NLL Insider

With the regular season behind us and some phenomenal lacrosse played this summer, NLL Insider is proud to announce our list of nominees for our annual Junior Player of the Year Awards, which includes national nods to the year’s best overall player, defender, goalie, rookie and head coach.

NLL Insider based its decision strictly on play from ‘09, only including ball players that played a minimum two-thirds of their team’s season (do the math before sending us emails). Insider’s decisions were based on garnering opinions and views via constant interaction with players, coaches, management, fellow media and of course our own views of Jr. A seasons in BC, Alberta and Ontario this year.

After much deliberation in every category, NLL Insider will also be announcing honourable mentions for each award this year, naming the players that were also given heavy consideration in their respective categories.

As done during our inaugural award nominations last year, ten finalists will be named for the Junior of the Year Award, and then five finalists for the other four categories.

NLL Insider will also be tracking performances during this year’s post-season both provincially and nationally during the Minto Cup, awarding a Playoff Performer of the Year at the culmination of this year’s Minto Cup.

Award winners based on this year’s regular season performances will be announced during the last week of August. All-Canadian First and Second Teams will also be announced then as well.

Below are our nominations for the previously mentioned hardware. Check back next week for our fan vote, where fans can chime in with their opinion as to who they’d like to see win this year’s JOTY nods.

JUNIOR OF THE YEAR

Robert Church | Coquitlam Adanacs | click for player bio 
Kevin Crowley | New Westminster Salmonbellies | click for player bio
Curtis Dickson | New Westminster Salmonbellies | click for player bio
Simon Giourmetakis | Edmonton Eclipse | click for player bio
Jesse Guerin | Peterborough Lakers | click for player bio
Adam Jones | Orangeville Northmen | click for player bio
Trevor Moore | Coquitlam Adanacs | click for player bio
Andrew Potter | Brampton Excelsiors (previously St. Catharines) | click for player bio
Corbyn Tao | Coquitlam Adanacs | click for player bio
Matt Yager | Victoria Shamrocks | click for player bio

Honorable Mentions: Carson Barton (Edmonton Eclipse), Kyle Clancy (Peterborough Lakers), Kiel Donahue (Calgary Mountaineers), Scott Jones (Port Coquitlam Adanacs), Ryan Learn (Burlington Chiefs), Sean Reid (Edmonton Eclipse), Joey Resetarits (St. Catharines Athletics), Kyle Rubisch (Brampton Excelsiors), Carlton Schuss (Delta Islanders), Randy Staats (Six Nations Arrows) and Andrew Suitor (Orangeville Northmen)

DEFENDER OF THE YEAR

Matt Beers | Coquitlam Adanacs | click for player bio
Damon Edwards | Orangeville Northmen (previously Toronto) | click for player bio
Kyle Rubisch | Brampton Excelsiors | click for player bio
Andrew Suitor | Orangeville Northmen | click for player bio
Brandon Turner | Coquitlam Adanacs | click for player bio

Honorable Mentions: Reed MacPhail (Victoria Shamrocks), Ben McCullough (Brampton Excelsiors), Dan McRae (Burlington Chiefs), Brandon Miller (Calgary Mountaineers), Brett Mydske (New Westminster Salmonbellies), Steve Priolo (St. Catharines Athletics), Erik Sage (Victoria Shamrocks), Holden Vyse (Six Nations Arrows) and Garrett Werschke (Calgary Raiders)

GOALIE OF THE YEAR

Steve Fryer | Brampton Excelsiors | click for player bio
Dan Lewis | Coquitlam Adanacs | click for player bio
Brodie MacDonald | Burnaby Lakers | click for player bio
Nick Rose | Orangeville Northmen | click for player bio
Neil Tyacke | New Westminster Salmonbellies | click for player bio

Honorable Mentions: Zach Bowen (St. Catharines Athletics), Blake Duncan (Delta Islanders), Adam Hickey (Victoria Shamrocks), Randy Johnson (Six Nations Arrows), Adam Shute (Calgary Raiders) and Cameron Watts (Burlington Chiefs)

ROOKIE OF THE YEAR

Robert Church | Coquitlam Adanacs | click for player bio
Michael Burke | Brampton Excelsiors | click for player bio
Karsen Leung | Victoria Shamrocks | click for player bio
Tyler Digby | New Westminster Salmonbellies | click for player bio
Steve Fryer | Brampton Excelsiors | click for player bio

Honorable Mentions: Tim Nolte (Edmonton Eclipse), Shayne Adams (St. Catharines Athletics), Brodie MacDonald (Burnaby Lakers), Blake Duncan (Delta Islanders), Casey Jackson (Victoria Shamrocks) and Dan Lintner (Whitby Warriors)

COACH OF THE YEAR

Shawn Cardy | Burlington Chiefs
Bruce Codd | Calgary Raiders
Dan Perreault | Coquitlam Adanacs
Greg Rennie | Delta Islanders
Matt Sawyer | Orangeville Northmen

Honorable Mentions: Brian Beisel (Brampton Excelsiors), Danny Green (Victoria Shamrocks), Brad Parker (New Westminster Salmonbellies) and Dave Pym and Rioth Jomha (Edmonton Eclipse)

‘08 JOTY AWARD WINNERS

Junior | Cody Jamieson | Six Nations Arrows
Defender | Curtis Manning | New Westminster Salmonbellies
Goalie | Nick Rose | Orangeville Northmen
Rookie | Cody Bremner | Nanaimo Timbermen
Coach | Matt Sawyer | Orangeville Northmen
Playoff Performer | Adam Jones | Orangeville Northmen

The foremost boxla writer, Tutka is a former NLL scout and a longtime Inside Lacrosse contributor. Email him at paul.tutka@nllinsider.com.

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