NLL Insider

Inside the Numbers

The Money Ballers: JR A Edition

Entering Week 6 of this thing and we finally see the guy at the top of the leaderboard that I’m sure most would have picked as their favorite for our JR A Money Baller champ… Six Nations Arrow’s forward Cody Jamieson.

Even with his boys dropping a couple pretty hard to Burlington and Orangeville and then barely squeaking by an amped up Missy Tommies, Jamieson still made sure his stick was on almost every clutch goal the orange-and-white buried as they slipped in the standings, and likely the National Junior A Ranking (check back Wednesday for that). READ MORE »

NLL

NLL Dispersal Draft Results

As NLL Insider broke to you last week, the National Lacrosse League did schedule and hold a dispersal draft today, in a draft that largely went under the radar - not announced by the league until late Friday evening, June 27.

The expansion NLL Boston Blazers held the first overall pick in a two round draft.

Check the results after the jump. READ MORE »

NLL

NY Titans officially announce coaching change

As first reported last week by NLL Insider, Ed Comeau has been formally hired as the head coach of the New York Titans, replacing Adam Mueller, who retired after the season ended.

Comeau coached the Rochester Knighthawks to the 2007 NLL Champions Cup and was the head coach of the 2008 Eastern Conference All Star team. He was also an assistant for four cup-winning Toronto Rock teams (1999, 2000, 2002 and 2003).

To read the full Titans press release, continue reading after the jump. READ MORE »

The Beat

Nanaimo’s Drew Dickie traded to Calgary Mountaineers

Looks like Marc Nano isn’t the only goalie headed to Alberta in preparation for the Minto. The Nanaimo Timbermen have shipped goaltender Drew Dickie to Cup hosts Calgary Jr. A Mountaineers for future considerations.

In other B.C. Junior A news, with two wins this weekend including an 11-5 drubbing of the Coquitlam Adanacs, the Victoria Shamrocks have climbed into sole possession of first place.

And over in Massachusetts, Boston Blazers head coach and NLLinsider’s own Tom Ryan got a little recognition for spending a Saturday teaching lacrosse skills to kids. That look on his face is the free and easy expression of someone who has the highly appealing option of selecting Dan Dawson in today’s dispersal draft, 2:00 PM EST.

Weekend Results: READ MORE »

Ontario Junior A

Northmen top Arrows in battle of the best

For the second time this season the Orangeville Northmen have beat Six Nations in a clash between the top two teams in Ontario Junior A, this time besting the Arrows 14-6. The Northmen got out to a 3-0 lead to begin the first, and though Six Nations crawled back to end the period with two goals that would be the last time the Arrows were able to drum up any consecutive offense. Orangeville tender Nick Rose turned away 37 shots and teamed up with the Orangeville defense to hold Six Nations’ major scoring threat Cody Jamieson to one assist. READ MORE »

Ontario Junior A

Mississauga Tomahawks break into the win column

For all of the Alberta Jr. A lacrosse fans wondering exactly who Marc Nano is, he’s the guy who gave the Mississauga Tomahawks their first win in his final game with them this season, a 9-5 victory over the Toronto Beaches. His 50 saves, shutout overtime period, and assist on the final Tomahawks goal was good enough to earn him Player of the Game recognition. Todd Kozak and Simon DeSousa led the Tomahawks offense with two goals and two helpers apiece. Nano will join the Edmonton Eclipse early next week.

In other Ontario Jr. A action, the St. Catharines Athletics thumped the Orillia Rama-Hammond Kings 12-3, thanks largely to Joey Resetarits (3g) Andrew Potter (2g 3a) and Corey Small (2g 5a). And the Brampton Excelsiors topped the K-W Braves 11-4.

NLL Insider

Adam Mueller Retires, Ed Comeau Hired in New York

NLL Insider has learned that NLL Coach of the Year, Adam Mueller, has retired after a combined 19 year coaching career that has seen him serve as a pro head coach with the Philadelphia Wings, Minnesota Swarm and most recently, the New York Titans.

The specifics of Mueller’s decision will be made public shortly, with an expected press release from the franchise likely being sent out to media next week.

The reigning coach of the year also had a fairly impressive playing career spending eleven years in the MILL & NLL with the likes of the Detroit Turbos, Baltimore Thunder, Philadelphia Wings and Albany Attack. READ MORE »

RMLL

Edmonton Eclipse gearing up for Minto run, add Marc Nano to roster

When it comes to be trade deadline time in Jr. A lacrosse it isn’t unusual to hear of Ontario players heading West for a Minto Cup run. But heading to Alberta? That’s a little different. After nearly a month of negotiations the Edmonton Eclipse–the only undefeated team left in Jr. A lacrosse–have worked out a deal to put Mississauga Tomahawks goaltender Marc Nano between their pipes.

Eclipse coach Dave Pym has indicated that Nano will arrive in Edmonton Monday, join the team for practice Tuesday, and be in the line-up Wednesday to take on the Edmonton Miners and get his first glimpse of the fiercest rivalry going in Alberta Jr. A. The addition of a consistent number one goaltender is expected to further solidify the first-place Eclipse roster, and all indications are that this Edmonton team is making a serious march towards the Minto. READ MORE »

NLL, Ontario Junior A

Young Jacobs is busy being great

Even if you don’t remember that kid outta Portland, Peter Jacobs, it doesn’t matter. The way this kid’s rollin’, it won’t be long before he’s a household name in the world of lacrosse.

Jacobs, the 18-year-old with the savvy of a seasoned veteran, is the forward who helped lead Portland to the National Lacrosse League title game, scoring two goals in a losing effort. In the final seconds of that game against Buffalo, he nearly scored in the final seconds to force overtime. Well, this summer’s no different. He’s been a solid baller for his Jr. A Akwesasne Indians and now he’s headed out West to see what he can do for his Iroquois National team at the World U19 Field Lacrosse Championships in British Columbia. “I’d do anything for it (lacrosse),” Jacobs told The Cornwall Standard Freeholder.

READ MORE »

National Ranking

National Junior Player of the Year: Week 4

Today’s theme? Gotta be the last line of D… the tenders.

With most arguing over the trio out west, that being Joel Weber, Matt Flindell and Sean Tessarolo (although, did you notice who won player of the week??? oh yeah, Scott Lowe), most insiders and experts we talk to are way more impressed with what’s being thrown-down in Ontario, especially in recent weeks.

The trio turnin’ heads in the OLA? Nick Rose, Justin Delormier and the little talked about Evan Kirk. Two of the three are in this week’s watchlist. READ MORE »

NLL Insider

BaseBrawl - where does it end?

It’s that time of year again: the long, hot days of summer. What does one do with themselves when there is no NBA or NHL to watch or attend? Hmmmm…vacations to the Hamptons, camping trips up north, or maybe a family bike tour just to say you were able to get out of the house for a while. How about taking them across the border and doing a weekend tour of two MSL or WLA arenas so you and your family can get your lacrosse fix and see some of the big names battle it out for national supremacy!? READ MORE »

WLA

WLA: Fight for playoff seeds

The New Westminster Salmonbellies (10-0) continue to roll through the Western Lacrosse Association (WLA). They remain the only undefeated team in the country and a top the CLA Power Rankings. But Shanny says don’t be surprised if they drop a game this week.

The Salmonbellies won last week with close wins over Coquitlam and Burnaby by scores of 10-8 and 8-7 respectively. They play just one game this week - in Coquitlam. It’s the third and final meeting between the WLA’s top two teams this regular season.

READ MORE »

NLL Insider

Arizona Sting Dispersal Draft set for Monday

NLL Insider has learned from several sources that the anticipated Arizona Sting Dispersal Draft will happen this coming Monday afternoon, with Dan Dawson likely going to the expansion Boston Blazers with the first overall pick.

It’s expected several teams will try and land the number one spot via a trade with Boston, the Edmonton Rush likely being the most aggressive, but most insiders currently feel that the Blazers will hold onto the pick and land Dawson, one of the sport’s biggest impact players. READ MORE »

The Beat

Using lacrosse to bridge the gaps

The legal wrangling is over land, 13,000 acres to be precise, but there are specific spots of land off-limits to any kind of court proceedings. And that, is the box.

There’s a fantastic story in the Utica Observer Dispatch of central New York that mentions the lawsuits between the Oneida Nation and the U.S. Government, but those differences aren’t getting in the way of Natives and non-Natives enjoying box lacrosse. “For years, we’ve had indifference with the outside community,” Nation member Ron Patterson told the newspaper. “Everyone puts all that aside to be at a lacrosse game.” Chalk it up as just one more reason to love the game as Natives share their game with kids who visit the Nation, where the historical, spiritual and cultural aspects of the game are more important than simple Xs and Os.

Inside the Numbers

The Money Ballers: JR A Edition

Outside of tossing up the usual 30 best Money Ballers in Junior A ball, this week we also hashed out the guys that are getting their stick on the one that matters most… the game winner.

Yeah, Jacob Kicknosway-Louks leads Ontario with four game winners, but what about BC, and what about the helpers on those GWG’s in any province (Alberta digits will be in the mix soon)? READ MORE »

Senior A

CLA Power Rankings: Week 5

Although they are not dominating (two one goal victories last week) the New Westminster Salmonbellies keep winning and their very impressive 10-0 record have made it very easy to keep them a top the National rankings - especially when you combine that with Brampton’s two losses last week.  This coming week will be pivotal for the defending Mann Cup winning Peterborough Lakers. With 3 games in 5 nights the Lakers hope to shake off their early season rust and show that they are once again a contender. Having Shawn Evans back in the lineup should help. READ MORE »

National Ranking

National Junior A Ranking: Week 5

We’re definitely at the point now where lacrosse-math doesn’t factor into the National Junior A Ranking. Not that we every really relied on that, but with teams like Akwesasne losing to Peterborough and then beating Orangeville, or Burnaby just straight up getting floored by Delta (no Gajic no W), it’s getting tougher and tougher to justify having one team over another. And that’s just provincially.

The ‘Ville’s loss to the Indians and New West’s win over Victoria rocked the rankings this week, but with Coquitlam and Six Nations taking care of Nanaimo and Toronto respectively in their lone games, the top two spots ain’t movin’. READ MORE »

Major Series Lacrosse

Iannucci out, Accursi in for St. Regis

St. Regis loses 2008 National Lacrosse League (NLL) Most Valuable Player (MVP) Athan Iannucci due to a knee injury but picks up 2008 NLL Champion Mike Accursi in trade deal inked today.

“He’s been around with the past two NLL championship teams in Rochester and Buffalo, so we’re excited to have him come aboard,” added Troy Mitchell, St. Regis General Manager. ”He’s going to help in the locker room as well as on the floor. He’s great leader.”

READ MORE »

Road to the Minto Cup

Jr. A Player Poll: the Etiquette of Fighting

Everyone knows the first rule of Fight Club. Probably because that’s the only line anyone ever quotes. But when it comes to be tilt-time in Junior A lacrosse, is it a no-holds barred free-for-all like the occasional bench-clearing brawl would lead us to believe? For a look at how it all starts, how it can end, and a rundown on the worst of the worst of bad fighting manners, keep reading. READ MORE »

Inside Lacrosse Magazine

Inside Lacrosse August Issue: Mascot Showdown

So the Minto Cup will be on us before we know it, and teams likes the Adanacs and Salmonbellies will be vying for a trophy Canadian laxers would gladly spill liters of blood to hold. But no matter who takes home the hardware, we’re all winners by getting exposed to the awesomest side of indoor lacrosse: crazy mascots. Begging the question, who has the craziest mascot?

The WLA has the early edge in the semifinals (Coquitlam  vs. Orangeville, Nanaimo vs. Wallaceburg), so put in your vote to see if the Northmen and the Red Devils can make a late charge before the finals are unveiled later in the week.

Click here and let your voice be heard!