The Washington Stealth are all in favour of Jeff Moleski bringing his family along with him to National Lacrosse League games.
With the Moleski clan on hand Friday night in Everett, Wash., Moleski scored his first career hat trick for the Stealth in a 20-7 win over the visiting Colorado Mammoth
For the 29-year-old Moleski, who lives in Prince George, every NLL game is a road game. But with his wife Cara and two young sons, Jackson and Hunter, in the stands at Comcast Arena in Everett, he felt right at home.
"That was long overdue, finally the stars aligned for our team," said Moleski, whose Stealth moved to within a game of the Calgary Roughnecks into second place in the NLL West.
"We have such a talented team it's just our record (4-5) doesn't show what kind of team we have. Hopefully this will be a sign of things to come."
Moleski, a defenceman, hadn't scored a goal and was limited to one assist in eight previous games this season.
"It's my first hat trick, I just got some good looks and the ball just fell, it was one of those nights I could do no wrong," laughed Moleski.
"My family was there and I told a buddy on the team I had to get a goal for the boys and he said, 'No, you've got to get two, one for each of them.' After I got my two goals they said I have to get one for my wife, so it worked out. The running joke with the guys was they're going to have to fly the family in for every game."
Moleski is known as one of the top defencemen in the NLL and he regularly draws the task of shadowing the other team's top players.
"I kind of get my glory out of shutting down the top guys, it makes a guy feel good," said Moleski. "(On Friday) we held one of the best players in the league -- John Grant Jr. -- without a goal. He had a streak of 55 games where he scored a goal and we stopped that streak."
Injuries have hurt the Stealth, the defending NLL champions. They are missing one of their leading scorers, Jeff Zywicki, who averaged five points per game in 2010, and are also without defenceman Kyle Sorensen, and Pete Morgan.
Moleski was traded in the off-season from Calgary to Washington in exchange for the Stealth's No. 1 pick in the 2011 draft, and he couldn't be happier with his new team.
"It's an awesome group of guys and top-notch organization," said Moleski. "It's a very talented group. We're well-coached (by former Roughnecks coach Chris Hall). He's a mastermind of the game and he's a players' coach who is very up front and honest with you."
Moleski has been invited to play for Team Canada at the world indoor lacrosse championship in May 21-28 in Prague, Czech Republic. He was unaware he had to apply to play for Team Canada until after the initial deadline, when a national team official informed him.
"I was one of the first defenders to be announced and that's a real honour," said Moleski, who will join Stealth teammates Zywicki and Rhys Duch on Team Canada.
"If I look at the roster, it's very humbling to be selected. It's a once-in-a-lifetime thing, definitely the icing on the cake for me. It's going to be a great experience and hopefully we can bring back the title. The U.S. and Six Nations are always strong, and England will be good."
The Stealth have this weekend off. Their next game is March 5 in Edmonton against former Prince George Posse junior goalie Brandon Atherton and the Rush.
