EVERETT — When Washington Stealth transition player Bob Snider goes to the center circle for the first faceoff tonight against the Calgary Roughnecks, he will most likely be going up against a familiar face.
That would be a former teammate in Philadelphia, who also just happens to be his bro
ther Geoff.
Calgary’s Geoff Snider, 29, has been one of the NLL’s most successful faceoff men for years and his brother Bob, 25, has established himself this season as an up and comer with the same skill. Last season, playing for the Philadelphia Wings, Bob got his share of playing time, but it was Geoff who took the majority of the faceoffs.
A year later the Snider brothers have new teams and Bob has moved into the role of faceoff specialist with the defending NLL champion Stealth.
Calgary coach Dave Pym said in a Wednesday conference call that Geoff is day-to-day after suffering a head injury last week, but when asked about the game on Thursday, Geoff said, “right now I’m playing.”
Geoff’s long-term success in the NLL has Bob excited about the matchup with his older brother.
“Him being the top faceoff guy in the league and me trying to make a name for myself, it will be fun. I am really looking forward to it,” Bob said.
Despite Geoff’s accolades, Bob feels he does have one advantage when it comes to facing his brother.
“I am one of the few guys in the league that can give him a hard time because I know what he does,” Bob said.
But Geoff isn’t going to take it easy on little brother.
“It’s the same as any other game,” Geoff said. “He’s going to get treated like any other player on his team.”
Tonight’s game marks the first time the Snider brothers will compete against each other as professionals. Many brothers have competed against each other before in the NLL, but competing against each other in the faceoff circle is a different story. Neither brother could say for sure, but they couldn’t recall a similar situation.
“It’s pretty unique in that sense,” Bob said.
The matchup has the attention of Stealth coach Chris Hall as well.
“I’ve never seen them play against each other, so I am kind of looking forward to it,” Hall said. “I think it is going to be a real good technical battle between the two of them.
“We have a ton of confidence in Bobby and we think he is going to do great on Sunday against a great draw man, brother or not,” Hall said.
Geoff made it clear that facing his brother doesn’t change anything about his preparation, but when it came to talking about Bob’s play, Geoff had nothing but good things to say.
“I’m proud of him as a brother,” Geoff said. “Just to see him succeed makes me happy.”
It’s not difficult to figure out that Bob has learned a lot of his skill from his older brother, something Bob verified.
“He’s taught me the majority of what I know as a faceoff guy,” Bob said.
Geoff, however, was hesitant to take any of the credit.
“Bobby getting to play in the pro ranks has nothing to do with me and everything to do with him,” Geoff said.
Both brothers said it was great to play on the same team, but Geoff said he sees a benefit for his brother playing on a different team. Bob seemed to agree.
“Now I get to develop my play as an individual, rather than be in the shadow of my brother,” Bob said.
Bob has certainly moved out of his brother’s shadow this season. He has won 107 of his 150 (71.3 percent) faceoffs in only five games. Geoff has won 131 of his 202 (64.9 percent) in eight games this season. Geoff is first in the league in total faceoffs won, while Bob is fourth. Geoff is fourth in the league in loose balls collected with 89. Bob is 15th in the league with 57.
With all of his success so far this season, it would appear that Bob is finally out of Geoff’s shadow. But expect Geoff to try and send a message to his little brother tonight.
“I’m a fierce competitor. I’m there to win and that’s it,” Geoff said. “If he can go out there and be on the winning end against me I think that would make him pretty happy. I am going to do everything I can to make sure that doesn’t happen.”
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