The National Lacrosse League has announced three finalists for the 2015 NLL Goaltender of the Year award. The Edmonton Rush’s Aaron Bold, Toronto Rock’s Brandon Miller and Rochester Knighthawks’ Matt Vinc were the top trio of vote recipients for best goalie play in the league this year.
Bold led the NLL in wins (12), goals against average (9.44) and career-high minutes played (1016:54) while finishing fourth in saves (565) and fifth in save percentage (.779). The 10-year veteran led the eventual 2015 NLL champion Rush to the top of the West Division with a 13-5 regular season record as the team allowed 177 goals, second-fewest in the league. Bold allowed nine or fewer goals in 10 games, including one game with three goals allowed, and had 14 games with 30-plus saves in 18 games played. The 30-year-old Victoria, B.C. native was a third-round (29th overall) pick in the 2005 NLL Draft.
Miller finished third in the league in save percentage (.792), fourth in wins (8) and goals against average (10.36) and was ninth in saves (431) and minutes played (654:10) as part of the Rock’s goaltending tandem. With an 8-2 record, the 15-year veteran helped backstop the East Division champions to a league-best 14-4 record during the regular season while allowing the third-fewest goals in the league (185). Miller made 40 or more saves in six of his 10 total appearances and 10 or fewer goals in five of his 10 decisions. The 36-year-old, a native of Orangeville, Ontario, was drafted in the ninth round (70th overall) of the 1999 NLL Draft.
