The San Diego Seals finished the first season of existence with a 10-8 record with the second seed and a 12-11 loss at home to the Calgary Roughnecks. Now, they get set for another full season and a chance to get further in the National Lacrosse League (NLL).
The first-overall pick in the 2018 expansion draft, forward Austin Staats, turned in a great season, despite missing the last four games with an injury. Staats finished with 32 goals (1st among rookies) and 29 assists (2nd) while earning the Rookie of the Year award.
Casey Jackson and Dan Dawson were the dynamic duo for the Seals as they helped lead the team to their first postseason berth in San Diego’s first season in franchise history. Jackson had 37 goals (1st on team) and 26 assists while playing in each game. Dan Dawson, who the Seals acquired through a trade in the offseason, scored 29 goals and assisted 59 goals to become the team’s point-leader (88).
Garrett Billings and Kyle Buchanan also made huge impacts during the season. Billings recorded 18 goals and a team-leading 65 assists for the second highest points (83) behind “Dangerous” Dan Dawson. Buchanan played 17 of the Seals’ 18 games and scored 28 goals with 39 assists for third place in points scored (67).
Other San Diego players who made impacts on the team’s performances are forwards Turner Evans (19 G, 26 A), Connor Kearnan (6 G, 12 A) and Connor Kelly (9 G, 8 A), and transition Brodie Merrill (3 G, 11 A), who also led in caused turnovers (24) on defense.
The 2019 season was a year of firsts for the Seals as they transition into a more winning culture for the 2020 season.
Of the 31 players who played with the San Diego Seals last year, only 19 of them are returning to the team for a second season. Notable players who will not be returning to San diego are forwards Garrett Billings, Dan Dawson, Turner Evans, Connor Kelly and defenseman Paul Dawson, among many others.
Nevertheless, the Seals added many names during free agency to increase their contention moving forward. Players signed to extensions are forwards Jules Heninburg, Connor Kearnan and Evan Messenger, defensemen Drew Belgrave and Tor Reinholdt, and transition player Mikie Schlosser.
The Seals also made a number of new signings and most of them will compete for a roster spot in training camp.
The second year of the San Diego Seals should bring plenty of optimism for the organization as well as the city of San Diego, which has suffered many losses over the decade.
The Seals look to begin the new decade with lots to look forward to as they try to bring a championship to San Diego.
The Seals begin their second season of existence on Dec. 7 in Buffalo with the home opener occurring on Dec. 14 against Dan Dawson and the Toronto Rock at 7 p.m. at the Pechanga rena San Diego.