After he took three summers off to devote time to family and have some old-fashioned rest and relaxation, the return of perennial fan favourite Dan Stroup to the Adanacs’ lineup is a huge boost in the dressing room, on the floor and in the community. Fans still recall the pivotal role “Stroupie” played in the 2001 Mann Cup, as Dan scored 29 goals and 14 assists in 16 playoff and Cup games and was key in bringing the A’s back from a four goal deficit in game 7, scoring the tying goal in Air Stroup fashion to set up his buddy Colin Doyle’s dramatic winning goal in the dying seconds. None of this was surprising to anyone familiar with Dan’s stellar career as his trademark is scoring huge goals, often while diving horizontally in front of the crease, and ceaselessly working to get himself open despite the considerable attention of the best opposition defenders.

Dan first played lacrosse at age 4 and played all of his minor and junior lacrosse in Burnaby. His Junior “A” stats include 123 goals and 110 assists for 233 points and only 25 PiM in 76 games. Dan was a league First Team All Star in 1989.

He played one year for Vancouver in 1990 and from 1992 through 1998 for Burnaby before the Adanacs brought him over in a blockbuster trade, to which he responded with 38 goals and 41 assists in 32 games in 1999. His WLA stats before the start of this season include 425 goals and 321 assists for a whopping 746 points and 220 PiM in 310 games. He’s been named to WLA All-Star teams six times. He’s pleased to have some veteran company in this year’s offensive corps (Curt Malawsky, Jason Wulder, Colin Doyle) as well as some very talented young players in the drive to host and win another Mann Cup.

Dan is an NLL star as well, with a year in Baltimore, league championships in Toronto, two years with the Vancouver Ravens, two seasons and a championship with Colorado and last season with several Adanac teammates in Edmonton. His NLL stats include 293 goals and 219 assists for 512 points and 729 loose balls retrieved in 165 games; his 29 goals and 22 assists last season show that he remains a deadly scoring threat.

Dan played rugby in high school and also plays soccer and hockey. Other interests include water skiing, camping, mountain biking, alpine skiing, coaching his daughters in soccer and lacrosse and spending quality time with family and friends.

Dan is a devoted husband to his wife Rita, surely one of the most dedicated fans ever, and a superlative father to their daughters Danita (11 years old), Brianna (9) and Daniella (6). Dan devotes his working life to saving people and property as a firefighter. He cooks anything on the BBQ, especially ribs and salmon. His favourite movie is “Dumb and Dumber”. He enjoys country and rock music, especially Toby Keith and Nickelback. As a superb athlete and one of the most personable guys you’ll ever meet, Dan is a natural role model for many.

He thanks his first coach (his dad Ron) and coaches Bob Salt (Junior “A”) and the late Les Bartley (Toronto) for their special roles in his career and also past and present teammates Russ Heard, Colin Doyle, Curt Malawsky, Chris Gill and Jim Veltman.

His greatest thanks go out to his wife and daughters for their continued love and support.
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