NLL Insider Top 50: Merrick Thomson #32
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Merrick Thomson, Philadelphia Wings
Although the ‘09 National Lacrosse League season saw the Philadelphia Wings go from post-season party crashers & one of the league’s top scoring clubs, to getting yanked outta the playoff mix and dropping almost 40-team goals over 16, one Wings ball player that saw his rep grow in the opposite direction of the team’s record was second-year pro Merrick Thomson, who surged past even the thought of a sophomore slump and took his pro game to new heights.
Thomson jumped his rookie digits by almost 15-points last year, most impressive probably his 39-goal total to lead the Wings and rank him just within the league’s top 20 scorers.
In fact, outside of Athan Iannucci’s record setting 71-goals two seasons ago, Thomson’s 39 was the best total since Tom Marechek closed out his pro career in ‘05 with 40 goals, Jeff Ratcliffe also notching 39 that same winter.
Check out the best single season Wings’ goal totals below, Thomson throwing his name into a pool with some pretty legendary Philly heroes…
| Season | Player | Goals |
| 2008 | Athan Iannucci | 71 |
| 2001 | Tom Marechek | 48 |
| 2002 | Jeff Ratcliffe | 47 |
| 2002 | Tom Marechek | 45 |
| 2001 | Jake Bergey | 43 |
| 1996 | Gary Gait | 43 |
| 2003 | Tom Marechek | 42 |
| 2004 | Jeff Ratcliffe | 41 |
| 2000 | Tom Marechek | 41 |
| 2005 | Tom Marechek | 40 |
| 1997 | Gary Gait | 40 |
| 2009 | Merrick Thomson | 39 |
| 2005 | Jeff Ratcliffe | 39 |
| 1999 | Tom Marechek | 39 |
| - |
Although the Wings season ended early, Thomson spent his summer winning an MLL title with the Toronto Nationals, a runner-up for the scoring title behind Paul Rabil (Thomson played one less game than Rabil, but did lead the league with 44-goals), and then also landing a spot on Canada’s 30-man roster, a likely lock for the final team too.
With Iannucci on the shelf for the entire pro season, can Thomson not only again lead the team in goals, but more importantly, lead them back to the post-season? How will the inclusion of Kevin Huntley, who should put up his fair share of minutes and O numbers, affect Thomson’s end-of-season point total?
# (last year)
32 (NR) Merrick Thomson, Philadelphia Wings
33 (NR) Daryl Veltman, Boston Blazers
34 (NR) Ian Hawksbee, Edmonton Rush
35 (NR) Phil Sanderson, Toronto Rock
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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