1. Coquitlam Adanacs (11-1) Last Week: 17-5 W vs. Port Coquitlam This Week: vs. New Westminster The Adanacs continue to roll as the BCJALL’s most feared team and they proved they can win in a couple different ways. But one thing remains the same no matter what type of game they play: they defend incredibly well and they get great goaltending for Christian del Bianco, who is sporting…
With the NLL season now in the record books, thoughts now turn to awards season. Although there is likely one clear leader for the Most Valuable Player award, there are some other worthy candidates to consider as well. Mark Matthews—Edmonton Rush Matthews was a beast for the Rush in 2015, leading them to the best record in the West Division during the regular season and then helping the Rush earn…
There may be no figure in the sport of lacrosse that has contributed more to the growth of the game than University of Denver head coach Bill Tierney. Tierney’s surprise move west in 2009 was capped off last month when his Pioneers won the 2015 National Championship. The preseason #1 team in the nation, Denver had a couple roadblocks (losses to North Carolina and Ohio State), but ended the season…
When you take a moment to think about it, what can really be said to preview an All-Star game? Almost regardless of the sport under examination, All-Star games are an exhibition of offensive skill. Sure, defenders are invited to show up, but really this is their moment to shine on the other half of the field. I’ll admit to writing this on Friday afternoon before the teams have been picked…
Rookies are continuing to make their mark in Major League Lacrosse. It’s hard enough to crack a gameday roster (as evident by the relatively few who have played), but those who are playing are continuing to contribute. The Florida Launch continue to feature several rookies, led by Lyle Thompson who tallied one goal and three assists in last Friday’s 18-11 loss at undefeated New York. Thompson has recorded multiple points…
With the Edmonton Rush claiming their first National Lacrosse League title last weekend, with a 11-10 win over the Toronto Rock, it put a stamp on the 2015 season. With that being said, it’s time to revisit 2014 NLL draft, and see just what impact the 2014 draft class had on the NLL this season. With so few active roster spots in the NLL these days, finding yourself in the…
The Major League Lacrosse All-Star break is here so what better time to see who are the contenders and pretenders in the league. Pretenders Florida- The Launch have some great offensive firepower, but they don’t seem to have much chemistry at this point. It is something that needs to be developed and they have six more games to figure out how to best use the Thompson’s with McArdle and Powell….
Some teams are struggling while others are surging, but one thing remains clear: MLL is a perpetual logjam. This week I considered getting a set of playing cards, pulling out Ace through 8 of one suit, blindfolding myself, drawing a card, and writing a team name on it, then removing the blindfold to see what the rankings were, but I was on vacation last week and didn’t have time to…
Matthew Dinsdale was acquired by the Edmonton Rush from their arch-rivals, the Calgary Roughnecks, at the trade deadline in exchange for a third round draft pick later this year. Little did either team know that Dinsdale would go on to score the Champion’s Cup winning goal in Game 2 of the finals, sealing the Rush’s first ever title. That goal capped what turned out to be the best season…
Drafting is one of the keys to team building in any sport. There are many examples of this; the current two Stanley Cup teams, the Tampa Bay Lightning and Chicago Blackhawks, have had some of the best drafting in the NHL to get to this point. In the National Lacrosse League, the champion Edmonton Rush built their team around first overall picks Ben McIntosh and Mark Matthews. Major League Lacrosse…