NLL Insider

Blaine Manning factored in on both Toronto Rock Week 5 winners. (Photo: Tania Garshowitz)

A couple close ones, but the National Lacrosse League’s Week 5 saw some nasty blowouts (again) that had this past week’s winners taking their W’s by an almost six-goal differential, leaving some of this year’s basement dwellers licking their wounds (again).

NLL parity, where’d you go?

Over 30 games this year, compared to 30 in ‘09, teams are winning by an extra half-goal across the board, and while that number isn’t staggering, the separation in the standings looks like it might be more telling. (Read More…)

Cody Jamieson will play his first full-season with Syrcause in 2010. (Photo: Greg Wall)

Believe it or not its lacrosse season again! For fans of NCAA lacrosse and/or those who enjoy keeping up with the performance of Canadian’s playing south of the border, the season is off to a terrific start with three games already in the bag and some notable performances from guys with maple leaf tattoos on their calves. However, before we get into the specifics of this weekend’s games, let’s briefly look at this year’s contingent of Canadians (which includes two Iroquois players) and players of interest as we head into the season. (Read More…)

Just days after being moved to the Boston Blazers via the Rochester Knighthawks, Jamie Rooney not only suited up for the Blazers this weekend, his first game in Beantown was up against his former teal-and-white friends. Results? Well, beyond good for Rooney, not only cuz of his two-goal and one-helper night, but Boston crushed the Hawks too, 14-8, Rooney’s lone assist helping set up the game winner. Was Rooney’s time in the Hawk’s camp even more beneficial on Saturday night than his stats? Find out in the vid above, and check out the rest of the links after the jump. (Read More…)

Well after 5 weeks of lacrosse it has become abundantly clear that we have three levels of teams in the NLL this season. Argue all you want about the particular order of teams within each group but I dare you to argue about a team’s inclusion in that group. (Read More…)

Colin Doyle joined John Tavares and Gary Gait in the 1,000 point club Saturday (Martin Allinson)

Colin Doyle had a big night for the surging Rock, becoming the third-ever player to pass the 1,000 point mark in the regular season as Toronto improved to 5-1 by topping the Buffalo Bandits last night. Boston also gained ground with a win over Rochester, while Philadelphia’s schedule tilt against Orlando was snowed out. (Read More…)

The Rocheter Knighthawks have picked up 18-year vet Chris Driscoll in a trade with the Buffalo Bandits, Buffalo picking up a pair of K’Hawks future second round entry draft picks, one in 2010 and the other in 2012. Rochester felt the need to add Driscoll, who’d played previously with the Knighthawks during his pro career (’95 – ‘99), when the team lost two-way threat Bobby McBride to a shoulder injury, McBride currently shelved on the team’s injured reserve, but expected back later in the season. Rochester is in Boston tonight to take on the Blazers at TD North Garden, 7:30PM EST (live on the NLL Network). A Knighthawks win tonight, combined with a Toronto Rock loss in Buffalo, could have the K’Hawks back (tied) on the top of the East at 4-2.

Another busy Friday night in the NLL saw the Washington Stealth remain undefeated and Toronto, Calgary and Orlando come out on top. Max Siebald made his NLL debut and Kim Squire returned to the floor for the first time since 2006. The Mammoth were shut out in the first quarter for the second time this season and the Roughnecks snapped a three-game losing streak.
(Read More…)

Can the Roughnecks bounce back tonight against the Rush? (Photo: Larry Palumbo)

It might be the most pivotal and important Battle of Alberta the National Lacrosse League has ever seen, when the Calgary Roughnecks and Edmonton Rush take the floor tonight at the Pengrowth Saddledome for their second battle against one another over the past seven days.

With a pair of goalkeeper moves made earlier this week, the defending champion Roughnecks’ 1-3 start to the season is the worst four-game season kick-off the team has gone through since their expansion season in 2002, ultimately finishing 4-12 on the year. A win tonight would likely be a monumental momentum change to their 2010 season. Must win already? Maybe. (Read More…)

The National Lacrosse League announced that Saturday’s 7 p.m. game between the Orlando Titans and Philadelphia Wings at the Wachovia Center in Philadelphia has been postponed due to the impending winter storm. The people over at The Weather Channel are calling for as much as 1 foot of snow in the Philadelphia region. No make-up date has been set as of yet. The Titans are in Colorado for a game tonight and the Wings are playing in Toronto tonight, but the air carriers scheduled to bring both teams into Philadelphia already have cancelled the flights into Philly.

What do the Roughnecks need to do to get back to holding the Cup at the end of the year? (Photo: Larry Palumbo)

When things start going bad, folks usually blame the coach.

Or, they point the finger at the goaltender.

So, it’s no surprise the two names most often mentioned as the main culprits for the Calgary Roughnecks woeful 1-3 start to the season are rookie bench boss Dave Pym and starting netminder Matt King.

The two do make for easy targets, so it’s no surprise they are shouldering the majority of the blame, it seems, in the public eye. (Read More…)