NLL Insider

Although the Portland Lumberjax announced that Dallas Eliuk would be serving as one of the team’s assistant coaches this upcoming season, the team and Eliuk stopped short of calling it a retirement.

Well, until today that is.

Eliuk officially announced his retirement after 18 glorious years of manning cages in the NLL, redefining the role of a keeper in the league and laying claim as probably the best goalie the NLL/MILL has ever seen.

Many would say the best keeper in lacrosse, period.

“After 38 years of play in the sport I love, I have the utmost respect for lacrosse and an unwavering desire to serve the game, my team and the fans,” said Eliuk in a press release issued earlier today. ”As the utilization of my goaltending has been greatly diminished, and in view of the challenges the franchise has faced over the last few seasons, I’ve made the decision to support the Jax this year through assistant coaching and continued ambassadorship of the sport in schools and the community.”

Eliuk also serves as the Lumberjax’s Community Relations Director.

The multiple Champion’s and Mann Cup winner played the fewest minutes of his illustrious career last winter in Portland, but did however post one of his most clutch performances in recent memory, coming into the Western Final in relief of an injured Matt Disher. Eliuk posted an insane fourth quarter against Calgary in the game, stopping 15 shots and allowing the Jax to outscore the Roughnecks 7-3 in the final quarter, dropping the Necks 16-12 en route to the final in Buffalo. Eliuk made a total of 35 saves on 43 shots on the night, playing about three-quarters of the minutes after Disher left the rug.

“Dallas Eliuk is the greatest goalie to ever play in the NLL,” said Portland GM and head coach Derek Keenan. “He was a pioneer in lacrosse. He brought athleticism to the goaltending position and never cheated with big, oversized equipment. Every save Dallas made in the NLL was made honestly and with flare. He will obviously be missed as a player but certainly never forgotten.”

It appears Portland will more than likely start Disher for most of the winter, while recent draft picks Matt Flindell and Joel Weber are still in the mix while the team finalizes their opening day roster. Both keeper prospects were finalists during NLL Insider’s inaugural Junior of the Year awards this past summer, with Flindell being named to the All-Canadian Second Team after a stellar summer playing for the Victoria Shamrocks.

Eliuk’s retirement also now makes him a prime candidate for entry into the NLL’s Hall of Fame, likely as early as this winter. The Philadelphia Wings hero should more than likely join recently retired legend, Jim Veltman, at this year’s HOF ceremony.

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