As we start Week 5 of the NLL season, certain players are starting to make their mark early for the season ending awards.
Your normal candidates will be mentioned for MVP and in this case Offensive Player of the Year. John Grant Jr., Mark Matthews, Shawn Evans, Garrett Billings. But here are a few names that are making an early run and can be serious candidates
Adam Jones—Colorado Mammoth. Although his team sits at 1-5, he is leading the league in goals (16) and points (29) and is one of the only bright spots so far and has really grown in his third year in the league.
Philadelphia Wings have a trifecta of candidates right now. Jordan Hall (15 G, 13 A), Kyle Buchanan (10 G, 18 A) and Ryan Ward (7 G, 19 A) All three of these players are on fire right now.
Hall has had three four-goal games right now and is tied for the team lead in points and one behind the league leader.
Buchanan, who is in his second year, is making Vancouver scratch their head right now as he is also on fire for the Wings offense with 28 points as well.
Ward who was signed as a free agent by the Wings is showing that they did not make a mistake as he leads the league in assists and has been a key cog in the offense
The Goalie of the Year is a two-man race right now.
Three-time winner Matt Vinc has a 7.67 goals against average and has helped lead the two-time champion Knighthawks to a 3-0 record heading into this weekend.
Aaron Bold of the Edmonton Rush has a 8.00 GAA and has also led his team to a 3-0 record going into this weekend. Both these goalies will face each other next weekend.
Rookie of the Year Candidates:
Logan Schuss—Minnesota. Starting off slow, 5 G, 3 A in four games, but is the favorite to win this award.
Cody Bremner—Vancouver. Making his statement for the award. So far in four games Cody has compiled 5 G, 5 A
Dillon Ward—Colorado Has been in every game so far for the Mammoth, has a .769 save percentage and a 11.92 GAA. Unfortunately his record is 1-3 and has only started one of the six games the 1-5 Mammoth have played. On a better Mammoth team Dillon Ward would be a strong contender for Rookie of the Year.
Comeback Player of the Year.
Tracey Kelusky has started 2014 like a man on a mission. In the first five games , Kelusky has compiled 10 G, 9 A and is currently on pace for his best season since 2010. In seven games last season with the Bandits, Kelusky only had 4 G, 6 A.
John Tavares, the 23 year veteran, is making a case for it as well. In 2013 Tavares compiled 13 G, 25 A. So far in 2014 he has 6 G, 7 A in three games played.
Coach of the Year:
Derek Keenan has once again led the Rush to be a top contender for the Champions Cup. Currently the Rush sit at 3-0 and look to be getting stronger every week.
Mike Hasen has led the Knighthawks to back-to-back titles and look to make it three in a row for the first time in the history of the league.
Troy Cordingley was fired by the Toronto Rock after they were eliminated for a second straight year in the first round of the playoffs. During the off season the Bandits hired Cordingley and after being dominated in the first game of the year, Troy has had the Bandits on a mission winning three in a row.