Maple Ridge’s Brayden Laity, first year team member of the Vancouver Warriors and 9th overall draft pick, is ecstatic to be with the team. He is eager to learn from general manager and head coach Curt Malawsky and many veteran players, including Matt Beers, who’s playing his 13th National Lacrosse League Season.“I looked up to him as a kid, watching the Vancouver Stealth when he was on the team, I’ve got his bobblehead on my childhood dresser at home, so I’ve really looked up to him through the season here.” said Laity.

Being it Laity’s first year in the NLL, he is proud to be putting on the black and gold of the Warriors.“It’s awesome, I wouldn’t want to be playing anywhere else as a local kid (and) watching the Warriors for the last couple years here since they’ve been in town. (Even) the Stealth since they were back in Langley, so you know, it’s been my favorite team forever and wearing the black and gold has been pretty awesome”

Besides playing in the NLL and being a student, Laity is currently helping his brother’s Under-18 team and looking forward to more coaching and giving back to his community in the future.

Laity was able to get an assist in the third quarter of February 10th’s game on Adam Charalambides’ goal, who leads Vancouver in scoring this season with 44 points.

Malawsky wasn’t expecting a 13-9 loss in the Warriors’ last game against Saskatchewan. “It’s a tough one to swallow,” said Malawsky as he remains committed to the team and working hard to try to turn Vancouver’s 2-7 season around. “We’re going to keep trying to find a way to get better, any angle, any little bit we can do, any edge, we’re going to go looking for it.”

The Warriors’ penalty kill was a solid 4-for-6 against the Rush and a bright spot in the defeat. Laity recognized how strong Vancouver played despite being short handed six times during the game “(We’re) playing together as a team and coming together on defense – talking through everything together.”