Week 2 of the NLL season saw another strong offensive performance from Miles Thompson, while Eli McLaughlin was able to find twine for his first career NLL goal in a closely contested 17-16 win for his Colorado Mammoth. Defensive rookies such as Robert Hope, Sheldon Burns and Will O’Brien continued their strong starts to the season, while Brandon Clelland saw his first NLL action, when his Vancouver Stealth took on the Toronto Rock on Saturday night. With just one game on the NLL schedule this coming weekend, rookies from the Buffalo Bandits and Vancouver Stealth will be on full display for the lacrosse world to take note of.
1. Miles Thompson – Minnesota Swarm
After potting 3 goals & 1 assists for 4 points in a week one loss to the Colorado Mammoth, Thompson stayed hot in Week 2, recording another 3 goals & 1 assist in 14-10 win over the Edmonton Rush. Thompson now finds himself with 6 goals and 2 assists for 8 points in just 2 appearances, and currently sits 3rd in team scoring behind only veterans Callum Crawford and Shayne Jackson. As if Thompson’s weekend couldn’t get any better, his final goal on Saturday night turned out to be the game winner.
2. Quinn Powless – New England Black Wolves
Powless got off to a hot start to his NLL career in a week 1 victory over the Buffalo Bandits, picking up a goal and 2 assists. In week 2, Powless continued to produce, picking up 3 assists in a surprising upset victory over the Rochester Knighthawks. Powless showed an excellent ability to scoop loose balls in week to, recording 5 on Saturday night, giving the Black Wolves multiple second chance scoring opportunities. While he didn’t find twine on Saturday night, Powless continues to impress early on in his NLL career.
3. Eli McLaughlin – Colorado Mammoth
McLaughlin was unable to find the back of the net in his NLL debut, that saw his Mammoth storm back to defeat the Minnesota Swarm 20-13. However he was able to pick up 2 assists in his debut, and this past Saturday McLaughlin added another 3 points to his season totals, including his first NLL goal. McLaughlin would actually pick up 2 goals & 1 assist in the Mammoth’s 17-16 upset of the Calgary Roughnecks, an would scoop up 2 loose balls in process. Playing behind John Grant Jr. and Adam Jones, some what limits McLaughlin’s touches, but he has seemingly taking advantage of every opportunity he has gotten to date.
4. Ben McIntosh – Edmonton Rush
The first overall pick in the 2014 NLL draft potted a hat trick in his NLL debut in a 9-8 loss to the Buffalo Bandits in week 1. Week 2 saw McIntosh continue to show why he was selected first overall, as he recorded another 3 points, on 2 goals & 1 assist, and was able to pick up 4 loose balls in the 14-10 defeat at the hands of the Minnesota Swarm. McIntosh currently sits 3rd in team scoring, behind only Mark Matthews and former junior teammate Robert Church.
5. Robert Hope – Colorado Mammoth
While the hulking 6’2 defender was unable to find the scorer sheet for the Mammoth, he again provided top notch defense and solid transition skills in the Mammoth’s 17-16 win on Saturday night. Hope was able to scoop 4 loose balls, force a turn over and even recorded two shots on goal. The Peterborough, Ontario native sits 6th on the team in loose balls and 3rd in created turnovers, pretty solid for a rookie defensive player in the NLL.
6. Sheldon Burns – New England Black Wolves
After an impressive NLL debut, that saw Burns activated just before the Black Wolves home opener, Burns had yet another solid showing in Saturday nights defeat of the Rochester Knighthawks. Though Burns did not reach the scorer sheet, or pick up an loose balls, his one on one defense and ability to play solid team defense was clearly evident, as he and the Black Wolves defensive core held the potent Knighthawks offence to just 7 goals.
7. Caleb Wiles – Vancouver Stealth
After an impressive NLL debut, that saw him pick up 3 points on 2 goals & 1 assist, Wiles was held pointless in Saturday night’s 20-11 loss to the Toronto Rock. Wiles wasn’t afforded much opportunity on Saturday night, as with the Stealth trailing for most of the game, veterans Lewis Ratcliff and Rhys Duch tried to take over the game offensively, to little success. Wiles however did scoop one loose ball and fired one shot on goal. Wiles does however sit 5th in rookie scoring.
8. William O’Brien – New England Black Wolves
An omission from the Week 1 Rookie Report, the towering 6’4, 235 pound William O’Brien continues to show strong, physical defensive play that has helped the Black Wolves start the season 2-0. O’Brien was held off the score sheet in both Week 1 & Week 2 action, however like Sheldon Burns, O’Brien’s strong 1 on 1 defense and ability to play sound team defensive has allowed him to thrive threw two weeks of action. O’Brien scooped 2 loose balls in the 17-7 defeat of the Rochester Knighthawks.
9. Brandon Clelland – Vancouver Stealth
Clelland drew into the Stealth lineup on Saturday night with the absences of Rory Smith and Chris O’Dougherty on the Stealth backend. While the Stealth dropped the game by a score of 20-11, Clelland did not look out of place picking up 2 loose balls in the loss. While he’ll need more time to adjust and show the skill that has allowed him to crack the Stealth roster as a 20 year old, Clelland’s NLL debut was impressive none the less.
10. Eric Penny – Vancouver Stealth
Penny saw his first NLL action on Saturday night, after Stealth starter Tyler Richards was pulled during the 2nd half of play. In 11:19 of action, Penny made 4 stops on 8 shots. Though it wasn’t the debut Penny was hoping for, he showed glimpses as to why he was a sought after young goaltender during this year’s NLL off season.
Not in Action – Jer0me Thompson & Brandon Goodwin – Buffalo Bandits
Both players where in our Week 1 Rookie Report, however with the Bandits off during Week 2, the players slip out of the rankings for the time being. In one game of action Jerome Thompson picked up 2 assists, 2 penalty minutes and 2 loose balls, while Brandon Goodwin appeared in both the Bandits week 1 games, picking up 1 loose ball and forcing one turnover.
