NLL Insider 20Q: Lewis Ratcliff

July 8th, 2009 by Paul Tutka

Toronto Rock and Victoria Shamrocks forward Lewis Ratcliff.

Toronto Rock forward Lewis Ratcliff is currently running a fat (and yeah, phat would also apply) 21-point lead in the WLA’s scoring race, playing for the league leading Victoria Shamrocks as they look to return to the Mann Cup after a two year absence from the big show.

Ratcliff’s 151 combined points, and counting, during the winter and summer loop’s regular seasons rank him as one of the highest scoring snipers in the game today, scoring nine points in a single game four times for the Shamrocks since early June. His four game winning snipes also lead the league.

This week, like we did with Boston Blazers’ defender Paul Dawson, we fired off the same 20 questions at the former Champion’s Cup and Mann Cup winner, ranging from lax to food to why vid replay wasn’t always his best friend this past winter. His answers, after the jump.

Hottest most sweat soaked barn you’ve ever been in…
Queens Park in New West gets pretty hot and sweaty. Old barn with no AC!

What athlete from any other sport outside of lacrosse, do you think is also custom made to play box lacrosse…
Easy, Lebron James. How could you stop him? Fastest, strongest guy in the league. He’s a freak.

Speed, size, smarts and hops. Could anyone in the NLL stop Lebron James?

Best lacrosse team name at any level…
Shamrocks, not even close.

One rule you’d change, or add, in the NLL…
Get rid of the 20 second shot clock when a teams short. Let guys really rag penalties. It would lead to tons of chances and is exciting to watch. In the ‘06 Mann Cup, Dan Carey ragged every penalty for almost the entire two minutes and killed us (Victoria Shamrocks).

Note: Carey would go onto not only help the Peterborough Lakers win the ‘06 Mann, he was also named the series’ MVP, in large part to his play when the Lakers were short handed.

If you could pick just one pre-game meal to have for the rest of your career, what would it be…
Brown rice and BBQ chicken.

Best surface to play box/indoor ball on, concrete, turf, or for those that have played on it, wood…
Turf, as long as it’s flat. No slipping or stopping to wipe up sweat. It’s also easier on the legs.

Worst injury you’ve ever sustained…
I’ve been pretty lucky as far as injuries. Got knocked out pretty good against Buffalo earlier this year. Got a nice conky from that.

What past champ will bounce back to a pro championship faster, Rochester, Toronto or Philadelphia…
Toronto. We struggled last year, but I do think we have the parts to be a very good team.

Half of Ratcliff's go-to pre-game grub, BBQ chicken.

Toughest arena, winter or summer, to get a win in…
The HSBC Arena in Buffalo is pretty hard to win at. Loud fans and a good team.

Best fight, at absolutely any level of the game, you’ve witnessed…
It’s gotta be a tie. Either Taylor Wray versus Aaron Sproule in junior during a bench clearing brawl, or one of the Geoff Snider and Chris Kinnear fights.

Scroll down to the bottom for the epic two fight battle between Snider and Kinnear.

Most famous person you’ve met cuz of your lax connections…
I used to train with Ryan Getzlaf before he was such a big deal.

Best player nickname…
Luke “The Show” Wiles

What one band’s tunes would be perfect to use as the NLL’s soundtrack…
Audioslave

One vet not currently in the NLL you think deserves a roster spot…
Rob Kirkby (Mann and Champion’s Cup winner with Victoria and Calgary respectively)

Are goalie pads too big in today’s game…
It would make my job a lot easier if they were smaller.

Washington Stealth bench boss, Chris Hall. (Photo: Dave Sanders)

If you had to pick one trick as your signature move, what would it be…
I have no moves. Just try and keep it simple.

That one coach that made a huge difference in your lacrosse career…
Brett Savory growing up and Chris Hall my first few years in the NLL, both helped me out a ton.

After its first year, did video replay on “goals” help the game this past season…
I think it helped a lot, except on mine that got disallowed. Those were brutal calls!

Who is the greatest ever to play the box/indoor game…
Gary Gait

One word to describe your game…
Back-on-track

Snider vs. Kinnear I