NLL Insider

Mac Allen, Rochester Knighthawks

Labelled as the “future considerations” part of an ‘08 off-season move between the Edmonton Rush and Rochester Knighthawks, Mac Allen had one helluva ‘09 during both the National Lacrosse League and Major Series Lacrosse loop’s seasons, upping his pro stock like few did this past year and building a rep as one of the sport’s top pure D guys.

With that said though, his ‘09 started off pretty rough. With the Knighthawks reeling and taking some history making beatings at the start of last winter, Allen was first inserted into Rochester’s lineup during an embarrassing 16-6 loss at the hands of the San Jose Stealth, two nights after allowing 23 against the Buffalo Bandits.

The Stealth game was Allen’s first for his new franchise, and after seemingly losing it after some pretty reckless play, Allen was booted from the game, accumulating 29 minutes in penalties, a big reason why he finished 8th overall in PIM at the end of the year.

After that game though, forget it.

Allen was one of last year’s top cover defenders and mowed guys into the ground on a nightly basis, leaving smeared facial imprints in the Blue Cross’ rink boards and forwards asking themselves when the hell did he get so damn good.

He also showed up huge in big games last year, holding Mark Steenhuis to just a single goal (Steenhuis previously scored 7 with Allen out of the lineup) in a big 15-14 win over the Bandits (Allen also had three helpers and killed the circle going 25 for 32), and then scoring two special teams marks and playing hard nosed D in an 11-10 win over the Boston Blazers.

His unexpected pro season landed Allen All-Pro Second Team mention, a likely runner-up to Billy Dee Smith’s title of best pro defender in ‘09.

The former Toronto Beach Boy followed up his impressive pro ‘09 with an equally solid MSL season, landing the Merv McKenzie nod as the province’s best D guy while suiting up for the Peterborough Lakers, then being named to Team Canada’s final camp in preparation of the upcoming Worlds.

Fact: During his rookie year with the Peterborough Lakers, Allen played in 16 of Peterbrough’s 17 regular season games, every single one of the Lakers’ MSL playoff games, and then in all six Mann Cup games as the Lakers took the ‘07 Mann Cup.

# (last year)
49 (NR) Mac Allen, Rochester Knighthawks
50 (NR) Nick Inch, Minnesota Swarm

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