NLL Insider

NLL Insider

NLLinsider Roundtable: If you build it, they might come (part one)

If all it took for financial success in the NLL was an open arena and a winning team, the league’s landscape wouldn’t look a heck of a lot like it currently does. Dan Dawson would be leading a Champion’s Cup-contending Arizona Sting, the Titans barn would be filled to the rafters, and the Buffalo Bandits…well, no. Banditland would look about the same. But since the league exists in that thing called the real world, the roundtable topic turned to marketing. And then it turned again. READ MORE »

NLL Insider

Weekend Warriors: Week 5

Tyler Codron (Photo: Matt J. Wiater)

Tyler Codron (Photo: Matt J. Wiater)

With Toronto sporting a new coaching staff, Rochester feeling reinvigorated after last week’s confidence boost, San Jose looking for inspired performances on O and Boston riding a high that saw them sweep the Wings last week, there’s a ton of story lines to watch this weekend.

Who’s playing the secondary roles for the teams competing during Week 5 in the NLL?

Find out after the jump, with one name making his second appearance in the Weekend Warriors. READ MORE »

The Beat

Conn hoping to return, plus the links

With the bench staff revamped the Toronto Rock may take to the floor tonight with a slightly new look on offense as well as Craig Conn is hoping to make his return to the NLL. Conn was sidelined after tearing the patellar tendon and three ligaments in his right knee in New Westminster two summers ago. His recovery has spanned three surgeries and 18 months, but Conn says he’s 100% and can’t wait. Head coach Jamie Batley calls Conn’s inclusion in tonight’s line-up a game-time decision. READ MORE »

NLL, The Beat

Bandits stay undefeated, plus the links

After a slow first half and a solid showing from the Rush, Buffalo (5-0) turned the heat up, capitalizing on a major penalty to Ryan McNish and pulling away in the third quarter for a 13-8 win over Edmonton (2-3) at Rexall Place. Former Edmonton star Mike Accursi, who was sent to Buffalo in exchange for Dan Teat at the trade deadine last year, set the pace, finishing with five goals and two assists. Mark Steenhuis dropped seven points as well (3G, 4A), including an amazing off-balance finish in the fourth. Ken Montour was phenomenal in net, allowing eight goals on 55 shots. Dan Teat led the way for the Rush with four points (3G, 1A).
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NLL, Podcasts

NLL Insider Weekly: Jenner Edition

What’s going on, everyone? Hope you’re getting ready for tonight’s tilt between Edmonton and Buffalo. I got Jenner on the horn earlier today and we went through this weekend’s games (including the big one tonight), took a look at how Dan Dawson and the Boston Blazers are heating up and talked about how San Jose can recover in the West. Plus, Teddy opened up and gave us a comprehensive, Roger Ebert-style critique of how the NLL broadcasts have been so far this year…
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NLL, The Beat

NLL Week 5: A look ahead

Another week, another round of questions for the National Lacrosse League.

Where did the Boston Blazers find that offense and what does Daryl Veltman have to do with it? Where did the Rochester Knighthawks find that defense, and can they climb out of an 0-4 hole? How will the Toronto Rock respond to a new coach? Can anyone stop the Buffalo Bandits? How can San Jose be 1-3 with all that talent, and what’s the plan to fix things? The New York Titans proved they have a defense to stand up for that explosive offense, and if the problems on offense weren’t enough for the Colorado Mammoth, what are they gonna do on defense while goalie Gee Nash is on the shelf? Good questions, all and coaches of these respective teams had plenty to say about these issues and more as Week 5 kicks off tonight with a special Thursday night edition. READ MORE »

Staff Pick 'Em

NLLInsider.com staff picks: Week 5

I think I like this being-in-charge thing. Last season, I was left in the dust with these staff pick ‘ems but this year’s looking a lot better. I’m not one to toot my own horn and a one-game cushion really isn’t anything to get all amped up about, but I’m definitely gonna enjoy this target on my back while it’s there.

Pilson, Shanny and Tutka aren’t all that far behind me so I’ve gotta maintain, especially when Jenner, Kojima and Ward aren’t really that far off the pace, either. So at 15-8 overall, alone I stand. The nice thing about this week’s picks is that there really isn’t a consensus game outside of any game Buffalo’s involved in. Have you ever seen a team more dominant right out of the gate? The Banditos have it all and as Tutka points out in his pick, they win no matter what’s thrown at them. Read on to check out what the rest of our staffers have to say about the weekend and who they picked. READ MORE »

Inside the Numbers

Will Records fall in 2009?

Is Athan Iannucci's record on the ropes? (Dave Sanders)

Although there is still a lot of lacrosse to be played, performances by the likes of Casey Powell, Dan Dawson and Brodie Merrill have certainly got a lot of people talking.

Last year a little later into the season, we asked if Athan Iannucci, although mathematically on pace to break Gary Gait’s single season goal scoring record, would he be able to keep it up? The response was definitely torn.

After the jump, check out what kinda numbers guys are on pace for about a quarter of the way into the season, and then hit the boards and let us know if they’ve got enough in the tank to keep it up.

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The Ballers

The Danger Zone: Cold Stone

This week The Danger Zone highway leads straight into the frosty confines of the Cold Stone Creamery, a make your own ice cream place the Boston Blazers hooked up with for the day.

The guys actually end up carving up their own ice cream, and seriously, I wouldn’t touch some of those early ones they made with a ten foot pole. Yet, the boys share a bowl of one of Paul Dawson’s concoctions between like four of them. Ice cream is one thing I personally never share, not even with my girl. It’s as bad as sharing a sunny side up egg. Kinda gross, but guess the Blazers are scary close this year.

And man, does the owner of Cold Stone ever need to pour on the positive feedback on these guys. I haven’t heard that many “Oh great jobs” since my little cousin was potty training.

Anyways, hit this like to watch hilarity insue, and I won’t even post the joke I had in mind for that last bit with DDD, since I know kids are reading.

NLL Insider

Shanny’s Week 5 Preview.

It’s a relatively quiet weekend in the NLL with only 5 games, including a rare Thursday night encounter in Edmonton tonight. With most players holding regular jobs there is always a chance that a key player might have to miss the game because the Thursday game means at least two days off work for the team travelling. READ MORE »