NLL Insider

Much has been said about Dan Dawson’s heroics in helping the Jax make the National Lacrosse League’s Champion’s Cup Final.  Although all accounts conclude that the Bandits are the better team, Portland has the ultimate X Factor in ageless goalie Dallas Eliuk. 

The 17-year pro is the oldest player in the NLL at 43, and his stats would suggest that his best playing days may be behind him. But his performance last weekend helped lift the LumberJax to this weekend’s final.  Those of us that have been around the league for a few years are familiar with Dallas’s past and know that anything is possible Saturday night in Buffalo.

Dallas has 4 championships with the Philadelphia Wings (1994, 95, 98 & 01).  Two of those years he was Champion’s Cup MVP (98 & 01).  That puts him in an elite group with Colin Doyle (3x MVP), Gary Gait & Johnny T (2 each).  Although his minutes have diminished over the past couple years, he still has the ability to change the outcome of a game.  Minnesota’s GM of the Year and former goalie, Marty O’Neill, commented earlier in the season that “Dallas can still play,” suggesting that he still has a couple good years left in him.

Dallas has worked extremely hard the past couple of years and could be in the best shape of his life.  For a guy that has devoted his life to playing lacrosse, it is good to see him still in the mix.  For 14 years he packed up and moved from Vancouver to Philadelphia for the winter to play for the Wings, a routine typically reserved for players in their 20s.  In the 90s, Dallas was a perennial All-Pro.  He was the type of goalie that would make you over think your shots.  In a game dominated by “blockers,” Dallas has always been the prototypical reactionary goalie.  His reflexes and athleticism has separated him from the masses for decades. 

And despite his idiosyncrasies, he is a leader.  In the Wings playoff run in 2001, Dallas is the player that stands out in my mind as influencing my game-time mentality.  I remember him saying things throughout the final weeks that helped me get into a productive playoff mentality.  For years it seemed like you had to go through Toronto to win the cup.   Head thug for the Rock in those days was Pat Coyle.  He was consistently voted “dirtiest player” by his peers.  In a playoff game in 1999, I remember being crosschecked in the throat so hard by him that it took me a couple minutes to regain my breathing.

Dallas made little comments attacking Coyle’s “tough guy” persona.  It helped bring the Rock down to human proportions.  On the walk over to the ACC prior to the 2001 Championship game it was Dallas recalling something in the Wings Media Guide that I had said.  It was a fill in the blank question.  “I would do anything to _______.”  I had said “win a Champion’s Cup.”  Dallas reminded me of that quote as if to say …. here’s your chance!

So going into this weekend, I am going to take Buffalo.  They have the players and experience to get it done.    But if Dallas is able to pull off the unlikely and has one of those games … I won’t be the only person that is not completely surprised.

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