Only 13.5% of the National Lacrosse League is American. Even though lacrosse is the fastest growing sport in America, to find a skilled enough boxla player to play in the NLL is rare.
There are very few current players in the NLL who are American who could be considered impact players. We compiled a list of the best players in the NLL who make an impact, and are American, and you can see it below.
1. Casey Powell- Rochester Knighthawks
Powell is a no brainer here. Even though he did not play last year, he has the all time record for goals for an American NLL player. He will be playing with the Knighthawks this year who won the 2012 NLL Championship, and will add a ton of offensive ability with his outside shot and sniping ability.
2. Paul Rabil- Rochester Knighthawks
Rabil is not what he is in the field game, but he still brings strong transition skill with him to boxla. After years of being just one of the trannies in Washington, he didn’t touch the ball much with players like Duch, Ratcliff and Zywicki. Can Rabil put up solid offensive numbers in 2013?
3. Drew Westervelt- Philadelphia Wings
Westervelt put up 53 points last season, nothing to sneeze at. He has put up 70 points before over his career, and this right handed shooter brings a lot to the shots inside the point for the Wings.
4. Brendan Mundorf- Philadelphia Wings
Mundorf is a star in outdoor lacrosse, but he isn’t a slouch in indoor. Last season he put up a career high 68 point, but unfortunately for the Wings he will be out till March with an ankle injury.
5. Kyle Hartzell- Philadelphia Wings
Traded from the Stealth to the Wings this off season, Hartzell now gets a chance to play with the best American program in the NLL. This transition player does not put up the points, but is nasty on the defensive end. He has 86 career loose balls and forced two turn overs last season.
6. Mitch Belisle- Minnesota Swarm
Belisle is so valuable to the Swarm because of the veteran leadership he brings to the young team. He has 380 career loose balls and forced five turnovers last season.
7. Eric Martin- Washington Stealth
Martin’s career high in points is 19, so he’s not a scoring defenseman. He forced ten turnovers last season and the year before he forced 18. He has 766 loose balls in his career and is a player the Stealth are happy to have on their side.
8. Joe Walters- Rochester Knighthawks
Walters put up just 22 points in his rookie year, but he has put in a ton of talent to become a Knighthawks fan favorite right away. This transition player even forced a turnover in his rookie year.
9. Max Seibald- Philadelphia Wings
Maybe Seibald hasn’t been what the Wings expected him to be. But he still has some great talent, and gets to be on this list.
10. Brett Manney- Philadelphia Wings
Manney forced 15 turnovers in 2012 and put up as many in 2011. He has 15o loose balls in his NLL career, and has 58 career penalty minutes with the Wings.
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