NLL Insider

Well I had a huge plan to watch all the games this weekend via the NLL Network but was unable to due to my laptop taking a trip to the crapper. So all I was able to catch were the games Friday night and I completely missed rivalry week in the NLL Saturday night.

As a result, I have a couple things that I’d like to bring to your attention so grab a drink, put your slippers on and saddle up partner, we got room for one more…

Let’s start in San Jose for the Stealth vs. the Roughnecks. Maybe I’m being a lacrosse elitist but is it that hard for the play-by-play and colour guys to take the time to go and talk to the teams PR Director and get the proper pronunciation of the player’s names? What’s even more embarrassing is when the guys who are the so- called ‘home’ broadcasters get ‘their’ player’s names wrong…. On to the match up – I think Paul Rabil’s first couple shifts in the NLL were pretty successful. He got the start for the Stealth but didn’t see much action until a couple minutes in. He did a nice job with the ball, but you can tell he’s still getting used to the contact of the indoor game and that just cause you don’t have the ball doesn’t mean you can’t be hit. But I noticed he kept to the outside a bit, driving down the wings, roll dogging and then dishing the ball off. He assisted an early San Jose goal although it was challenged and over turned. I think that may be the fastest challenge so far, 4 minutes into the first quarter. He eventually got his first NLL point on an assist off a Colin Doyle goal… Thought Jeff Zywicki may have already lined up goal of the year honours. After taking a shot on the right side, he had to avoid the crease, so he jumps through and in the same motion catches the ball off the boards, takes two quick steps behind the net and dunked the ball on the far side on an out of position Patty Campbell.. It was obvious the Calgary Power Play was a key to their success Friday night, going 4-4 to start the game and really putting the boots to the Stealth due to their ill-timed penalties. It was nice to see the combination of Curt Malawsky and Josh Sanderson working their magic together. With Curt being one of the most lethal players off the ball and Josh being the ultimate set up man, there is no telling what kind of year these two can piggy back off each other. Add to it, the competitive fire that flows in them, it’s a pretty safe bet they will bring a lot of fuel to the ‘Necks offence.

Up to the Rose Garden where the LumberJax hosted the Mammoth. I guess being on the cover of Inside lacrosse magazine wasn’t a big enough stage for Brian Langtry who blew up for the first goal of the game a minute in and then proceeded to score the next 3 goals for the Mammoth tallying a natural hat-trick and one! But seriously, you’re halfway through the first quarter, the guy already has 3 goals and you are going to let him wind up from inside the restraining line on the power play? Even I knew he was gonna shoot there and it was pretty obvious that he really likes going between Matt Disher’s legs… Has anyone seen the other half of the Colorado Power Play? Not one of their guys, Langtry, Prout, Carey, Shewchuck, and Rosyski is above 6 feet tall but they are all gonna be 40 point guys at least! …Did anyone else notice the guy calling the game say that Toronto was the defending champ? Again – do you homework people….

Finally as I mentioned, with my laptop taking a 3 day vacation I was completely without connection to the internet and therefore with out any way of following the NLL. If it wasn’t for the Internet and the new NLL network, would anyone know about the league? Sure the local news papers will cover the games but how NLL fans in Idaho, Ohio, Maryland, Washington, BC, Nova Scotia and overseas supposed to follow what’s happening? I know for a fact that the league was working on TV contract but as of press time nothing has been announced and or finalized. I hope the departure of former NLL Commissioner Jim Jennings doesn’t have an impact on the forward movement of this contract and the further expansion of the game to the masses.

Where would the league be right now if there was no internet? Drop me an email at ted.jenner@nllinsider.com and let me know what you think.

OH CRAP, one last point of major interest. Last week Tutka and I received an email from Athan Iannucci stating ‘he had been given the green light’ to strap on the “W” and take the field with his fellow warriors. Although because the team hadn’t announced anything as of the time of the email, we agreed to keep it on the DL until we were given the OK and with Wings President Russ Cline dropping the news in his blog this week, its pretty safe to say it’s official.. Tutka and I roshamboed for the rights to post this, and even though it’s not breaking news, I just wanted to give it a little more notice. Oh and if you were wondering if Nuc’ still has the fire with-in, in his email he said that he was ready to climb up a building and ‘shout from a rooftop’ that he was given the OK. Going on to say that he’s feeling pretty F-sharping good and he can’t wait to get things going with the Wings.

Welcome back Athan, congrats on a speedy recovery!

Jenner is a two-time Mann Cup champion with six years of NLL experience. Email him at ted.jenner@nllinsider.com also follow the Coquitlam Jr. A Adanacs and the Intermediate A Adanacs live, as Teddy brings you color commentary with Brad Challoner for the Jr's and play by play with Brody Allen for the Intermediates -- http://www.junioradanacs.com/multimedia.php

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