NLL Insider

In three previous tries, last year’s improbable Cup run donning a Portland Lumberjax sweater, was the closest Dan Dawson came to winning it all at this level of the game.

On a hat-trick and six helpers (leading the final in scoring), Dawson dragged the Jax to what would have been the most unlikely NLL championship win in league history, had they pulled it off.

Although Dawson played well in and leading up to the 2005 (vs. Toronto) and 2007 (vs. Rochester) finals, his play late in 2008 and then in last year’s playoffs was some of the best clutch performances we’ve seen from anyone over the last several years, regular or post-season.

The Oakville native’s performance against Buffalo in the 14-13 loss was probably the best post-season losing effort showing since Josh Sanderson’s legendary game when his Albany Attack got dumped by the Toronto Rock in 2002. And yes, better than Craig Conn’s five a year before.

Dawson mighta not posted the kinda numbers during the regular season that someone like John Grant or Athan Iannucci did, but it is pretty interesting to note that he was one of only two players in the NLL’s Top 10 scorers that played for a team with a sub .500 record. The other was Lewis Ratcliff, who had 17 starts last winter.

Dan also finished third in The Money Ballers last year, trailing only Iannucci and Sanderson. During the post-season edition of the clutch countdown, he led the league alongside teammate Ryan Powell. His rep as one of the sport’s most money guys was easily substantiated in 2008.

After three summers of WLA ball with the Vitoria Shamrocks, Dawson returned to the club that he spent his entire junior career with, the Brampton Excelsiors, and was a huge part of the star studded cast that easily disposed of the New Westminster Salmonbellies in four straight games en route to his third Mann Cup.

Dawson’s inclusion on the Boston Blazers this year have people thinking expansion post-season birth, while his unmatched focus, heart and desire to win every night out, have even more thinking he could finally land an MVP nod too. He’d be the first expanion team MVP in league history if it does happen.

DDD has also gained a rep as being one of the most elusive and explosive O players around, owning a first step you almost never see from Canucks who never played field ball at a high level (Dawson made it to Team Canada’s final cut prior to the 1996 World Championship after never having played high caliber field lacrosse previously).

Check out Dawson and Excels teammate, Jeff Shattler, show the kids how to rhyme off his patented swim move/dodge.

Interesting fact: Few probably knew or remember back, but Dawson played his only Junior A playoff series in 2002 against the, at the time, heavily favored St. Catharines Athletics. Dawson’s Jr. Excels were easily swept aside in four straight games, but it was the first time Brampton had made the playoffs since 1996, via an Excels team led by Dawson’s former Arizona Sting teammate, Brian Beisel. And who was it that played for St. Kitts in ‘02 that helped dominate Brampton that summer? None other than NLL Insider’s #3 pick in the Top 50, Athan Iannucci.  

Does Dawson belong in the NLL Insider Top 50? Hit the boards and let us know what your Top 50 looks like heading into the 2009 NLL season…

#50 Matt Roik, San Jose Stealth
#49 Jon Sullivan, Minnesota Swarm
#48 Billy Dee Smith, Buffalo Bandits
#47 Steve Toll, Rochester Knighthawks
#46 Jarett Park, New York Titans
#45 Bruce Murray, Colorado Mammoth
#44 Shawn Evans, Rochester Knighthawks
#43 Peter Lough, Toronto Rock
#42 Matt Vinc, New York Titans
#41 Jeff Shattler, Calgary Roughnecks
#40 Craig Point, Minnesota Swarm
#39 Scott Ranger, Calgary Roughnecks
#38 Brian Langtry, Colorado Mammoth
#37 Sean Pollock, Minnesota Swarm
#36 Jake Bergey, Boston Blazers
#35 Pat O’Toole, Rochester Knighthawks
#34 Kyle Sweeney, Philadelphia Wings
#33 Luke Wiles, Toronto Rock
#32 Ryan Boyle, New York Titans
#31 Chris White, Buffalo Bandits
#30 Jordan Hall, New York Titans
#29 Shawn Nadelen, Philadelphia Wings
#28 Cam Woods, Toronto Rock
#27 Mike Accursi, Buffalo Bandits
#26 Dan Carey, Colorado Mammoth
#25 Pat Maddalena, New York Titans
#24 Andy Secore, Edmonton Rush
#23 Ryan Ward, Minnesota Swarm
#22 Tracey Kelusky, Calgary Roughnecks
#21 Josh Sanderson, Calgary Roughnecks
#20 Shawn Williams, Rochester Knighthawks
#19 Blaine Manning, Toronto Rock
#18 Nick Patterson, Minnesota Swarm
#17 Eric Martin, San Jose Stealth
#16 Scott Evans, Rochester Knighthawks
#15 Scott Self, Edmonton Rush
#14 Anthony Cosmo, Boston Blazers
#13 Geoff Snider, Philadelphia Wings
#12 Lewis Ratcliff, Toronto Rock
#11 Ryan Cousins, Minnesota Swarm
#10 Brodie Merrill, Portland Lumberjax
#09 Bob Watson, Toronto Rock
#08 Gavin Prout, Colorado Mammoth
#07 Mark Steenhuis, Buffalo Bandits
#06 Casey Powell, New York Titans
#05 Jeff Zywicki, San Jose Stealth
#04 John Tavares, Buffalo Bandits
#03 Athan Iannucci, Philadelphia Wings
#02 Dan Dawson, Boston Blazers

Hit this link for NLL Insider’s Top 50 archive and keep checkin’ back every week as we countdown the top 50 best in the pro game, with #1 being named just before the NLL season kicks off.

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