NLL Insider

NLL Insider

The Importance of Effort

Hockey was my favorite sport growing up. I didn’t start playing until first or second grade and was typically not the most skilled player on the ice. I started playing Varsity Hockey when I was a freshman in high school and made the team by effort alone. I got a couple lucky goals when I got my chance and managed to dress the second half of the year. My athleticism started to kick in around my Junior year, but it was that fore-checking/back-checking grinder mentality I learned in hockey that I took into lacrosse.

I don’t know why but often it’s the attackmen or offensive players that develop a lazy style of play. I have done it too so I know first-hand, but it is almost as if it is not cool to hustle. Luckily, I got past that mentality and over the course of my career tried to find new ways to push myself and show how much I cared through my effort. It’s one of those things that when you get it … it just makes sense.

Give everything you have to help your team win. Sprint on the floor. Sprint off the floor. Fly into the corners to battle for a loose ball. When you get tired and feel fatigued use that as a sign to push on harder, not to ease up and take a break. You get used to working so hard that it becomes second nature. I guess the laziness and apathy become second nature for some as well.

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NLL Insider

When did loyalty become a bad thing?

Hey, what’s up with everyone in the yard? I thought I’d stop in today to talk some hockey. Growing up in Canada, hockey was as much a part of my life as lacrosse was, and even though lacrosse fills up most of my time now days, I still find some time to be a hockey enthusiast……make that a Montreal Canadiens enthusiast!!!!

As many of you may know today was the NHL trade deadline. Since I am home in Waterloo, Ontario hockey rules on the t.v. and today was filled with full day “trade deadline” coverage across the board. Of course, living in the Maple Leafs viewing area, I was again overdosed with Leaf coverage. I grew up like most other Habs fans……I cheer for the Habs and whoever is playing the Leafs.

Click here to read the rest of this post and leave comments for Colin.

NLL Girls

Nikki vs. Alanna

There was a time in the world of sport when cheerleaders on the floor meant it was time for a break. Beer run, bathroom run, whatever. There was nothing to keep you in your seat.

My, how times have changed.

In our beloved National Lacrosse League, we don’t have cheerleaders, per se. We have dance teams, or performance teams. And we look. Yes, we do. We even think we’re the master of cover-up when we sneak peaks at the dancers while sitting next to our girlfriends at the games … because the last thing we want it to get caught looking, right? But as we all know, she knows. We don’t know how she knows, but she knows.

Well, here’s your chance to look and be helpful while looking. It’s the perfect setup to avoid that “Whatever!” look from your woman because you’re doing a service when you look and cast a vote for your favorite NLL Girls.

What we’re doing is taking each NLL Girl of the Week and putting them up against each other. We’ll list some of their interests (and pics), take some guesses (and post pics), critique their wardrobe (and post pics), and give you their phone numbers … kidding! (but we’re not kidding about posting pics). Get the picture?

Our first matchup puts Nikki of the Chicago Shamrox up against Alanna of the Rochester Knighthawks.

Cast your vote today, because this poll closes Friday at midnight.

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What you need to do is click on the “read more” tag, check out the credentials and cast your vote. It’s as simple as it sounds and you really have no excuse, unless she’s standing over your shoulder right now. But then again, we all know you’re reading this at work anyway.

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Business Time

I’m A Grower

After reading the book, How Soccer Explains the World, I was so inspired to seek out some televised futbol and immerse myself in the world’s game.  Since the only game I could find was on Telemundo, and I haven’t spoken pirate in years, I decided against it. 

Still, I was so impressed by the author’s vivid description of the passion and zeal that fans everywhere have for a relatively uneventful game.  Soccer transcends boredom.  Nationalistic sentiments combined with several pints of ale transform a soccer match into a war … at least that’s what it sounds like … I’ve never been there … but I read about it … in a book!

I realize that our game may never reach the lofty heights of “the beautiful game”, but it is worth discussing a few options for attracting more fans.  Over the last six or seven years the NLL has experienced immense growth.   It seems like only yesterday when countless dozens packed into the Meadowlands to watch the Storm … or was that The Pond and Anaheim? 

Credit should be given to the league’s leadership for their efforts, but more can be done.  Here are a few ideas that I am offering the league … on the house.  1) bring back spandex 2) use a shrunken human head instead of a ball 3) turn the All-Star game into the Heritage Cup. 

READ MORE »

NLL Insider

Hammer’s blueprint for success

What can Edmonton fans expect now that Bob Hamley’s in the house?

If it’s anything like he did in Arizona, you can expect trades, solid scouting and a ton of character guys comin’ into the Rush fold. Well, at least that’s what he told the Arizona Republic just before last year’s NLL Champion’s Cup game.

“We try to get not only the best players, but we want to get a good group of guys who will want to be together. We want a quality group on and off the field,” Hamley told the Republic last May.

Hamley also told the paper that he is not a fan of the dual goaltender, platoon type system Arizona found themselves in in 2006 when Rob Blasdell and Mike Miron split time in the Sting cage. With Edmonton currently running Matt Disher and Curtis Palidwor in an almost 50/50 role, can we expect one to be moved? READ MORE »

NLL Insider

Top 20 NLL Player Ranking: Week 9

This week’s Top 20 NLL Player Ranking, a breakdown of the first nine weeks on the charts and Tutka makes his picks for “almost mid-season yearend hardware”.

There have been nine players to have stayed on the ranking since day one… John Tavares, Colin Doyle, Dan Dawson, John Grant, Nick Patterson, Gavin Prout, Ryan Cousins, Casey Powell , and Lewis Ratcliff has held onto that 20 spot for the second week in a row to keep him on here for eight straight weeks.

We’ve had just three guys at the number one spot… Grant, Prout and Athan Iannucci, who after a ridiculous game against Minnesota is leading for the second straight week. READ MORE »

The Beat

There’s no Walk in Park

If you think you’re gonna finish reading this sentence in the next 2 seconds, Jarrett Park will want to finish it in 1. If you see Park before the game on gameday and he doesn’t let you know what’s up, it’s nothing personal.

And if you’re a young lacrosse buck thinking about your next ankle-breaking dodge, which college is gonna give you a full ride or which pro team is gonna throw you a bone, stop. Just stop.

Lax is supposed to be fun. It is for Park and that’s his message for players young and old in this interview with Titans intern Meaghan Pittman on the Titans Web site. Of course, it’s a lot easier to have fun when you are paid to play the game … or is it?

“Enjoy yourself,” says Park, whose 91 loose balls leads the Titans and is second-best in the NLL. “Don’t worry about scholarships or the pros. I never even thought about becoming a professional lacrosse player until I finished school and found out teams wanted to draft me. I just really enjoyed playing and that made me want to work and get better and then the other stuff just fell into place.”

It’s advice most any pro will offer but it’s working for Park, who chumps foes on a regular basis with his sick speed. That’s why he’s a vacuum for the loose balls. That, and his will to win and beat you in anything, including the reading of this article …. which he finished reading about 10 seconds before you did.

• Jax add another Morgan, Stealth sign Gurenlian: NLL transactions
• Knighthawks-Shamrox game added to Sirius lineup: Knighthawks.net
• “Jax Lacrosse Weekly” air second episode tonight: Portlandjax.com

Rookie Report

NLL Rookie Rankings: Top 20

The Rookie of the Week award has to go out to Buffalo Bandits’ goaltender Daniel Sams. The third string back-up put up a franchise record 60 saves in the Bandits’ 13-8 victory over Chicago.

Despite being outshot 68-39, the Bandits put together another win. Buffalo now sits tied for third in the Eastern Division with Toronto, half-a-game up on New York and one game ahead of Rochester. The Bandits are expected to finally get their No. 1 starter Mike Thompson back in their next game versus Philly. Thompson’s missed the last few games due to a concussion. Back-up Ken Montour was also injured with a concussion, forcing Sams into action.

It was Sams’ first start in the NLL. 60 saves… Not a bad way to start.

Other rookie tenders this year include Joel Weber in Portland and Kevin Croswell in Minnesota.

Weber has yet to see any action as a third-string goalie behind Matt King and Dallas Eliuk. Croswell is Minny’s back-up. He’s played in two games this season to relieve all-star starter Nick Patterson. Combined, Croswell’s played about a quarter (13:45 to be exact) and stopped 13 of 18 shots.

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Q&A

Q&A with Portland Rookie, Cory Conway

Cory Conway was selected No. 16 overall in the 2007 NLL Entry Draft and the forward has slowly worked himself into the rotation in Portland (3-5).

He cracked the line-up February 2, and scored his first NLL goal and three points in an 11-10 victory over Edmonton. He has played three games since and now has four goals and six points in four games. The ‘Jax have won three of those four games that he’s played.

6’2”, 195lbs, Conway actually still has another year of Jr. left. Named Victoria’s rookie of the year in 2006, Conway then led the Victoria Jr. A Shamrocks in scoring this past summer with 68 points in 17 games. He put up a team high 14 goals and had 27 points in eight playoff games.

READ MORE »

InsideLacrosse.com Video

All-Access: Philadelphia Wings

As I blogged about before, myself and Terry Foy went to a Wings game last month at the Wachovia Center when they were playing the Knighthawks. We were given all-access passes and told we could film whatever we wanted. We spent some time in the locker room, on the bench, and in the penalty box. I was in the tunnel for player intros, rushed the field after they won, and even celebrated with a drink or two at the post-game party.

The result is a video I posted this morning that shows you some behind-the-scenes footage that you wouldn’t normally see. The team and staff was great and didn’t mind a couple of civilians invading their normal routine. Of course I had to edit some of the video because of language (who knew NLL players cursed..?) and I didn’t want to give away any secret strategies, but their was plenty of good stuff left in there.

Be sure to check it out here- http://tv.insidelacrosse.com/index.cfm?video=579

NLL Girls

NLL Girl of the Week: Anne

Ya know guys, it’s OK to admit you sneak peaks at the dance teams around the league when they’re on the floor. And you know damn well you’ve perfected the craft of balancing your beer to not spill a drop as you try to catch a t-shirt when these dancers are tossing them around the arena.

If any dance team member in the NLL is going to make you take a second look, it’s Anne in Calgary.

She’s a six-year veteran of the Crew Drill team and when she’s not preparing for home games, she’s a kindergarten teacher.

“The games are so much fun,” Anne tells NLL.com. “I love to dance and I love to perform.”

Check out Anne’s NLL profile page and while you’re at it, get yourself ready for a new tournament that’s coming to the site this week: The NLL Girl of the Week, where you get to gawk at pictures and vote for your faves. It’s a tough job, but someone’s gotta do it, right?

The Beat

Let’s celebrate the Hall of Fame

One’s a builder of team, the other’s a guider of teams. One writes stories about teams and the other was an anchor for teams.

All four are now NLL Hall of Famers.

Celebrating this honor this week in Philadelphia are Johnny Mouradian, currently the general manager of the San Jose Stealth, former Philadelphia Wings coach Tony Resch, Toronto journalist Neil Stevens and former Saints goalie Sal LoCasio.

Mouradian was the builder of five NLL champions in Buffalo and Toronto and he’s had 11 of his 15 teams qualify for the playoffs. Resch was a part of six championship teams in Philadelphia, four of them coming as a coach before retiring in 2001. Stevens has been covering the Toronto Rock and the NLL for The Canadian Press since 1998, and LoCasio played all of his 11 pro seasons for the New York Saints before coaching the team for two seasons.

The new Hall of Famers will will be formally inducted on Thursday at the Union League of Philadelphia. Tickets are $125 and available to the public so if you’re gonna be in Philly and have some extra dough, make it a point to get there. If you can’t make that, at least get to the Wings-Titans game in Philly on Friday, where the quartet will be honored at halftime of the game.

NLL Insider

On the Road again… Edmonton

What’s up everyone? I hope all is well in the yard!! I just got back from our weekend road trip to Edmonton to play the Rush. Although we did escape with a win to put us to 4-3 on the season, I really do believe we dodged a bullet.

From the onset, they looked like a different team than the one that had started 0-5. While they played hard, intense lacrosse we were quite different. We played sloppy, unprepared lacrosse and it almost bit us in the a**! In the end, we put together a great second half backed by our “all world” keeper, Anthony Cosmo, and strong defensive play and took home an 11-8 win.

Click here to read the rest of this post and leave comments for Colin.

The Beat

All-Star starters are served

So we finally have our 2008 All-Star starters. Nice.

There are some sweet gamers on the list and no real surprises, although it’s kinda weird to not see anyone from Toronto on the East team. It was pretty much habit to see Bob Watson’s name on the list, but it’s kinda difficult to not argue against the 2008 credentials of Minnesota goalie Nick Patterson, who leads all NLL goalies with 327 saves and is a big reason the Swarm is off to a 6-2 start. (I think he might also lead the league in piercings on the dome … check out his profile page)

And although I haven’t had the chance to ask him yet, I don’t think I need to ask my colleague Tuts what he thinks about Philly’s Athan Iannucci getting his first nod to the team as a starter. Tuts as much as admitted his man-crush on Nooch yesterday so I’ll just assume Tuts is happy about it and leave it at that. And who can blame him? Iannucci is tearing up the league with 25 goals in just five games.

Rounding out the East team, Buffalo’s John Tavares was named to his seventh All-Star game and teammate Mark Steenhuis will be in his fourth. Rochester’s John Grant Jr. was named for a fifth time and Minnesota’s Ryan Cousins will be in his fourth.

Out West, Colorado’s Gavin Prout is making his sixth All-Star trip and teammate Dan Carey was named to the team for a third time. Goalie Gee Nash will make his fourth appearance, thanks to a league-leading 10.10 goals-against average.

This crazy good game of Portland’s Brodie Merrill, who leads the league with 97 loose balls, has him named an All-Star for the third time, while San Jose’s Jeff Zywicki is in it for the second time and Eric Martin will make his All-Star debut.

Rochester’s Ed Comeau will coach the East squad and Edmonton’s Bob Hamley is the West coach for the March 16 game that’s scheduled to be played Sunday, March 16 at Rexall Place in Edmonton.

NLL Insider

Armchair QB: Week Nine

Has Rochester come close to finding that fifth scoring option?

Has Chicago found a true leader on their struggling O?

Who’s gonna step in when Billy Dee Smith is on the sidelines?

How much longer should San Jose hold onto two legit pro starters?

Here’s how this past weekend shook out and what to expect this coming as the NLL heads into week ten. READ MORE »

Inside the Huddle

The Faceoff

One of the key components of every NLL game that doesn’t prompt a great deal of discussion is the face-off. There are roughly 25-30 face-offs per game and each one of these presents the opportunity to gain a valuable possession for the offence. Simply put, in this game, you always want to have first chance at scoring whether it’s at the start of a quarter, after a goal by either team, or in overtime.

Of course the easiest way to gain an advantage in this facet of the game is to have a very good draw man. One only needs to take a quick glance at the stats to this point in the schedule to realize that Philadelphia’s Geoff Snider is dominating the category. He’s winning his face-offs at a monstrous .730 clip at this writing and the Wings just happen to be 5-0.

That face-off stat should obviously be bringing a big smile to the face of head coach Dave Huntley. Knowing that 3 out of 4 times there’s a face-off you’re going to be in possession of the ball is comforting news. And to make things even better, Snider’s back-up Peter Jacobs is winning at a .710 pace.

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NLL Insider

Thumbs Up / Thumbs Down: Week 9

A lack of consistency is just killing teams this year.

With the NLL being as tight as it is skill wise in 08, you take a nap for even just a couple minutes and it’s likely lights-out before you even think about wakin’ up outta your slumber. Teams are hittin’ that snooze button one too many times this year, and usually, it’s not the teams or players you’d peg for sleepin’ in on a Saturday morning (or night in this case).

The guys that got my thumbs this week were either as consistent as the results I face after putting on too much chili sauce when I go out for Thai, or just packed it in multiple times like, well, when I got out for Thai (although packing it in should probably read packing it on, but whatever). READ MORE »

Shanny's Power Rankings

Shanny’s Power Rankings: Week 9

Week 9

Just when you think you have things figured out you have a weekend like this. I thought Rochester had everything straightened out - they don’t. After Friday’s loss to Portland I was about to drop Calgary and they come up with a huge victory yesterday. The power rankings can only show so much. For example it doesn’t really show that Philadelphia has strengthened its hold on the number one position after their dominant victory over Minnesota. It also doesn’t show that many teams are virtually tied and teams like New York and Portland are so much better today than a few weeks ago. Rochester looked unimpressive again but until Toronto can beat them its very difficult to drop them below the Rock.

READ MORE »

The Beat

Shakeup fuels Roughnecks past Mammoth

Lots of coaches talk about shakeups. Gotta do something, anything, to get the fire back into my team and break the funk.

Troy Cordingley did just that for his Calgary Roughnecks lineup, but some will tell ya it was more than a shakeup. It was a downright gamble. Cordingley made Kaleb Toth and Devan Wray healthy scratches, but the move worked as the Roughnecks broke their three-game losing streak with a 12-9 home victory over the Colorado Mammoth on Sunday.

Toth? On the bench? Are you kidding me?

“It’s not fun sitting guys, especially a guy like Kaleb, he’s the picture of Roughnecks lacrosse and a phenomenol player,” Cordingley told The Canadian Press. “But he’s been struggling a little bit lately and we thought by giving him the night off, giving him a chance to sit back and look at the game differently, it would help.”

Lewis Ratcliff and Nolan Heavenor each scored three goals to pick up the offense, with Scott Ranger and Jeff Shattler each adding two for the Riggers, who improve to 3-5 and bring back a bit of parity to the West Division. Colorado drops to 5-2 with its second straight loss.

Gavin Prout scored a pair of goals for the Mammoth, whose offense was stuck in the mud with just four goals through most of the game. The Mammoth scored five goals in the final half of the fourth quarter.

“They outworked us, they were a better team today than we were in all aspects of the game, and it was a little embarrassing,” said Prout.

• Defense served Riggers well: CalgaryRoughnecks.com

The Beat

Rookie keeper anchors Bandits

You gotta wonder what’s in the Wheaties over there in Buffalo. That, or what church are all the players attending?

Count Daniel Sams among the Buffalo blessed. Being the new kid in the box, the 21-year-old rookie goalie had to know the Chicago Shamrox would absolutely unload on him. You know, shake up the rook. Get into his dome. Scare him.

Yeah, right. You try scaring a Buffalo Bandit. Rookie sacked up and made a franchise-record 60 saves for the Bandits in Sunday’s 13-8 road victory over the Chicago Shamrox in front of 3,250 at the Sears Centre. Sams, who started this season on the practice squad, was pressed into the starting role as starter Mike Thompson and backup Ken Montour stayed out to deal with post-concussion syndrome. Thompson’s expected back as the starter this weekend.

“About halfway through the first quarter the butterflies went away and I was able focus on what I needed to do,” Sams told The Buffalo News.

Can’t accuse the Shamrox of being shy, either. They unloaded 68 shots on Sams, but rookie got lots of help early when the Bandits took an 8-2 lead before the first quarter was over to give the keeper some breathing room and tone down any pressure he might have been feeling.

Meanwhile, the Shamrox said they weren’t making excuses, but ….. with plenty of fly-in players, including Bill McGlone from Philadelphia, Tom Montour from Buffalo or Toronto, and Callum Crawford and Bobby McBride from Ottawa, the Shamrox would enjoy just one full practice at some point this season.

“Our flights are late, our stuff doesn’t arrive,” Shamrox coach Jamie Batley told the Daily Herald. “I’m not trying to make excuses, but those are some of the things that happen.”

• It was all good for the Bandits: WGR 550-AM