Justin Lafleur

Why Have the Outlaws Struggled Historically in Playoffs?

August 20, 2014

I wrote a column earlier this year that the Denver Outlaws have become the model MLL franchise. I still very much believe this fact. Year in and year out, the Outlaws have enjoyed consistent success unlike any other franchise. However, there is one oddity that can’t be explained… playoff struggles. Last weekend’s win over Ohio improved the Outlaws’ playoff record to 5-8, this for a team that has gone 83-31…

Predicting the 2014 MLL Semi Finals

August 13, 2014

0 comment

The Major League Lacrosse playoffs are upon us. It has been a competitive regular season and these playoffs should be even better. This postseason field includes a little bit of everything: the first-time entrant (Ohio), the surprise team (Rochester), the perennial power (Denver) and the surging team (New York). As we have seen, the playoffs are unpredictable, but here goes my best shot trying to break down Saturday’s semifinal doubleheader…

MLL Playoff Races Hit Climax in Final Week

August 9, 2014

0 comment

A lot is on the line heading into the final weekend of Major League Lacrosse regular season action. Between the battle for first place, the quest for a home game in the semifinals and most importantly, the battle for the fourth and final playoff berth, three out of the four games played on Saturday will have an impact in the playoff race. Denver and Rochester are tied for first place…

Where Does Lacrosse Stand After the FIL?

August 8, 2014

0 comment

Moments that will stand out to me are seeing a packed stadium for the final game between the U.S. and Canada, Uganda becoming the first team from Africa to compete in the championships (and securing a pair of wins), along with Israel coming together and playing tremendously despite everything that must have been on the players’ minds amidst what was happening back home. One (and possibly only) negative was pace…

New MLL Playoff Format Adds Excitement

August 1, 2014

0 comment

With two games left in the regular season, Major League Lacrosse is heading down the stretch run with plenty of intrigue. Much of that intrigue is due to a change in the playoff format. Rather than have one “championship weekend,” with the semifinals and championship the same weekend, this will mark the first summer of semifinals a week before the championship and at the higher-seed team. The semifinals are set…

Lafleur: Is This Rochester’s Year?

July 24, 2014

0 comment

The path for the Rochester Rattlers organization has not been typical. One of Major League Lacrosse’s original franchises, the team has enjoyed its fair of good seasons and its fair share of bad seasons. Rochester has not made the playoffs since 2008 when the Rattlers won their only MLL Championship. The Rochester franchise even moved north of the border for the 2009 and 2010 seasons until the old Chicago Machine…

FIL Denver Not Just Test of Skills, But of Growth As Well

July 22, 2014

0 comment

One of the best stories from the 2014 World Lacrosse Championships was the emergence of countries, nations earning more success than what was expected. When thinking about this, three teams stand out the most to me. Israel Turmoil and unsettled conditions in Israel led to high security surrounding the team in Denver. Rather than be a distraction, the team rallied together and took playing for its country to a new…

Takeaways: Canada Executed Perfect Game

July 21, 2014

0 comment

Photo Credit: Di Miller The 2014 World Lacrosse Championships wrapped up on Saturday night with Canada defeating the United States. It wasn’t a historic or monumental upset, but is certainly an upset. Perhaps it’s fitting that in an era of growth and parity in the sport that the tournament ended the way it did. Here are some of my takeaways from Saturday’s title game along with the tournament as a…

United States and Australia square off in semifinals Thursday

July 17, 2014

0 comment

The United States looks to continue its impressive run in the FIL World Lacrosse Championships when it faces Australia on Thursday at 6:30 p.m. ET. The U.S. has been dominant, especially over its last three games, outscoring opponents by a combined 59-9 highlighted by its most recent 18-5 win over the high-powered Iroquois Nationals. Australia gave the United States one of its tougher games, falling 16-7 in each team’s second…

MLL: The Stretch Run Has Arrived

July 17, 2014

0 comment

With the attention of the lacrosse world on the World Lacrosse Championships in Denver (rightfully so), it’s easy to forget that Major League Lacrosse returns to action this weekend. Rochester travels to Chesapeake on Thursday night for the first MLL game in 12 days. Two games are set for Saturday while Florida travels to Denver on Sunday. Many wonder why games are scheduled during the world championships. I don’t know…

1 … 5 6 7 8 9 … 11