Please note: the holiday season delayed the start of this column for 2014, but as they say, better late than never. These quotes are from the conference call after Opening Weekend. On Wednesdays, Doug Fritts, National Lacrosse League VP of Broadcast Services & Communications, leads the NLL Coaches & Media Conference Call and each week I will highlight three topics from it that I think stood out. On the…
Starting the season 0-1 isnʼt the end of the world. It is in fact a long season at 18 games with the NLL extending the schedule from last yearʼs 16 regular season games. The franchise has a new look with with a new home and plenty of new faces. Gone are Athan Iannucci and Dean Hill, two members of the offense who were released preseason. Opting to go with former practice roster…
Winning face offs seems to be one of those skills that you either have or you don’t. Most guys don’t. Typically the responsibility for taking draws falls to one or two players on any given team. In the 2013 NLL season, 12 players took 100 or more face offs. Half of those players had a success rate between 40 percent and 60 percent, with two below 40 percent and four…
The two-time defending World Champion Rochester Knighthawks have re-signed veteran defenseman Scott Self to a three-year contract good through the 2016 season. Self, 34, was acquired from the Buffalo Bandits in a trade for Alex “Kedoh” Hill midway through last season, and made his debut in Rochester on March 16, 2013. He is in his 14th season in the National Lacrosse League after winning his first championship with the Knighthawks last…
The NLL week is over and there were plenty of interesting things to watch. On Friday we went over the storylines to keep your eyes on, but today we make observations to think about heading into week three. Number Five—Impact from Karsen Leung Karsen Leung did not put any points on the board for the Calgary Roughnecks, but his presence was felt throughout the game. He made several hits, picks…
Calgary Roughnecks vs Toronto Rock Right—Everything went right for the Rock. Stephan Leblanc was a man possessed in scoring 5 goals, Rob Heller a hat trick, Captain Colin Doyle and Josh Sanderson 2 goals each. Garrett Billings a 10 point performance with a goal and nine assists. Nick Rose was solid stopping 40 of 51 shots. For Calgary Jeff Shattler led the way with 4 goals. Geoff Snider went 18/28…
With Week 2 of the NLL officially in the books, all nine teams now have one game of the 2014 season on record. A majority of this year’s rookie class have already made their presence known throughout the league, including some standout performances. Rookie goaltender Dillon Ward has arguably cemented his spot as the Colorado Mammoth’s starting goaltender, earning his first career NLL victory with a 13-12 defeat of Vancouver….
Last night at The Pepsi Center, the Colorado Mammoth defeated the Vancouver Stealth by the score of 13-12 in an exciting and fast paced game, a game which had some of the best lacrosse the sport has to offer. Drew Westervelt, #26 Mammoth forward scored the first goal 1:26 into the first quarter, followed by a second goal by Westervelt only 47 seconds later. Rhys Duch, #10 of the Stealth…
Last night the Colorado Mammoth defeated the Vancouver Stealth by a score of 13-12. After the game we caught up with some of the stars of the game for the Mammoth. John Grant Jr. had a five point night for the Mammoth to lead them along with five points from Drew Westervelt. Four of Grant Jr.’s points were assists and he also picked up four loose balls. John Grant Jr…
On Friday night the Toronto Rock opened their season with a win over the Calgary Roughnecks by a score of 16-11 in Toronto. After the game we caught up with the captain Colin Doyle, and Jeff Swift, who was a scratch for the Rock but took in his first Rock game as a member of the organization. Doyle had a great season opener for the Rock with four points; two…