The National Lacrosse League has announced a trio of finalists for the 2014 NLL Defensive Player of the Year award. Two Edmonton Rush defensemen, Chris Corbeil and Kyle Rubisch, join Buffalo Bandits defender Steve Priolo as the top three vote recipients for best defenseman in the league.
Corbeil, who serves as the Rush’s captain, led all defensemen in both points (27) and goals (17). The fifth-year pro tied for the league lead with five shorthanded goals, ranked seventh in the NLL in shooting percentage (.405) and tied for seventh with 26 forced turnovers. As part of the league’s top defense, Corbeil finished eighth in the league with 137 loose balls, third-most among both defensemen and non-faceoff men. The Oakville, Ont. native, who attended the University of Western Ontario, was the 15th overall pick in the 2009 NLL Entry Draft.
Priolo ranked second among NLL defensemen with 26 points, tied for first with 18 assists and third with eight goals. The five-year veteran finished third in the league in penalty minutes (65) and tied for third in the NLL in both forced turnovers (31) and shorthanded goals (3). Priolo was also ninth among league defenders with 99 loose balls. The St. Catharines, Ont. native played collegiately at Brock University and was drafted 21st overall in the 2009 NLL Entry Draft.
Rubisch, the two-time defending Defensive Player of the Year, led the NLL in 2014 with a league-record 61 forced turnovers, 25 more than the second-highest total. The fourth-year pro recorded nine points (2+7), 25 penalty minutes and 156 loose balls, which ranked seventh in the league and second among both defensemen and non-faceoff men. The shutdown defender helped the Rush limit opposing teams to a league-low 157 goals this year. The Brampton, Ont. native, who played collegiately at Dowling College, was the second overall selection in the 2010 NLL Entry Draft.
The 2014 NLL Season Awards are determined by a vote of the league’s Board of Governors, General Managers and Head Coaches at the end of the regular season. The winners will be announced at the first-ever NLL Season Awards Ceremony on Sunday, Sept. 21 in Oakville, Ont.
The remaining schedule of finalist announcement for the 2014 NLL Season Awards is as follows:
Monday, June 16: Transition Player of the Year award finalists
Tuesday, June 17: Goaltender of the Year award finalists
Wednesday, June 18: Rookie of the Year award finalists
Thursday, June 19: Most Valuable Player award finalists
Monday, June 23: Executive of the Year award finalists
Tuesday, June 24: Media Person of the Year (The Tom Borrelli Award)
