NLL Insider

Seriously, you wouldn’t believe the amount of emails that come in for this thing.

Everyday, someone across the country is in my ear about getting their boy on the weekly rundown, so many over the weeks that I can’t even come close to getting back to everyone. So sorry guys if I didn’t hitcha back up with an email.

So do people out there give a sh** about junior lacrosse in Canada, let alone the US? You better believe they do!! Our coverage this summer is finally giving some of the hardest working junior athletes in the country a bit of ink that they never really got anywhere else, and it’s very much deserved.

And although I’m hearing a ton from junior fans, players and coaches, I’m also hearing from NLL fans that had never really been able to follow the game due to the complete lack of coverage of junior ball. And guess what? They’re lovin’ it too.

People love junior lacrosse in Canada. Who woulda thunk it?

Anyways, guess that didn’t really completely tie into the National Junior Player of the Year, but just wanted to let everyone know what kinda feedback we’ve been getting on our junior coverage this summer. Keep those emails coming guys.

Onto this week’s watchlist…

Cody Bremner, Forward, Nanaimo Timbermen (19GP - 39G - 20A - 59PTS)
Bremner (pictured above) has not only probably been the biggest impact rook in BC, he’s probably been the biggest impact rookie anywhere in the country. His 39 goals have him trailing only Gajic, while his 59 totals points have him sitting fifth in the province. He’s makin’ crazy loud noise on The Money Ballers, now factoring in on five game winning goals of the T-Men’s seven total wins. His partnership with Colton Clark has gotta have Tyson Leies pretty amped about future seasons. His boys look like they’ll be missin’ out on the post-season this year, but if Bremner isn’t named ROTY, it’ll be highway robbery. And for those NLL fans that remember the name Bremner, yes Cody is Dave Bremner’s son.

Kyle Buchanan, Forward, Akwesasne Indians (19GP - 30G - 49A - 79PTS)
We slipped Buchanan outta the top ten recently to make room for guys that were just as deserving as him, only thing, since then he’s been a helluva lot more consistent than any of those other guys. Buchanan’s one of the best dish-first guys out there, unselfish would be an understatement. He’s been baitin’ guys and creating stuff for the Indians all summer. The only player anywhere in the country with more helpers than Bucky has, 49, is the A’s Dan Williams. He may not have been the final piece of the puzzle in New West last summer, but his rebound year in Akwesasne has a lot of people remembering how good this kid really is.

Alex Gajic, Forward, Burnaby Lakers (16GP - 42G - 45A - 87PTS)
Gajic’s hat trick against Joel Weber and the Coquitlam Adanacs was not enough as the Lakers continued to fall short on O the other night. Like Jamieson in Ontario, Gajic has gotta be the most relied on guy anywhere in BC, and Burnaby has gotta be as happy as hell that he hung around this summer. Where would they be without him? He’s still leading the province in scoring, which is pretty impressive considering he’s a couple games behind most other leaders (ditto for Jarrett Davis). He might even already have the scoring title wrapped up with the way things are going. With a little help on O in the form of Dane Stevens, how improved with the Lakers’ O look in coming weeks?

Cody Jamieson, Forward, Six Nations Arrows (17GP - 51G - 35A - 86PTS)
Even with guys draped all over him, Jamieson is still producing, well, as long as it’s not the Orangeville Northmen at the other end of the court. The silver-and-black held Cody to just a single helper during the team’s 14-6 shellacking of the Arrows. It was Jamieson’s lowest single game point total all summer. His second lowest? The two points he registered the first time around against O’ville, again, another loss. He followed that one point performance with eight goals in his next two, strengthening his lead on the top of the scoring charts. In fact, like his double in BC (Gajic) is doin’, it looks like he’s already got the scoring title wrapped up in the East. Only one that might be able to touch him is Akwesasne’s Buchanan.

Curtis Manning, Defender, New Westminster Salmonbellies (12GP - 10G - 9A - 19PTS)
He’s the total package, he really is. New West’s up tempo, constant fast-break style of ball has also allowed one of the best pound-for-pound junior defenders in Canada to ride a pretty impressive four game goal scoring streak too. He also got the ol’ call-up from the seniors for two important clashes against Coqtuilam last month.

Cayle Ratcliff, Forward, Victoria Shamrocks (19GP - 31G - 34A - 65PTS)
What a difference maker Ratcliff was in that huge Adanacs win. Cayle opened up the third period with two markers that had to feel like daggers through the hearts of Coqtuilam, who at the time were burried 9-3, a lead they could barely chip away at let alone come back from. This kid is a bulldog with zero quit in him. Can’t wait to see what kinda damage he brings to the post-season with him. But first… Coquitlam again this weekend.

Nick Rose, Goalie, Orangeville Northmen (903Min - 5.11GAA - .873SV%S)
After dropping him last week on the watchlist, in place of guys like Evan Kirk and Justin Delormier, Rose came outta the blocks with maybe the best single week of any tender this year. Rose’s performance against Akwesasne in their rematch left the Indians’ O reeling and his only six goals allowed against Jamieson and his homies was only the second time the Arrows were held to six or fewer goals this year. The other time? When Rose held ‘em to just 4 in early June. Rose has gotta be the most clutch tender in junior ball today, while his rep only grows after each outing.

Corey Small, Forward, St. Catharines Athletics (19GP - 31G - 35A - 66PTS)
There really is no holdin’ Small back this year. During the A’s unmatched ten game win streak, Corey has posted an impressive 45 points, many of which have registered on The Money Ballers. This guy comes up big when it matters most 24/7. Even his lone goal last night against the Arrows was a major **ck block on what looked like it mighta been a pretty huge run of momentum.

Andrew Suitor, Transition, Orangeville Northmen (18GP - 11G - 16A - 27PTS)
Know we’re gonna get bombed with emails for including Suitor, but this guy is the definition of an impact player. He’s athletic and smart enough to play both ends of the court, which he does pretty damn well when he’s not coolin’ off in the bin. His 94 penalty minutes, which easily leads the province (but not the country… Carlton Schuss, now with Edmonton, takes that honour with 141mins), also make him one of the most marked men in all of junior lacrosse. In fact, with Rory Smith on the shelf for part of the summer, most would say that Suitor holds down the Junior Fight Club Champ honours right now too. Oh, and would you look at that. Orangeville and Brampton play this weekend. If those two heavies throw-down on Friday night, it might make the Forrest vs. Rampage title fight look like amateur hour.

Anyways, here are a couple huge wins for Suitor in recent weeks. Actually both throw-downs were like 24 hours apart, so not too shabby for a guy that also posted goals in each game. Also added Smith’s dust up with Geoff Snider for those that forgot the name. Enjoy, and fingers crossed for Friday…

Suitor vs. Mike McNamara (Six Nations)

Suitor vs. Jamie Downie (Akwesasne)

Smith vs. Snider

Matt Wilson, Defender, Coquitlam Adanacs (18GP - 2G - 8A - 10PTS)
Hard to justify a defender like Wilson each week, cuz anyone outside of Coquitlam doesn’t really have anything to go off of to judge him, but like we say every week, trust us, this guy is damn good. He continues to be a great 1v1 defender that doesn’t give any of his high pro assignments an inch. And even though Victoria got their rocks off on ‘em a bit last weekend, Wilson still played his usual balls out style of lacrosse, leaving absolutely everything on the court. If you haven’t had the chance to see Matt and his boys play this year, checkout www.junioradanacs.com for your hookups.

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