The National Lacrosse League has announced Player of the Week awards for Week #14 of the 2013 NLL regular season, which featured six games this past weekend as the postseason race heats up.
For the second-straight week, the Minnesota Swarm had three players win awards in their respective categories, as they helped a resurgent Swarm team get back into the playoff mix with a weekend split, including a franchise record-setting offensive performance in their 21-7 win over the Buffalo Bandits.
Swarm forward Callum Crawford, ranked fourth in the NLL with 53 assists and fifth in the league with 80 points (27+53) in just 12 games played this year, won the Offensive Player of the Week award for the second-straight week and third time this season.
Minnesota transition player Jordan MacIntosh, second in the league in loose balls (161) and fourth in faceoffs won (197), earned Transition Player of the Week award for the second-straight week and fourth time in 2013.
Swarm forward Shayne Jackson, who leads all rookies with 35 assists, ranks second in rookie scoring with 55 points (20+35), and is tied for third among rookies with 20 goals, won his second Rookie of the Week award of the year after previously earning the award in Week #5.
Colorado Mammoth second-year goaltender Tye Belanger, who has a 4-2 record along with an impressive 9.48 goals against average and .794 save percentage in seven games played this season, won Defensive Player of the Week by helping the Mammoth snap the Edmonton Rush’s five-game win streak in a defensive battle.
Offensive Player of the Week
Callum Crawford, Minnesota Swarm (2 GP, 6G, 12A, 18 PTS, 8 LB): Crawford recorded 10 points (2+8) and three loose balls in Minnesota’s 21-7 win vs. Buffalo on Saturday and eight points (4+4) and five loose balls in Minnesota’s 15-13 loss at Philadelphia on Sunday.
Transition Player of the Week
Jordan MacIntosh (2 GP, 5G, 7A, 12 PTS, 31 LB, 1 FT): MacIntosh recorded nine points (5+4) and 13 loose balls in Minnesota’s 21-7 win vs. Buffalo on Saturday and three assists, 18 loose balls and one forced turnover in Minnesota’s 15-13 loss at Philadelphia on Sunday.
Defensive Player of the Week
Tye Belanger, Colorado Mammoth (1W, 7.00 GAA, .873 SV%): Belanger recorded 48 saves on 55 shots in Colorado’s 9-7 win at Edmonton on Saturday.
Rookie of the Week
Shayne Jackson, Minnesota Swarm (2 GP, 5G, 5A, 11 LB): Jackson recorded seven points (3+4) and two loose balls in Minnesota’s 21-7 win vs. Buffalo on Saturday and three points (2+1) and nine loose balls in Minnesota’s 15-13 loss at Philadelphia on Sunday.
The NLL Player Awards are determined by a weekly vote of the league’s general managers and head coaches.
