NLL Insider

Ryan Cousins (Photo: Dave Sanders)

Although some lingering injuries and underperforming team play likely kept him from potentially pulling a Nicklas Lidstrom during the ‘09 National Lacrosse League season, Ryan Cousins still remains one of the sport’s top and most respected defensive leaders.

Cousins is still the only two-time and back-to-back winner of the pro game’s defender of the year nod, his consistent, lead by example, textbook ball is a staple in the Minnesota Swarm’s own end, almost always linked to any and all success the team has experienced over the years.

Another “only” Cousins lays claim to is that he still remains the only player in Swarm franchise history to wear the C on his sweater. With long tenured Buffalo Bandits captain Rich Kilgour retired and Gavin Prout traded, Cousins’ reign as Minny’s captain is only bettered by the Calgary Roughnecks recently signed main-man, Tracey Kelusky, who’s had the C since ‘04. Cousins will be entering his sixth season at the franchise’s captain, which also knots him with the Philadelphia Wings leader, Tom Hajek.

“Ryan is our captain and the main ingredient in our quick transition from expansion team to competitor”, said Minnesota GM Marty O’Neill shortly after Cousins’ last defender of the year win. “He is always assigned to stop one of the top two offensive players among our opponents and does a great job.

“He’s just as valuable in our dressing room as a vocal leader, with great character and tremendous people skills.”

This winter Cousins will hit the rug with an MSL (formerly OLA Sr. A) multiple and back-to-back defender of the year winner, Scott Self, setting Minnesota up with one of the more formidable defensive pairings, to go along with a D lineup that already includes, Jon Sullivan, Nick Inch, Ryan Sharp, Noah Talbot, Darren Halls, and the list goes on.

Fact: Although Swarm fans will get their first look at Cousins and Self in the same sweater when Minnesota and Calgary clash on opening weekend in the NLL, it is far from the first time these two defensive studs have lined up alongside one another. Cousins and Self both played with the Arizona Sting in ‘04 before Cousins made his way to Minny, the two also winning three, count ‘em three, Mann Cups together in ‘04, ‘06 and ‘07 with the Peterborough Lakers. Cousins snuck another Mann in there in ‘05 with the Victoris Shamrocks, the first time ever a player has won four straight Mann’s during his first four years of Sr. A lacrosse.

# (last year)
36 (11) Ryan Cousins, Minnesota Swarm
37 (NR) Tyler Codron, Toronto Rock
38 (33) Luke Wiles, Washington Stealth
39 (47) Steve Toll, Rochester Knighthawks
40 (19) Blaine Manning, Toronto Rock
41 (37) Sean Pollock, Minnesota Swarm
42 (NR) Mike Carnegie, Calgary Roughnecks
43 (NR) Scott Stewart, Edmonton Rush
44 (NR) Kaleb Toth, Calgary Roughnecks
45 (NR) Matt Disher, Edmonton Rush
46 (23) Ryan Ward, Edmonton Rush
47 (NR) Kyle Ross, Boston Blazers
48 (NR) Matt King, Calgary Roughnecks
49 (NR) Mac Allen, Rochester Knighthawks
50 (NR) Nick Inch, Minnesota Swarm

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