NLL Insider

Rhys Duch, Washington Stealth

It’s hard to argue against calling Rhys Duch one of the biggest impact rookies in pro lacrosse history.

His 89 points stepped over Gavin Prout’s old record. His 5.6 points per game as a rookie is the sixth best gameday average behind only names like Gary Gait, Paul Gait, John Grant and a couple guys you’ll hear more about after the jump.

So at the end of the day, where does Duch rank amongst some of the greatest rookie seasons in professional lacrosse history? We rank the 16 best off all-time and then give you a chance to make your pick, all after the jump.

16 – Brian Langtry Colorado Mammoth ‘03
A very motivated Langtry’s rookie season might be better remembered for its inspiration rather than its statistical impact, although 62 points is definitely nothing to scoff at. A bench warmer while trying to break into the league with some absolutely horrible New York Saints teams, and a walk on in Denver, Langtry’s rookie of the year win was the unlikeliest in league history.

Daryl Veltman went toe-to-toe against Duch last year, one of the most impressive rookie showings ever. (Photo: Boston Blazers)

15 – Daryl Veltman Boston Blazers ‘09
The red headed Veltman surpassed pre-draft expectations and put up bigger numbers than he had anywhere else during his young career. He was the second half of one of the league’s greatest ever rookie of the year races against Duch.

14 – Sean Greenhalgh Philadelphia Wings ‘06
Before Duch and Veltman decided they’d take a run at Prout’s rookie point total record, it was Greenhalgh who looked like he was gonna potentially ink his name in the record books. He finished tenth in league scoring and had a second half of the season point average that woulda had him almost even with Prout’s 82 if he had stretched thoughs numbers across 16.

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13 – Darris Kilgour Buffalo Bandits ‘92
18 years ago, the Bandits’ current bench boss led the MILL in penalty minutes, scored 39 points in just eight games and holds onto one of the best rookie points per game average in pro indoor ball history. He was only outdone by a couple rookies that wore the same sweater as him that year. Find out who it was, further below.

12 – Tracey Kelusky Columbus Landsharks ‘01
His numbers didn’t blow the rough off of the league, while then teammate Mike Benedict had even more total points than Kelusky, but that year’s rookie of the year winner also played on an expansion franchise with very, very few pieces in place, barely scraping by with three wins and averaging under ten goals per game. Only one other expansion rookie has won the league’s ROY since Kelusky did it nine years ago.

11 – John Tavares Buffalo Bandits ‘92
Although he never won the rookie of the year nod, Tavares had a pretty stellar first year in the MILL, holding down a 5.4 points per game pace that is still one of the best ever for a pro rook, his playoff performance easily one of the best first-year playoff runs too. Don’t think the Turbos were expecting that kinda season from JT.

Rhys Duch busted the top of Prout's scoring record last year. (Photo: Washington Stealth)

10 – Rhys Duch San Jose Stealth ‘09
He is the new owner of the league’s rookie scoring record after last year’s breakout season in San Jose. And to help justify his 19th overall ranking in the Top 50, he followed that up with an equally impressive year with the Victoria Shamrocks, scoring 84 points and finishing second in WLA scoring. What will playing alongside recent Shamrocks’ teammates Lewis Ratcliff and Luke Wiles do to his pro scoring pace? Some think it might even go up. Hard to see a sophomore slump here.

 9 – Gavin Prout New York Saints ‘02
His single season rookie point total mighta been snapped by Duch last year, but many would argue that the current Edmonton Rush forward had an even bigger impact past his digit sum. Similar to Kelusky above, Prout found himself on a roster where he was almost always the go-to-guy, often doubled up on and dragged down, Prout still produced and found himself in one of the biggest pressure situations any rookie has seen in this league. The kicker? He wasn’t named the league’s ROY, but did land an All-Pro mention on the second team. Weird.

8 - Colin Doyle Ontario Raiders ‘98
Doyle broke into the future Toronto Rock roster, not necessarily expected to be a top rookie that year, and quickly became one of the hardest working inside presences in the game, his 61 points in just 12 games ranking him fourth in the MILL, sandwiched between Kevin Finneran (3rd) and Tom Marecheck (4th). It’s one of the highest ever rookie scoring rankings on the league leaderboard, only a couple guys higher up today’s countdown outdoing him. Also impressive that year were Jake Bergey in Philly and Chris Prat in Syracuse.

Peter Morgan's rookie breakout season in Vancouver was statistically one of the best ever. (Photo: Matt J. Wiater)

7 – Peter Morgan Vancouver Ravens ‘02
Juggling a basketball gig at Simon Fraser University and a rookie season with the Ravens, Morgan produced at a rate that absolutely no one saw coming, his 5.6 and change points per game rookie rate only bettered by legend’s of the game (slightly ahead of even Duch last year). For anyone that remembers Morgan that year, the kid was absolutely amazing at times, his play a big reason why Vancouver ran off seven straight wins to land a post-season spot during their expansion season. Had he not missed four games, it woulda been hard to not have handed him the ROY nod.

6 – Brodie Merrill Portland Lumberjax ‘06
He finished second in loosie numbers behind the king himself, Jim Veltman, was named the league’s top rookie and defender, and some even felt Merrill was deserving of MVP honours as well, all while helping lead the Jax to one of the greatest expansion seasons ever (11-5).

5 – Taylor Wray Calgary Roughnecks ‘04
It took him about half a shift to get used to the big leagues, Wray winning ROY and co-winner of defender of the year with Cam Woods. Even more impressive was the maturity, work ethic and desire he showed in the post-season, the Calgary Roughnecks winning their first pro title, Wray playing a huge role in the run. He was an absolute beast that year that could not be stopped. Some feel that after six years in the league, that first year was still Wray’s best.

An award winning GM and coach, Derek Keenan's impact on the pro game was felt over a decade earlier. (Photo: Matt J. Wiater)

4 – Derek Keenan Buffalo Bandits ‘92
Keenan played just three partial years in the MILL (building his rep elsewhere throughout the Oshawa area) towards the tail-end of his career, and although he was 31-years-old when he was named the pro game’s top rookie, it was still one helluva a rookie year no matter his age. Pro lacrosse’s Sergei Makarov (substitue Brooklin Redmen for Central Red Army), Keenan led (tied) the league in helpers, while his over six points per game as a rook, is one of the best ever. His 29 points in just five playoff games, resulting in two MILL titles, were huge during the Bandits first years in the league. Plus… John Tavares also had his rookie season in Buffalo that year, just missing out Top 15

3 – Paul Gait Detroit Turbos ‘91
It was the first and only time a rookie led the league in goals, Paul Gait dominating the MILL with the Turbos, and at the time, smashing the single season goal record (47). There was only one other rookie that year that had a better season than Rochester’s current coach, and he looked a lot like him too.

Teammates with Canada almost four years ago, Grant and Gait had two epic pro rookies years.

2 – John Grant Rochester Knighthawks ‘00
He was just four goals away from the goal scoring title and six away from the points lead, Grant’s rookie year with the Knighthawks was the biggest impact rookie showing since the Gaits were drafted outta Syracuse. What he did during the regular season was amazing, but his showcase in the playoffs (16 points in just two games, still his highest post-season point total), bringing the Hawks a goal away from winning it all, was even better.

Plus… Maybe the two slickest rookie goals ever were scored during Grant’s rookie season. The first, his own, that nasty, diving, behind the back championship game goal with Rock defenders hanging all over him. The other, Kaleb Toth, who had a pretty decent rookie year that year too, scored, well, “the goal”.

1 – Gary Gait Detroit Turbos ‘91
Gait led the league in helpers and total points, also winning rookie of the year honours, obviously the scoring title, a post-season MVP nod, a first team All-Pro, and an MILL championship win too. If they gave out an MVP trophy back then, hands down, Gait woulda bagged that unanimously. Even with everyone amped for Cody Jamieson’s first season in 2011, in today’s game, it is very, very unlikely Gait’s first year in the big leagues will ever be repeated. The game and league may have been drastically different back then, but there is no denying the impact both Gaits had that winter.

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# (last year)
19 (NR) Rhys Duch, Washington Stealth
20 (31) Chris White, Buffalo Bandits
21 (42) Matt Vinc, Orlando Titans
22 (25) Pat Maddalena, Orlando Titans
23 (NR) Jeff Moleski, Calgary Roughnecks
24 (34) Kyle Sweeney, Philadelphia Wings
25 (15) Scott Self, Minnesota Swarm
26 (NR) Dan Teat, Philadelphia Wings
27 (5) Jeff Zywicki, Washington Stealth
28 (38) Brian Langtry, Colorado Mammoth
29 (44) Shawn Evans, Rochester Knighthawks
30 (41) Jeff Shattler, Calgary Roughnecks
31 (NR) Dane Dobbie, Calgary Roughnecks
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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