The only player to win three championships with the Rochester Knighthawks, Mike Accursi, has accepted a position in the team’s front office. The 38-year-old forward stands as one of the best players in National Lacrosse League history. “Whatever role I am going to play with the team, I am going to give my heart and soul to the Knighthawks, Curt (Styres) and this organization,” said Accursi. “I would like to…
MLL Supplemental Draft Recap: Denver Outlaws
With the 2014 Supplemental Draft now over, how did the Denver Outlaws fair in their picks? Ken Clausen, a long pole defensemen, a US Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association Scholar All-American and three-time All-American who played for Virginia, was the 6th round overall pick. He began his MLL career with the Outlaws and was also a member of the Colorado Mammoth. Although he’s been plagued by knee injuries the past three seasons,…
Brian Spallina vs. NFL linebackers
This post is part of a series geared toward generating hype for the upcoming MLL season. Non-lacrosse and non-MLL fans can get to know the league’s stars better through these comparisons to NBA, NFL and NHL players. Some analogies are based on playing styles and others are based on off-field personality, but none are based on spending habits. We aren’t quite at the point where MLL players can drop $5,000…
NLL Season Preview: Buffalo Bandits
After the dismal performance of the 2013 NLL season (that saw the Bandits the only team outside looking in regarding the playoffs, tied for the moast goals allowed and the second lowest scoring output in the league), I believe that Buffalo Bandits General Manager Steve Dietrich, Head Coach Troy Cordingley and the Bandits scouting staff have done an incredible job in the offseason to assess the problems that the organization…
Philadelphia To Host 2015 & 2016 NCAA Tournament Weekends
The NCAA announced on December 11 that the NCAA Men’s Division I Championship will be held at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia in 2015 and 2016. Baltimore’s M&T Bank Stadium is the main site for the 2014 NCAA Men’s Lacrosse Tournament weekend. Philadelphia was blessed with the return of the 2013 NCAA Men’s Lacrosse Championship Weekend where Stevenson won its first national title, Le Moyne withstood a surge by Mercyhurst…
Let’s Talk Defense
Any time your team does not have the ball, you are on defense. Yes attackmen, this means you are also defenders! Three defensive areas we’ll cover this week: 1) Using the lines on the field as 2nd defenders (i.e. sidelines, end lines and creases) 2) Using your eyes to play defense 3) Using your feet to play defense USING LINES AS A 2ND DEFENDER Any time a ball carrier is…
Evaluating the Bandits 2014 Roster
December 16th was the day that everyone affiliated with the Buffalo Bandits, much like everyone else in the NLL, had circled on their calendar. Today was the final day that every team in the NLL had to make their final active roster submissions for the 2014 National Lacrosse League season. Monday, Buffalo Bandits General Manager Steve Dietrich announced the 20-man active roster for their 2014 National Lacrosse Season. The Bandits…
Launch Roster Still Full of Canadians
Canadian lacrosse has long been synonymous with the indoor game. While a handful of Canucks took their skills outdoors, venturing south of the border or competing at the national level, most honed their skills within the familiar confines of the hockey arena. The new millennium has seen the Canadian lacrosse community embrace the field game, and vice-versa. A Team Canada gold medal on home soil in 2006 stands out as…
Wings 20 Man Roster; 10 New Faces.
The 2014 season is only eleven days away and the final rosters have been handed in. Once again there is a ten player turnover for the franchise. Steve Holmes (released) Paul Rabil (team USA commitment), Mike McLellan (released), Jeff Reynolds (team USA), Ned Crotty (team USA), Pat Heim (released), Drew Westervelt (traded-Col), Kevin Buchanan (team USA/job), Brandon Miller (UNSIGNED), Kyle Hartzell (team USA) Two of the Wings draft choices, A.J….
Chamberlain: Holiday Grab Bag
Holiday time, the office party, the gift exchanges amongst friends, family and colleagues, this week’s column will be a grab bag. Since there are 8 days until Christmas here are my eight items in my grab bag. 1. Coaching moves. Congratulations to Travis Johnson on being named the first Head Coach at New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT). Johnson a 2000 graduate of Rochester Institute of Technology has previously coached…