Week nine of the NLL season saw the elite rookies continue to shine, as Miles Thompson got back on track with 6 points against the Vancouver Stealth, while first overall pick Ben McIntosh continued his potent point producing pace, picking up 4 points in his team’s loss to the Toronto Rock, while Eli McLaughlin got back into the Mammoth line up picking up 3 points. This past weekend we saw our first rookie goaltender get a start, as David DiRuscio got his first career start between the pipes for the Buffalo Bandits. Rookies Shane MacDonald, Robert Hope, Conrad Chapman and Joel Matthews continue to contribute to their respective NLL clubs, as we see rookies continue to feel more and more comfortable as the NLL passes its midway point of the 2015 Regular season.
1. Ben McIntosh (O) – Edmonton Rush
Ben McIntosh continued his consistent point producing pace for the Edmonton Rush last weekend, despite their narrow 16-15 loss to the Toronto Rock. McIntosh tallied 2 goals and 2 assists for 4 points, along with 4 loose balls and 1 forced turnover. It was their 3rd straight game McIntosh recorded four points for the Rush, and the fifth time in 7 games he’s recorded 4 or more points. McIntosh quickly has become the Rush’s number 1 option on the right side of their offensive, and looks to be well on his way to rookie of the year honours.
2. Miles Thompson (O) – Minnesota Swarm
After back to back underwhelming performances against the Toronto Rock, Miles Thompson bounced back this past weekend, racking up a goal and 5 assists in his team’s 21-15 loss to the Vancouver Stealth. Thompson’s six points tied his career high, that he set on January 24 against the New England Black Wolves. Thompson has been dangerous in the offensive end all season for the Swarm, while the back-to-back less-than-stellar appearances against the Rock made some briefly question his consistency, his 6 point effort against the Stealth should get the critics off his back.
3. Shane MacDonald (O) – Minnesota Swarm
MacDonald had a career high four points in his team’s 21-15 loss to the Vancouver Stealth last weekend. MacDonald would record his first NLL hat trick along with one assist and two loose balls in the game. Since briefly coming out of the lineup, MacDonald has really responded, as his compete level has risen, which in turn seems to have spurred his offensive attack, as MacDonald now has 6 points in his last two games.
4. David DiRuscio (G) – Buffalo Bandits
With Bandits starter Anthony Cosmo going down with a non lacrosse related injury last week, David DiRuscio was called upon for his first NLL start. An what a game to be making your NLL debut in, as the Bandits took on John Grant Jr and the Colorado Mammoth. DiRuscio responded well between the pipes for Buffalo, picking up his first NLL victory in the Bandits 14-11 win over Colorado. DiRuscio made 36 saves on 47 shots, coming up big in the fourth quarter as the game was tied at 11 prior to the fourth quarter getting underway.
5. Eli McLaughlin (O) – Colorado Mammoth
After being sat in the Mammoth’s previous game, McLaughlin got back into the lineup on Saturday against the Buffalo Bandits. McLaughlin seemed to be rejuvenated as he picked up 4 points, on a goal and 3 assists in the Mammoth’s narrow 14-11 loss. McLaughlin’s four points, ties his previous career high of 4 points, that he racked up on January 31 in Vancouver. McLaughlin now has 19 points in 7 games this season.
6. Robert Hope (D) – Colorado Mammoth
Hope didn’t get on the score sheet for the Mammoth, but as usual he provided excellent defense and transition for the Mammoth. Hope is effective both within the team defense and as a 1 on 1 defender. He continues to excel on loose balls and quickly transitioning the ball up the floor. Hope has above average hands for a defender and it should only be a matter of time before he starts racking up the points from the backend. Hope scooped 7 loose balls in Saturday’s loss to the Bandits.
7. Jerome Thompson (O) – Buffalo Bandits
Thompson got back into the Bandits lineup on Saturday, after previously being scratched from the Bandits matchup with the Rochester Knighthawks. Thompson looked to show the Bandits coaching staff he deserved to stay in the lineup on Saturday, as he racked up four points on a goal and 3 assists. Thompson would also scoop two loose balls in the win, and played one of his better games all season. With 16 points in 7 games this season, look for Thompson to be back in the lineup next weekend versus Toronto.
8. Joel Matthews (O) – Rochester Knighthawks
Joel Matthews has quietly been creeping up the NLL rookie scoring race; with his 3 points this past weekend against the Calgary Roughnecks, Matthews now has 11 points in just 5 games. The 6’1″, 217 pound righty from St. Catharines, Ontario has been quite the secondary scoring option for an already potent Knighthawks offense. Matthews seems to have found his role within the K-Hawks offense, and I expect him to be a mainstay in the lineup for the remainder of the season.
9. Conrad Chapman (D) – Vancouver Stealth
The 6’6″, 230 pound lefty from Prince George, BC, had one of his better all around performances of the season this past weekend. While Chapman has continued to excel in the defensive end of the floor since being inserted into the Stealth lineup, he has also began pushing the ball up the floor more and his transition game has really developed throughout the season. This past weekend Chapman continued his strong defensive play, but also added a goal and assist for 2 points in the Stealth win. Chapman now has 5 points in 6 games, along with 17 loose balls and 5 created turnovers.
10. Mike Burke (O) – Colorado Mammoth
After dominating the Canadian Lacrosse League and racking up 3 points in his Mammoth debut on February 22, Burke added another assist to his 2015 point totals. Burke is playing in a depth role with the Mammoth, but his Lacrosse IQ and ability to get open and finish when given the opportunity make him a lethal secondary scoring option for Colorado.
Ian Crawford (D) of the Minnesota Swarm and Mike Woods (D) of the Colorado Mammoth, both made their NLL debuts last weekend, and while neither reached the score sheet offensively, both looked sound in their debuts.
