Thomson and Jim Borell. Rookies who impressed were Jordan Levine and Matt Bocklet.

The Wings trailed 4-3 after the first quarter and 8-6 at halftime before breaking the game open with a 4-0 third. The teams traded goals in the fourth with the Wray icing the game with an empty netter with under three seconds to play. For the Wings this will be their lone pre-season action as they prepare for the regular season opener January 3 in Buffalo against the defending champion Bandits.