Salmonbellies Poised for Another Run at Lacrosse Glory

The New Westminster Salmonbellies live just down the road from the Mann Cup. It sits only a few blocks from Queen’s Park at the Canadian Lacrosse Hall of Fame. But since last hoisting it in 1991, the quest to bring it those last few blocks home has felt long indeed. The club has appeared in the Mann Cup championship eight times since their 24th win, and now they return for their ninth attempt at Cup number 25.

This year’s roster looks built to finally end the drought. It’s a team designed for a best-of-seven gauntlet—seven games in nine nights against the toughest defenders in lacrosse. It’s a roster built not just on star power, but on endurance, depth, chemistry, and versatility. It’s a team constructed on the very unique characteristics of the Mann Cup, a tournament in which coaches quickly learn the quirks of the venue and the tendencies of their opposition.

At the core of the Salmonbellies is a defence that blends experience, skill, and leadership. Perennial standouts Brett Mydske, Jordan Gilles, Conner Cook, Drew Belgrave, Adam Wiedemann, Jeff Henrick, Reece Callies, Brandon Goodwin, Zac Masson, and Jeff Cornwall form the backbone of the back gate. The defence combines rugged stay-at-home players like Mydske, Masson, and Cook with transition threats like Cornwall, Belgrave, and Goodwin. This group is bigger, more disciplined, and more cohesive than ever, setting the tone for the entire squad.

The Salmonbellies have also added National Lacrosse League transition ace Owen Grant, signed earlier in the year and fresh off being named the NLL’s Transition Player of the Year. Now free from his Premier Lacrosse League duties, Grant can bring his elite defensive instincts and athleticism to New West. He knows how to cause turnovers and turn them into lightning-fast transition opportunities. He is an instant difference maker.

Joining him out the back gate will be Elijah Gash, a punishing defender picked up for the Mann Cup from Victoria. Named a first-team WLA all-star, Gash brings size, intensity, and the kind of physical edge that wears opponents down. Fans of the NLL Toronto Rock will be well familiar with his skill and well-deserved reputation for toughness.

On offence, New Westminster boasts firepower on both sides of the floor. The right-side features Haiden Dickson, Tye Kurtz, Phil Caputo, and Tyler Pace—all NLL pros capable of breaking open a game with speed, creativity, and precision finishing. On the left, Mitch Jones commands the attack, a league-leading scorer and playmaker who has become a complete offensive weapon. Ryan Martel and Will Malcom add creativity, versatility, and the ability to score juice goals, while Noah Armitage provides energy and depth. Every line can produce goals in multiple ways, with players who can play both with and without the ball, giving the Salmonbellies the opportunity to create relentless pressure across the entire series.

Adding even more punch are two key Mann Cup pickups. Marcus Klarich, the 2025 WLA MVP, has been added from the Maple Ridge Burrards, while Ryan Sheridan comes in from the Nanaimo Timbermen. Klarich is a rising star on offence. The lanky lefty brings reach and flair, with a knack for scoring goals that defenders know are coming but can’t seem to stop. Sheridan, on the other hand, offers size and a nose for momentum-shifting goals. Together, they make the Salmonbellies’ attack deeper and more versatile than it has been in years.

If you’re going to win a Mann Cup, you need an elite goaltending tandem—and New Westminster has it. Mid-season, the team added NLL Goalie of the Year Frank Scigliano, immediately giving them a championship-caliber duo with Justin Geddie. Scigliano was sensational in the WLA finals, allowing just three goals in the deciding game and earning playoff MVP honours.

Behind the scenes, the roster construction reflects the same urgency. Team President and GM Ray Porcellato summed up his mandate simply: “My job description can be summed up in one word: WIN! And I will always make the decision that gives our team the best chance to win.”

The 2025 edition of the Salmonbellies has been built precisely for this moment. Every player is capable of filling multiple roles—transition, defence, scoring, leadership, toughness. Physicality has been added across the board, but so has skill. Familiarity and chemistry have been forged in both the NLL and WLA, giving this squad a cohesion rare in summer lacrosse.

Fans can expect a team that embodies the Salmonbellies’ tradition of family, discipline, and excellence. With this roster, New Westminster is ready to carry Cup Number 25 home.

Both teams are stacked with titans of the game, so this series promises to be unforgettable.