NLL Insider

Hardware

Insider National Lacrosse League Awards: Goaltender Finalists

Anthony Cosmo gave the Boston Blazers a chance on most nights, was it enough for keeper gold? (Photo: Larry Palumbo)

Not sure this league has seen so many “backups” play such a major, and at times, almost full-time role in the National Lacrosse League like we saw in 2010.

Rarely do teams split time straight down the middle either, both the Washington Stealth and Calgary Roughnecks basically going back-and-forth between their two tenders all year, those two teams going an impressive 21-11 platooning in 2010. 

After the jump, check out the five goalies who should be up for the league’s goalie of the year nod, and let us know who you like for the hardware. READ MORE »

Hardware

Insider National Lacrosse League Awards: Head Coach Finalists

Troy Cordingley won the top coach nod last year and has the Rock back in the playoffs in 2010 (Photo: Larry Palumbo)

Last week I kicked off my favourites for this year’s General Manager of the year nod, the Washington Stealth’s Doug Locker taking that fan vote as this year’s best off the bench boss (my personal winner will hit Insider next week).

Today I’ll drop the five guys on the bench that should be front runners for the National Lacrosse League’s Coach of the Year, the then Calgary Roughnecks and now Toronto Rock bench boss Troy Cordingley of course winning the hardware last year en route to also capturing the Champion’s Cup, a path he’s on again as we speak this year. After the jump, check out the five head coaches that should be getting some love for the nod this year, and check back throughout the week as we look at the rest of the league’s individual hardware favourites from the regualr season. READ MORE »

Hardware

Insider National Lacrosse League Awards: General Manager Finalists

Edmonton GM and coach Derek Keenan (Photo: Dave Sanders)

For those that have followed our awards coverage over the last couple years, you know we like the way the NHL rolls out their year-end hardware. Announcing a group of finalists scattered throughout their playoffs, leaving things up for debate online and in print right up until they hand them out in person at their tuxedo shindig after the Stanley Cup is handed out.

So over the next couple weeks, I’ll be releasing my five fourites for all the major individual year-end hardware (Bob Chavez will tackle the rookie nod shortly), let you guys vote, and then pick my award winners for each category following the release of my final fives.

After the jump, check out our first set of finalist for the GM of the Year nod and stay tuned for the rest in coming weeks leading up to the Champion’s Cup final. READ MORE »

Hardware

The National Lacrosse League MVP chase

Has Casey Powell done enough to land his first MVP nod in the NLL? (Photo: Larry Palumbo)

We’re only three weeks of lacrosse away from entering the 2010 National Lacrosse League playoffs and we’ve been witness to some truly outstanding individual performances this year. But who’s been the absolute best? The Most Valuable Player of 2010?

We’ve nominated the ten guys who should factor into MVP and All-Pro talk in a little over a month from now, and also turned the table with our fan poll so you can chime in. We have front runners and a couple wild cards included in the conversation. Let us know who your MVP fave is with just a handful of games for guys to prove their worth, after the jump. READ MORE »

Hardware, NLL, NLL Insider

New York Titans’ Matt Vinc named National Lacrosse League’s Player of the Month

Titans goalie Matt Vinc is Player of the Month for February. (Photo: Larry Palumbo)

Orlando Titans goalkeeper Matt Vinc has been named Player of the Month for February by the National Lacrosse League. Joining him on the monthly award podium is Toronto Rock rookie Stephen Leblanc, who was named Rookie of the Month. Vinc posted a 2-1 record for the Titans with a goals-against average of 8.62 and a save percentage of .838 to become the second goalie this season to win the montly award. Toronto keeper Bob Watson as the January winner. Leblanc had 14 goals and 17 assists in 6 games for the Rock in February. The awards are determined by a vote of NLL general managers and coaches.

Hardware, NLL

Dan Stroup, Rich Kilgour and John Tucker get Hall of Fame tickets punched

Dan Stroup has been named to the NLL's 2010 Hall of Fame class (Photo: Matt J. Wiater)

The National Lacrosse League has announced that after a vote by it’s current clubs, Hall of Fame members and senior media, Dan Stroup, Rich Kilgour and John Tucker have been named to the league’s 2010 Hall class, edging out the likes of Ted Dowling, Curt Malawsky and Troy Cordingley, who were also on this year’s ballot via a revamped selection process.

“This is amazing. I was shocked and surprised”, Stroup said in a statement issued by the league earlier today. “I never could ever have imagined this. I am just getting over retiring and not playing, and this is incredible. I’d like to remembered from my playing career as a good team guy. In a sport like ours, that’s what’s it all about. You can’t win with just all-stars. Teams are made of 23 guys.”

Click here to check out the rest of the NLL’s release on today’s inducted trio.

Hardware

Hardware Watchlist: Insider’s early favourites for MVP to Rookie of the Year award winners, plus rookie stat races

Bob Watson has regained his form in 2010, easily one of the game's best so far. (Larry Palumbo)

We’re just over a month into the 2010 National Lacrosse League season and things are starting to become a lot clearer when it comes to potential end-of-season hardware favourites, some teams already halfway into their regular season sked.

Today Insider takes a look at some of our early season front runners for the MVP, Goalie, Defender, Transition and Rookie of the Year nods, and then turn it over to you too in our fan poll. Find out who we like after the jump, cast your vote, and then hit the boards to let us know who’s impressed you over the first six weeks of the season. READ MORE »

Editorial, Hardware, The Beat

Hall of Fame: Is Pat Coyle the National Lacrosse League’s Pete Rose?

Curt Malawsky is one of six being considered for the NLL's Hall of Fame. (Photo: Larry Palumbo)

The National Lacrosse League announced their finalists for consideration for this year’s Hall of Fame nods, which included the recently retired trio of Rich Kilgour, Dan Stroup and Curt Malawsky, and also previously passed over pro greats like Ted Dowling, John Tucker and Troy Cordingley.

All very deserving, even though only three of the six will be included (after a vote including the league’s board of governors, current hall members, and senior media), but the league’s new expanded selection process seems to have opened the doors to include players that had previously appeared to be outta the mix. A consensus positive from everyone Insider has spoken to over the years. Great move.

Last year we checked in with a group of close to 100 NLL players, asking them who they felt should be inducted into the pro game’s Hall, players who’d yet to receive any consideration. The player that led that poll wasn’t on this week’s HOF short-list released by the league. READ MORE »

Futures Report, Hardware, Ontario Junior A, Road to the Minto Cup

Kyle Rubisch named Brampton’s amateur athlete of the year after sensational ‘09, Joe Walters home cookin’, plus the links

Ken Giles Award winner Kyle Rubisch (Photo: George Beshiri, Brampton Guardian)

Outisde of winning the Minto Cup, which he wasn’t far off, former Brampton Jr. Excelsiors captain and pure defensive standout Kyle Rubisch won just about every piece of possible hardware he could have had thrown at him over the past year both at the Jr. A and collegiate level. Now he can add the honour of being named the Brampton Guardian’s Ken Giles Award winner, presented to the city’s top amateur athlete. READ MORE »

Hardware, NLL

Toronto’s Manning, Orlando’s Vinc among the honored in NLL’s weekly awards

Blaine Manning had 17 points in 2 games for Toronto. (Photo: Toronto Rock)

Blaine Manning of the Toronto Rock was named Offensive Player of the Week for the National Lacrosse League, combining for 8 goals and 9 assists for 17 points in a pair of Rock wins over the weekend. It was enough to be named Overall Player of the Week as well. Orlando Titans goalie Matt Vinc was named Defensive Player of the Week after making 47 saves and holding the Colorado Mammoth to just 5 goals in a 12-5 road win. Also honored by the NLL was Peter Morgan of the Washington Stealth as Transition Player of the Week for his 2 goals and 3 assists and Toronto’s Stephan Leblanc as Rookie of the Week for his combined 14 points (5-9) in 2 games.