Week 5 of the NLL season saw the usual suspects in the Rookie Report have big games, Ben McIntosh, Miles Thompson, Eli McLaughlin and Robert Hope continue to shine for their respective teams, showing little to no indication they are only a month into their first NLL campaign. Week 5 also saw the likes of Mark Cockerton and Matt Crough make their NLL debuts, while rookies Colin Boucher and Brandon Clelland picked up their first NLL points. Buffalo Bandits backup goaltender David DiRuscio saw his first NLL action, and while it was in relief of Bandits starter Anthony Cosmo, DiRuscio showed well, likely gaining the confidence in his coaching staff, to perhaps give him his first NLL start in the coming weeks.
1. Ben McIntosh (O) – Edmonton Rush
McIntosh continued his assault on NLL defenses and goaltenders this past weekend, picking up a career high in points, as he racked up 4 goals and 4 assists for 8 points, in Edmonton’s 18-9 win over the New England Black Wolves. McIntosh fired 11 shots on goal on Friday night, showing he’s been the Rush’s go to go on the right side of the offense. McIntosh now sits with 21 points through 4 games, which places him behind only Mark Matthews in Rush team scoring. The 11 goals and 10 assists McIntosh has recorded, also has him leading the rookie scoring race, and placed 17th in overall league scoring.
2. Jerome Thompson (O) – Buffalo Bandits
The Bandits had two games this past weekend, where Thompson appeared in both. Thompson exploded on Friday night, racking up a career best 5 points on 4 goals and 1 assist. Thompson was effective all over the floor on Friday, firing 5 shots on goal and also scooping up 5 loose balls. While Thompson was held off the score sheet in Saturday night’s loss to the Rochester Knighthawks, he did manage to scoop 3 loose balls. Thompsons weekend totals, gave him 5 points and 8 loose balls, an effective weekend for the 26 year old rookie, who now sits 6th in Bandits team scoring.
3. Miles Thompson (O) – Minnesota Swarm
After exploding last weekend for 6 points, Thompson came back to earth in some sense, as he only posted 3 points this past weekend in Minnesota’s 15-12 loss to the Buffalo Bandits. Three points for your average rookie is excellent, and it still is for Miles Thompson, I guess we’ve just come to expect more from the Onondaga Native. Thompson sits third in Swarm team scoring behind Callum Crawford and Shayne Jackson, with 17 points in 4 games.
4. Eli McLaughlin (O) – Colorado Mammoth
McLaughlin continues to look more and more comfortable up front for the Mammoth, and it’s no surprise his weekly point totals are reflecting that. McLaughlin has his best statistical game as pro this past weekend in the Mammoth’s tough 16-13 loss to the Vancouver Stealth, recording 2 goals and 2 assists for 4 points. McLaughlin was also able to scoop 2 loose balls on the evening. With 12 points in 4 games, McLaughlin currently sits fifth in Mammoth team scoring.
5. Robert Hope (D) – Colorado Mammoth
Hope likely won’t win Rookie of the Year honours with the likes of Ben McIntosh and Miles Thompson dominating the league offensively, however Hope should be right in the conversation with those guys, as he continues to excel at the defensive end of the floor for the Mammoth. Hope didn’t record any points this past week, but was impactful in the loss to the Stealth, scooping 2 loose balls and creating 3 turnovers, all while contributing to the transition game and playing excellent shutdown defense.
6. Brandon Goodwin (T) – Buffalo Bandits
Goodwin had back to back solid performances for the Bandits this past weekend. While he was impactful in both games, scooping four loose balls in the Bandits win over the Minnesota Swarm, his better statistical performance was on Saturday night in the loss to the Knighthawks. Goodwin managed to find twine once and pick up one assist, while also scooping 2 loose balls and going 1 for 1 in the faceoff circle. It’s Goodwin’s ability to contribute in every situation that has allowed him to not only stay in the lineup as a rookie, but also thrive.
7. Conrad Chapman (D) – Vancouver Stealth
After being scratched for the Stealth’s first two games of the season, Chapman has been a mainstay on the Stealth’s defensive unit ever since. This past week, the mammoth 6’6″, 230 pound defender was able to scoop 4 loose balls and create one turnover in Vancouver’s 16-13 win over the previously undefeated Colorado Mammoth. In 3 appearances this season Chapman has recorded 1 goal, 1 assist, 2 points, 9 loose balls and 2 created turnovers. Not too shabby for a guy who couldn’t find his way into the lineup the first two weeks.
8. Brandon Clelland (D) – Vancouver Stealth
Clelland drew back into the lineup this past week, after being scratched the past two weeks, where his Stealth where defeated by the Buffalo Bandits and Colorado Mammoth. Being held out of the lineup seemed to spark Clelland, as he responded admirably this past weekend, notching his first NLL goal, scooping 4 loose balls and forcing two turn overs on the defensive side of the ball. While Clelland may be undersized as an NLL defender, he brings a tenacity to the floor that most guys don’t have, and it’s great to see the former Orangeville Northmen excel at the NLL level.
9. Mark Cockerton (O) – New England Black Wolves
The sixth overall pick from the 2014 NLL draft finally drew into the lineup for the New England Black Wolves, after being a healthy scratch through the teams first three games. Cockerton wasted no time proving he was deserving of the sixth selection in the draft, as he showed confidence throughout the night, firing 5 shots on goal, scooping 3 loose balls and even finding twine on one occasion for his first career NLL goal.
10. Sheldon Burns (D) – New England Black Wolves
While the Black Wolves defense got lit up to the tune of 18 goals on Friday night in Edmonton, Burns continued to show that he may very well be the steal of the 2014 NLL draft. Burns speed and athleticism was on full display on Friday night, as was his sound defensive play and transition ability. Burns found the back of the net in the loss to the Rush, the goal was the first of Burns career. Burns now sits with a goal and 2 assists through 4 NLL games.
Honourable Mentions – Colin Boucher (D) – Vancouver Stealth, Boucher picked up his first NLL point on Saturday night, and also scooped 2 loose balls and forced a single turnover. Matt Crough (O) – New England Black Wolves, Crough appeared in his first NLL game this past weekend and did not look out of place, picking up 2 assists in the loss to Edmonton.
