WLA Commissioner Paul Dal Monte, 2026 WLA Season Preview

本站添加: 2026-05-25

[00:00:00]We're back. Another episode of the Golden View podcast. It is Monday, May 18th, Victoria Day long weekend, and I'm being joined by Paul Dal Monte, WLA Commissioner, Western Lacrosse Association for those who don't know. Uh as the 2026 Western Lacrosse Association season kicks off this coming Thursday. Paul, how are you?

[00:00:20]I'm doing well, Ben. How are you today?

[00:00:22]Good. Good. So, let's just get right in here. I'm going to throw something in the chat. We were just chatting about this before the before we started. Um You guys kick off with a busy weekend.

[00:00:32]Yeah, we actually open Wednesday night in Langley. Nanaimo's Nanaimo's in Langley Wednesday night, and then we're at Queen's Park Thursday, uh Copeland Arena, and uh the Q Centre Victoria on Friday, and Coquitlam on Saturday, and then Maple Ridge on Sunday. So, uh yeah, we we didn't we didn't walk in slowly. We we jumped right in to start, and uh a great way cuz all of our teams are active, and uh with the exception of Nanaimo, everybody has a home game.

[00:01:00]Yeah. Yeah, I know. I was just doing some research too on some of the teams cuz I want to share one thing too as well. Obviously, looking back at last season, um hosting the Mann Cup obviously, um in New Westminster. New Westminster winning the WLA last year, um and then obviously losing again for the second time to the Six Nations Chiefs, but there's a bit of a pattern that's emerged here. Let's talk a little bit about, you know, the sort of the top teams last year. We saw um obviously the Coquitlam Adanacs at 15 and two, New West at 14 and four, Shamrocks at 13 and four.

[00:01:35]Um and then the Shamrocks making it to the Mann Cup in 2024 and losing to the um Six Nations Chiefs again. So, there's a bit of a Major Lacrosse League uh dominance the last few years of that um Mann Cup victory.

[00:01:49]Thoughts on a on some top contending teams to start this season?

[00:01:54]Yeah, thanks for that. Um um I'm still, you know, we still uh are are have the afterglow and scars of the Mann Cup last year obviously.

[00:02:03]Right. Right. Right. It was a It was a great a great seven game series, you know, seven sold out games at Queen's Park Arena. So certainly a great showcase for the game with two great teams. Um Yeah. Yeah.

[00:02:15]>> But as we head it as we head into this year, you know, I think you'll you'll see a bit of a different landscape.

[00:02:20]Okay. You know, I think that you know, you'll see a rejuvenated and Nanaimo Timbermen team. You know, they had seven early picks in the draft and territorial protections. So they're certainly going to be young and talented and and unknown, but I think you're going to see a rejuvenated team there.

[00:02:41]Um, you know, Maple Ridge I I I I found to be much improved in the past season or two. And then of course adding Cask and Milawski in the in territorial protection alone is certainly going to boost their their chances. And of course the trade for Tyler Pace. So you know, I think they've added some weapons and they've got some talent on that club and you'll you'll see you'll see them competing.

[00:03:04]Um And you know, and then Victoria and Coquitlam, you know, I think Coquitlam had a an outstanding season and they've certainly done a great job in the off season in adding some pieces to their roster and lineup. And and so they have they have as they you know, they have a strong focus on trying to build a contender and and compete for a Mann Cup and and they're certainly well on their way and I'm certainly thrilled to be able to watch them grow and mature as a team. I think you'll you'll see them as a team of the future in our league. And Victoria is just typically always competitive, you know, they run a first class organization.

[00:03:37]For them it's it's it's Mann Cup or nothing, right? That's that's their goal every year and and >> Seems to be that way.

[00:03:43]Yeah. And and so and then the rest, you know, you've got you you've got New West that I think will be retooled a little bit. You'll certainly see some familiar faces, but I think you're going to see some new younger faces in that lineup. So, not sure that they're going to be, you know, top of the heap, but you know, they as always the tradition and and uh history there seems to seems to inspire that club and you know, you you don't know uh you never count them out. And of course Burnaby, which I think he'll find to be a a younger squad and and um you know, fighting for that fourth playoff spot.

[00:04:17]Yeah, it's interesting because I wanted to throw some stuff in having done all my research. I mean, obviously quick shoutout too to my friend Earl Thomas who's been on the Golden Bee podcast lots of times. I know he's going to tune in and uh he's a huge Timber Man fan. So, I ended up accompanying Earl to uh New West or wherever we can get to that he's close to. He lives in Burnaby, so he can see his Timber Man. He's from Nanaimo. But that that uh Timber Man thing was very intriguing, right, Paul?

[00:04:39]Because obviously I just looking at some stuff on their website and shared it and shared it in the chat. I mean, they own six of the first seven picks in the first round.

[00:04:49]They did plus two territorial protections that they had, right? So, so they they they now I think, you know, one of their one of their draft picks is Jackson Della Nanaimo, Coquitlam.

[00:04:59]Although he I know I know I know he's an island kid, but I my understanding is he's playing senior B and may not be in the lineup, but regardless they had a strong junior team. Chris Bowman and his management group did a great job in in trading for picks in that year in particular. They knew what they had coming out of their junior program and so, >> Right. you know, you're you're you're going to see uh probably a a fast, young, enthusiastic lineup and and John Nicholson and Brian Nickila do a great job on the coaching side. So, you know, I I think you're going to see a competitive Nanaimo team uh that will that may surprise some people. Yeah, it's it's going to be interesting too cuz I made it out to a few Lakers games last year. Obviously, they finished uh second last in the league. Uh we still got the still got the standings up here. I'm going to zoom in on a little bit. Obviously, Lakers finishing, you know, second last. Uh Timber men were last. Thunder near the bottom. I mean Burnaby to me it's sort sort of sort of always feels like that's a team that struggles as well, you know, to stay in contention or stay competitive. What are we going to see from them?

[00:06:03]Yeah, again, I think I you know, I think they're a young team and you're you'll see some young faces in that lineup.

[00:06:09]You know, and and so it remains to be seen whether they're going to fight for that, you know, into the playoff spot this year. It's a bit of a jump, but you know, no different than an I'm on an I'm on you know, Kevin Hill and Pat LaRue have, you know, accumulated a few picks as well and so they tried to to bring some young bodies into the lineup. So unknown in terms of Burnaby. The one team I neglected to mention was Langley and I think you're going to see a uh You're going to see a rejuvenated Langley team.

[00:06:33]They've They've done a good job. They made a couple trades in the off season.

[00:06:37]You know, Frank Scigliano's going to be back in goal for them. So, you know, I think you're going to you're going to see Langley be far far more competitive than than they might have been last year and and so, you know, in in my mind again not not picking favorites, but you know, I think you know, Coquitlam and Victoria will probably be your top two clubs this year and then you're going to have a group of teams fighting for spots three, four, and five, right? And battling in there and and really don't know until we get a couple weeks into the season as as all of our NLL players start to filter back into our lineups over the course of the next couple weeks. Yeah, and it's funny just to mention the NLL in passing two things obviously. NLL championship finishing yesterday Toronto Rock winning two nothing defeating the Halifax Thunderbirds. Watched both games.

[00:07:26]Fantastic lacrosse. Especially that first game. Second game I thought it was sort of that you know, it was really Toronto's game to lose. They they pulled away a bit from Halifax. They they they pushed Warren Hill harder in the second game than than they did the first game.

[00:07:42]Um And I just sort of felt like I I was watching that Halifax Thunderbirds team just cuz they upset the Warriors being the eighth seed, right? And then and then you know, here they are in the NLL final but losing but obviously the number one seed in the NLL did not I shouldn't say do anything significant in the playoffs. They just got at work and they were surprised. I was a Warriors season ticket holder again this season.

[00:08:03]And Vancouver could not do anything against Halifax in that second half.

[00:08:06]Yeah, I know I I've watched the series as well and and and it was great across the first game was outstanding.

[00:08:13]And you're right, even last night I think that you know, Toronto was clearly the better team and you know, I I think that they you know, did some things differently in terms of their shot selection against Warren Hill, you know, a lot of things that were on the move, quick releases, things like that.

[00:08:26]They didn't didn't allow him to get his feet set. But yeah, but you know, you know, Vancouver had a great season. Credit to you know, Curt and his group. But you know, they weren't the only ones upset. Colorado, Buffalo, Vancouver were all you know, leading contenders to be sort of in that final four and it didn't work out that way for anybody. So it's you know, any given night in the NLL if you're not on your game, you know, for the entire 60 minutes, things can happen in single game situations like that. And you know, there's just so much talent on the league and if you just you just look at the two lineups last night which had you know, a ton of six nations players spread out amongst amongst both both teams. So you know, what the the product was great, series is great and I think it bodes well for a good WLA season as well. It does. So so explain a little bit more about that then. How does that work? So players you said are coming back. Is there any restrictions or anything fans need to know or any anything I don't know about?

[00:09:26]How do you manage that negotiation of players movement between those two leagues?

[00:09:31]Yeah, well, you know, I mean part of it is just you You and it really only comes down to the final two teams that have played the last couple weeks. Most players have finished a week or two or three weeks prior.

[00:09:43]Uh so, you know, typically the players are you know, are looking for a few weeks off, you know, after an NLL season before they jump back in. So, there are no guidelines or restrictions. It's really just a matter of getting them back up for the summer season and and you know, accommodating their their probably their needs for a little bit of a a gap in between certain to recover and and heal any any old injuries and get ready to go. So, you'll you'll see, you know, typically our teams are have a a few more call-ups than normal in the first couple of weeks and and then as as we hit, you know, early in mid-June when the season starts to really roll is where you'll see lineups start to fill in.

[00:10:22]Yeah, okay. And so, like I've got some other storylines to discuss. Your relationship in terms of advertising and sponsorships, uh is that relationship with the Vancouver Warriors going to continue again this year?

[00:10:33]Absolutely. Yeah, we have we have a we have a multi-year deal with the Warriors and and you know, as as with all of our partners, they're they're they're great ones, super cooperative and and really want to support us and to grow the game. It's it's in our mutual interest.

[00:10:47]>> Yeah. Yeah, yeah, fantastic. Um cuz that's one thing I was thinking of too, right, was just, you know, that relationship and obviously players going back and forth.

[00:10:59]You know, guys obviously moving from, you know, WLA into the NLL and and vice versa. Uh but let's let's let's talk a little bit a bit more about um I want to be sure we've we've we've covered all the teams cuz we talked a bit about the Lakers. We talked about the Salmon Bellies.

[00:11:18]Um we talked about Coquitlam.

[00:11:24]We haven't focused too too much um on the Maple Ridge Burrards. And so, I want to look a little bit um at their roster um and see where they sit given the fact that they qualified for the playoffs last year. Um and I I just want to familiarize myself.

[00:11:42]Just give me a second here.

[00:11:44]There's some names on there, obviously with every WLA team that you recognize.

[00:11:49]Um Couple of guys here. Let me take a look.

[00:11:54]And again, uh Peyton Cormier is one.

[00:11:57]Jackson Sayers obviously is another.

[00:12:00]Um Rob Williams is their head coach.

[00:12:03]Believe he's the defensive coordinator for the um Vancouver Warriors. And a guy who had a fantastic season for the Warriors, I thought being a season ticket holder, is a guy like Marcus Clareich.

[00:12:13]Indeed. Yeah, yeah, Marcus is uh uh a great young player whose game continues to evolve and grow as as he gets stronger, you know, uh and a little more in tune with the senior game. And so I think he's going into, you know, year three.

[00:12:33]Uh he got uh picked up by New West to play in the Mann Cup. So he's had that exposure to very high level. He's had, you know, a couple good NLL seasons.

[00:12:42]He's got good coaching in Vancouver with the Warriors. So his game is really evolved and and complements their left side because they have Cody Belansky through territorial protection. So Cody is another great left-handed player that's going to come into that lineup.

[00:12:57]Um so, you know, they've got some talent up front and um and and good coaching.

[00:13:04]Uh so I think they're a team that, you know, several years ago uh they made a run at the Mann Cup. Uh general manager Latin general manager Lance Andre, uh you know, they they kind of hit their peak, uh decided to make a couple moves.

[00:13:17]They traded Frankie and a few others away and and they tried to and they started to rebuild. So this is, you know, they're in the process of that rebuild and starting to rise back into into the mix again and I I would not be surprised if you see them competing, you know, for top spot and have pretty good rivalries with Coquitlam Victoria and they always have a rivalry with New West of course, but you know, I I think you'll see the Burrards being one of those teams and the addition of young Cask as a goaltender is a good up-and-comer. You know, they're they're going to be solid for sure and and one of those teams you're going to keep an eye on.

[00:13:56]One of the things I have listed here too doing some research about things that are important in the WLA biggest storyline entering the season.

[00:14:04]I mean we've got some of the best goalies or we've got one of the best goalies in the NLL. If he happens to play for the Warriors and he plays for the Adanacs. So I don't think he needs any introduction.

[00:14:14]At least anybody in the Lower Mainland from my perspective Paul just because of the fact that he's Christian Del Bianco and the kind of season he had even if the you know, the Warriors lost in the in the quarterfinals. We see Frank Scigliano obviously playing for Saskatchewan moved to Langley. Obviously playing with New West last year significantly bolstering their chances.

[00:14:34]Um you know, in their quest for a Mann Cup.

[00:14:36]I mean New West really loaded up. So let's talk a little bit about about goaltending in this league and how critical that is even with those names involved and other guys on other rosters.

[00:14:48]Yeah, you know, I there's there's a selection of great goalies, you know, you you know, Shanahan in Nanaimo is is a solid goaltender.

[00:14:56]You know, Maple Ridge with Cask as the new you know, as the rookie but certainly a stellar gold keeper coming out of the Coquitlam you know, Minto Cup champion Adanacs Junior Adanacs.

[00:15:07]Um and Frankie of course is you know, as as good as they come solid veteran goaltender going back into Langley, but you know, and then and then you know, Christian's the A standard right the top level guy right he's probably the best in the game or certainly in the you know, in that upper upper echelon of top two or three goaltenders in in the game period.

[00:15:26]Um um and he, you know, let's let's be honest, you know, he the Warriors wouldn't wouldn't be as successful as they were without having him in goal, right? You know, he's fundamental to their success not only in stopping the ball but in in his role in the transition game. So, you know, you could see that difference last year when he was playing with the Adanacs and and how they fed off of him not only a big save but be but running the floor. And so, Coquitlam's a young athletic team that benefits from that. So, you know, any any team that's going to compete, not not only to win our league but to to have a hope to compete for a Mann Cup, starts it starts in the in the back end, right? Goaltending and solid defense.

[00:16:04]And, you know, those are those are areas that I think you'll see, you know, teams like Coquitlam um and um and Maple Ridge do really well. And and then in Victoria you you've got, you know, two NLL goalies in Oleg Garay and uh Frank Donnelly, right?

[00:16:20]And so, again, two solid goaltenders that that you saw a lot of time in the NLL. And and so, you know, generally speaking, I I you know, I think there's solid goaltending across the league. And uh fundamental to being to being a goaltender.

[00:16:35]Yeah, and it's interesting cuz I remember in talking with Brad Challoner, obviously Brad you know, heavily involved with lacrosse uh he'll be doing some WLA games as I understand it. I reached out to him last night for some thoughts and uh impressions before I talked to you about things happening. And not a lot of teams loading up. And then obviously uh reaching out to Jake Elliott as well, who said he's interviewing you. So, he didn't want to give me his tidbits.

[00:16:59]>> [laughter] >> Yeah, I I I was supposed to be on Jake's podcast, but it won't be tomorrow. It's going to be next Tuesday, I think. A week a week tomorrow. Yeah, yeah.

[00:17:07]>> But let's keep going because obviously goaltending is interesting, right? I mean, you know, you got a young guy like Justin Gatti obviously playing in New West. I mean, at times I saw Gatti play last year he struggled. I think you know, they brought in Frank Scigliano.

[00:17:19]Obviously, what do they do this year? I was looking at the Bellies roster for goaltending. They got Justin Getty. They they've got Aston Leclaire who I don't know anything about, so maybe you can shed a little bit of light on that. Um and then as we go sort of up and down the league, any other goaltenders that stand out?

[00:17:37]Yeah, I know. I mean yeah, New West I mean Getty was you know, I think had a had a good year last year. There were some nights he was outstanding and and and and really shut the door and and then you know, he has you know, occasional moments and I think that's just a symptom of being a young goaltender. And uh New West brought in Frankie to you know, to put shore up their their their goaltending to get to have a chance at a run knowing that Justin could come in quite adequately and and back up. Um you know, I don't I don't know for sure. I hear I understand Justin may have tweaked his knee, but so might be out early and so Leclaire is a is is is a decent alternative I think and you know, they're going to um uh they're going to see if if if if he can withstand the offense that he's going to face in the WLA, right? It's it's different from being a backup or or a decent junior goaltender, but I think they're going to find they're they'll find out soon enough, right? But you know, the the profile names are the profile names, right? It's it's Frank and and and Christian being the top two and again, no disrespect to any of the other goaltenders you know, wait wait there are good goaltenders everywhere, but you know, that the gold standard is Christian and and everyone else sort of has to has to rise to his level. Yeah.

[00:18:51]Let's keep moving to that because we talked a little bit about the games starting the season.

[00:18:57]I had some notes too on games as we get towards the end of the season and that that leads us into I'm just using the Salmon Bellies schedule here, but I I guess I could use the league's. I have that as well. I'll share that because you know, we start with with the big flurry games the 20th through the 24th.

[00:19:15]Then we sort of 27th, 28th, 29th, 30th, 30th, 31st. Then we get into that regular cadence of the National Lacrosse League where there's how many games a week? Correct me if I'm wrong. Yeah, there's going to be usually at least at least three and sometimes four or five in any week. So, every team's playing at least twice a week and there's, you know, occasional instances where they'll play three. And so, what we do is we typically start right after the May long weekend and we want to we want to finish right at the end of July or just before that, which enables us to get two playoff series in. Yeah, right.

[00:19:49]And then allow the traveling team, especially this year, ample time to to get organized and get themselves ready to travel east. Yeah, and let's get into that in a little bit cuz I have those notes.

[00:20:01]But, I was looking at the at the schedule here. As you find yourself settling in after Canada Day, Canada Day, right? So, you start around the 2nd of uh the 2nd of July. I'm going to share it in the chat and I'll share it here with you.

[00:20:14]Uh let me just get my my screen sharing going here.

[00:20:17]Uh because that's when you're into uh you know, the last month of the season, right? Let me just get this set up because we look at after like I had some like I had a couple games circled, right? Like I don't know how um how Here, I'll use this here.

[00:20:38]Yeah, No, you go ahead and while you do that, you know, keeping in mind that, you know, you're right. July July 1st, give or take, we we typically take the Canada Day long weekend off. Yeah. Uh and then come back I think on the 2nd this year. I think we're at Reserves. I think we're at Queen's Park on the 2nd. And so, you know, what uh we have a roster deadline of midnight Right.

[00:21:00]>> July 9th. Midnight on the 9th of July.

[00:21:02]Okay, so that that is sort of uh uh, that threshold where teams are buy buyers or sellers, right? They know where they think they're a shot to make a run and and you know, you may see some transactions or roster moves.

[00:21:17]>> So, July 9th. It's sort of post Yeah, exactly. The midnight, right? So, they basically got the full day of the 9th.

[00:21:23]So, uh, if you know, last year was a little quieter, but you know, things happen or trades are made or deals are made post July 1st in that last sort of several days before we our rosters are locked in. Um, and and I think at that point you'll have a good sense of where the where the playoffs sit. But, you know, if if history's any indicator, uh, Ben, you you know, there's there's often five or six teams that are vying for four spots in those final few weeks of the season. So, post Canada Day super important for a lot of our teams to to make some hay. Yeah, cuz I was thinking more at some of those games as I look at my notes. Um, I had a couple circled, right? Cuz it was game If I can find it. Game 57. And I took a I took a guess at these games just because of based on last year's stats, right? I was like or last year's uh, performances.

[00:22:19]And I was um, Yeah, games we're circling I had listed.

[00:22:22]Like I had these two, Paul. Game 57 Adanac's versus Salmonbellies 23rd of July. Shamrocks versus Salmonbellies 30th of July. Probably one of the last games of the season, right?

[00:22:33]Um, I'll put those in the chat so you can see those. Those are two games that I initially thought um, would be of use, right?

[00:22:42]Yeah, and but you know, I I and again, we're we're you know, uh, forecasting what we think may or may not happen, but I you know, I think you could you could look at uh, Shamrocks Timberman game that's down the stretch.

[00:22:55]Uh, Burrards Adanac's that are down the stretch. Uh, you know, those two teams played each other in the playoffs last year. So, I you know, I think those are equally important.

[00:23:06]You know, anything temperament and knacks, those types of things are going to be the difference between, you know, first place and and second or third and fourth for, you know, teams that are fighting for playoff spots. So, you know, I think there's a number of key games post Canada Day. Okay. That you know, where rosters are, you know, pretty intact. Players are trying to make make sure that they're, you know, eligible for playoffs in the Mann Cup so they're competing and and teams will have full rosters. You know, so it's really post Canada Day where you're going to see a ton of a ton of competitiveness as teams vie for, you know, the four playoff spots.

[00:23:43]Right. And so let's just move right into our last segment here.

[00:23:47]Who's the team this year in the WLA going to the Mann Cup?

[00:23:51]Well, that's Yeah, [snorts] I don't know. I couldn't tell you that. You know, as I did we we, you know, at the beginning of the at the top of the show we we did talk about competitiveness and and stuff. So, again, I just I don't dis- I don't count anybody out. You know, I think that that the task is a tall one, you know, probably heading into six nations with a team that is um uh pretty stocked with talent. Um but um regardless, you know, we're we're going to uh send a strong representative back and and we'll we'll we'll compete the as we always do.

[00:24:25]All right. Well, thanks a lot, Paul.

[00:24:27]Appreciate you doing this. We're going to wrap it up there. And uh we'll talk to everyone soon. Take care. Thank you.

[00:24:33]Bye.

[00:24:33]>> Bye.