Alex Urquhart The Minnesota Swarm have gotten off to a very, very, slow start this season. The team is 1-3 on the season and averaged only 7.5 goals per game through the first four games. Although the Swarm are not scoring goals they are, for the most part, sticking with most teams. They have only given up 41 goals this year, and 15 of them were in Sunday’s matinee match…
Week 4 of the National Lacrosse League was the busiest week yet as it featured seven games over three days and all nine teams in action. Several players stood out including Calgary Roughnecks Shawn Evans (three goals, nine assists in two games), Cody Bremner of the Vancouver Stealth (3 G, 3 A in one game) and Buffalo Bandits Dhane Smith (4 G, 2 A in one game). Minnesota Swarm goaltender…
Rather than looking at follower demographics and statistics, I will analyze the successes/failures of the league through a cultural and historical perspective. NLL Commissioner George Daniel stated the league will attempt new market expansion in the near future, once current teams are strongly established; according to an interview found on Buzzfeed. The current teams are strong and competitive, hosting an array of athletes. Lacrosse is different from other sports in…
Today the Vancouver Stealth signed forward Justin Pychal back to their roster after they cut Josh Hawkins. Hawkins made his NLL debut for the Stealth on Saturday against the Colorado Mammoth, where he played in the place of injured defenseman Kyle Sorensen. Pychal was a rookie for the Stealth last season. Vancouver might also have to look for more defense help as Jeff Moleski suffered an injury as well on…
When a team in the National Lacrosse League goes on the power play, the typical outcome is a goal. In 2013 the power play success rate across the league was 51.4 percent on 712 total attempts; so far this season, the league is at exactly 50 percent success rate on 184 power plays. With such high risks associated with taking penalties, getting into frequent penalty trouble can easily be the…
The busiest week in the NLL has come and gone. Another overtime thriller is making this season very exciting. Only three games on the schedule this week, including the battle for the Beast of the East. Power Rankings Week 5 (1) 1—Rochester Knighthawks (3-0) Knighthawks stay atop as they claim a 12-8 victory over the Toronto Rock. Knighthawks built a 10-4 halftime lead. Hawks were led by Cody Jamieson’s…
The back-to-back defending National Lacrosse League champion Rochester Knighthawks (3-0) continued their 2014 dominance as they defeated the Toronto Rock (1-2) 12-8 to remain unbeaten in their first three games, doing so for the first time since 1998. Reigning NLL Goaltender of the Year Matt Vinc was solid in net making 38 saves, but the defense of the Knighthawks was outstanding all night, breaking up passes, blocking shots and forcing…
Highlighting Week 4 of NLL action for the 2014 rookie class were a crop of youngsters making their NLL debuts. Toronto Rock rookies Eric Law, a recent third-round draft pick, and Michael Lum-Walker, a 2012 draft pick who spent last year on the physically unable to perform list, both dressed for their first career NLL games in the Rock’s 12-8 loss to the Rochester Knighthawks. Law notched one assist in…
The Colorado Mammoth went up against the Buffalo Bandits on Saturday January 18, 2014 at The Pepsi Center in Denver. It was Military Appreciation Night at HealthOne Field, the pre-game ceremonies were spectacular, honoring all branches of the military and the Mammoth donned their camouflage jerseys and shorts which were put for auction and the funds being donated to charity. They also had camouflage helmet wraps to complete the military…
At the conclusion of Week 3, some things change, but some things remain the same. Leading the league in points once again is Adam Jones with 29. Close on his heels are Jordan Hall and John Grant Jr. with 28. Adam Jones leads the way in goals as well with 16. Jordan Hall has 15 and Dane Dobbie has 14. Ryan Ward and Shawn Evans share the lead in assists…