Johnny Mouradian, who succeeded this past offseason in keeping all of the San Jose Stealth's top players after the club moved cross-country, was named Friday as the National Lacrosse League's General Manager of the Year.

The award was voted on by the league's governors, general managers and head coaches.

2003   Kurt Silcott
       Buffalo
2002   Dave Evans
       Vancouver

"I was excited that the governors and the other general managers in the league felt I was worthy," Mouradian told the Canadian Press.

Mouradian, who also coached the Stealth this season, inherited a talented roster that had compiled a 33-25 record and one Champion's Cup Final berth in four seasons as the Albany Attack.

Standout players such as forwards Josh Sanderson, Gary Rosyski, and Mike Regan; defensemen Cam Woods and Jim Moss; and starting goaltender Rob Blasdell all agreed to follow the team out west for the 2004 season.

Although the majority of players agreed to live in northern California, a half-dozen or so -- including Blasdell -- were flown in each week from Ontario.

"We had fly-in decisions with our players and the owners were very understanding of our needs," Mouradian said. "That makes the [general manager's] job easier."

Although Mouradian was also eligible for the Les Bartley Award as the league's top coach -- and a worthy candidate, considering the Stealth's 11-5 record -- that award went instead to Rochester's Paul Day.

The league's end-of-season awards announcements resume Monday with the Executive of the Year, then move on to the league's oldest and most prestigious awards -- the Rookie of the Year on Tuesday, the All-Pro Teams on Wednesday, and the Most Valuable Player on Thursday.