NLL Insider

McNish bids farewell to Calgary

Ryan McNish leaves Calgary with a heavy heart. As NLLInsider.com’s Paul Tutka let us know yesterday, McNish was dealt to the Edmonton Rush for a National Lacrosse League first-round draft pick in 2010.

“I love the city of Calgary, I love the fans, I had an absolute blast playing there, made lots and lots of friends,” McNish told The Calgary Herald. “But at the same time, I’m excited about going to a new team — and the the new team is in my backyard.” The deal should make life easier for McNish, who has worked six years as a helicopter mechanic for the Canadian Armed Forces. He’s based in Edmonton and the trade to the Rush will obviously make his commute easier. And, in just another example of how the world of sports can come full circle, McNish now has Tim O’Brien as a teammate after Tutka reminded us all of the memorable scrap the fellas had a while back.

• More on the McNish trade: Calgary Sun
• Roughnecks beef up defense: Calgary Herald

Stealth Brass Spotted in Baltimore

Inside Lacrosse spies report that San Jose’s Doug Locker and Johnny Mouradian were spotted in Baltimore early this week to meet with top draft pics Paul Rabil (#2) and Kevin Huntley (#5) from Johns Hopkins and free-agent signees Brett Manney (Delaware) and Kyle Hartzell (Salisbury).

(Full disclosure: Locker and Mouradian swung through IL’s Inner Harbor offices while they were in town, to pick up some reading for the flight home. But it sounds cooler the other way.)

Nothing to report yet on whether the two first-round picks will suit up for the Stealth, but the trip shows San Jose’s interest in Rabil and Huntley, who Mouradian thinks both have Rookie of the Year potential.
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Roughnecks eye health, happiness

Give Brad Banister the choice and the National Lacrosse League season will start tonight.

“I think we’ve got a really stacked lineup,” says the owner and general manager of the Calgary Roughnecks. “The veterans are in for an eye-opener here. We’ve got some really good young guys ready to challenge for positions.” Happy with the recent entry draft and in direct control of the team he owns, Banister’s amped for a 2009 season to get started so it can make up for a 2008 team that was, to a degree, a disappointment while battling some key injuries and inconsistincies.

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Logo time: Which one’s the worst?

Today’s announcement of the Toronto Rock and the New York Titans playing a National Lacrosse League regular-season game down in the Sunshine State is pretty cool. Kinda gets ya to thinking of the expansion possibilities and while the league hasn’t come right out and said it outright, why else would there be a game there but to test the waters?

This is the kinda stuff that gets a man to thinking, especially an old man like myself, of all the expansion experiments the NLL has taken over the years. Some of these expansion teams have produced fantastic memories but one of the things everyone looks at first, and remembers the most, is the logo. And team colors. So let’s take a look at some of the teams past and figure out which extinct team had the worst logo. Go ahead and click on the “read more” tag to take a stroll down memory lane and then drop your vote for whichever team had the most god-awful logo.

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Shamrox ready to turn it around

It’s kinda tough to win when, in your first seven National Lacrosse League games, you have games where your defense gives up 19, 18 and 17 goals.

That’s a big reason the Chicago Shamrox got off to a 1-6 start in the 2008 season but just as the Shammies were being written off, something happened. Something clicked, and “it” started to come together. Matt Roik gave Chicago a solid presence in goal. Brad Self sparked the transition game, and Cody Jacobs lit it up on offense. That’s the combination that helped the Shammies score a surprising win over the defending champion Rochester Knighthawks and the confidence that fueled a 4-game win streak put the Shamrox in playoff contention with a 5-7 record.

But then, something else happened.

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The Hamilton Knighthawks?

Because Knighthawks lacrosse fans haven’t been through enough this past year or so, today Bob Matthews has floated the idea of the Rochester Knighthawks one day making a move to Hamilton, Ontario. No word yet on whether or not the team would have to purposely lose games to keep from confusing the lucrative Ticat fanbase. However, in happier news K-Hawks fans will have a weekly radio show coming their way, starting October 6th.

• A Toronto city councillor has proposed naming a new lacrosse field after Jamieson Kuhlmann, the 15 year-old lacrosse player who passed away in May after an in-game accident: Toronto Star
• How does it feel to know a six year old could probably beat you at lacrosse, one-handed? Pretty good, actually: CNW Group

Inside Lacrosse’s Post NLL Entry Draft Coverage with Danowski & Buchanan

Not sure how many of you have had the chance to jump over to IL’s main page, but if you haven’t you’ve missed out some real solid post NLL Entry Draft coverage from the guys at the main digs in Baltimore.

IL Staff writer Jon Brand has headed up a series of pod casts talking to first overall pick Daryl Veltman, first round grab Kevin Buchanan, as well as a round table discussion covering a ton of topics which includes more draft coverage and the recent news surrounding John Grant.

IL also handed new Colorado Mammoth forward Matt Danowski a camera during the NLL Combine & Entry Draft and had him give us a play-by-play of the stacked weekend, including his arrival in Boston, the drills at the combine, and some of the stuff behind the scenes while the actual draft was goin’ off.

Titans name Aaron Jones Team President

Longtime NBA and NFL executive and former Cornell University All American lacrosse player Aaron Jones has been named the President of the New York Titans, the team announced today in a press release. He replaces Timoty Kelly and will be responsible for overseeing all aspects of the team’s lacrosse and business operations.

Jones, who has run his own full-service marketing firm - Jones Marketing and Management - since 2002, has past experience as a Team President in the NBA’s Developmental League and worked in marketing for the NFL and the NFL Players Association prior to that.

A Long Island native, Jones was a four-year letter winner at Cornell and recieved All-Ivy League honors from 1985-’87, playing for the 1987 NCAA runner-up and earning All America honors as a senior.

The full press release follows: READ MORE »

Kelusky returning to Roughnecks

Wanna know what’s got Tracey Kelusky fired up?

Sure, he’s got a new one-year contract with the National Lacrosse League’s Calgary Roughnecks all locked up, but in the games he balled this summer with the Peterborough Lakers, dude says he was feeling great. And that’s saying a lot for Kelusky, who missed almost two months of NLL action while trying to shake the effects of a concussion. “Hopefully, this concussion thing is well behind me,” Kelusky told The Calgary Herald. “Especially playing this summer in a very physical league where I took some hits to the head.” Riggers owner and general manager Brad Banister certainly is happy to have Kelusky back for a seventh season in Calgary.

• Tavares finds fountain of youth: Mississauga News
• Vote for IL’s Laxie Awards today: InsideLacrosse.com

Billy Whalen and the Buffalo Bandits

It’s here, folks. That awkward time of year where the glow from summer ball is fast fading but it’s not yet time for training camp so all that’s left to do is look forward to the next season and reflect on the last. With the 2008 the Buffalo Bandits had—a first-place finish in the tightly-contested East, an NLL championship, and John Tavares becoming the league’s all-time leading scorer—it probably goes without saying that the Buffalo faithful aren’t in need of another off-season reason to remember why they love their Bandits so much. Oh well, here’s one anyway. READ MORE »

Mammoth ready to roar again

The 2008 National Lacrosse League season didn’t go exactly according to plan for the Colorado Mammoth, but then again, whose season does?

Wins and losses aside, every single franchise in any pro sport is gonna come face to face with the unexpected. It’s the team that guts it through that adversity that usually stands tallest at the end of the season and the Mammoth, for sure, faced their share of tests. That’s by no means a slam on the wooly beasts, but when your transition game inexplicably disappears and one of your top offensive guns is shelved with just 11 games under his belt, that’s a tall order to overcome.

“We were affected by injuries just as everybody else probably is,” says Colorado general manager Steve Govett. “But losing Dan Carey, that’s something that a challenge to replace.”

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Replay fever grips the lacrosse world

It seems like instant replay and its potential applications are on everyone’s thoughts these days.

Fresh off Major League Baseball’s decision to use replay to review disputed calls, the NCAA told IL it is considering the possibility of using the technology itself. Christian Swezey used that as a way to look back at some of the key plays in NCAA history that may have changed if replay existed, and - as always - ESPN/IL analyst Quint Kessenich shared his thoughts on the subject.

Sure enough, the NLL got on board this afternoon, issuing this press release about it’s exploration of using replay to review disputed goals and crease violations: READ MORE »

NLL All-Stars heading to Denver

Just last week, the 2009 National Lacrosse League schedule was released and now, we know when and where the 2009 All-Star Game is gonna be played.

Denver hosted the festivities just four seasons ago, but when you draw a crowd of 16,742, it’s tough to NOT go back there. They’re nuts for lax in the Mile High City and the nuts will see the best of the NLL showcase their skills again on Saturday, March 7, at the Pepsi Center. “The players always put on a great show and we plan to make the entire weekend an unforgettable experience for the fans,” Colorado general manager Steve Govett said in an NLL news release. The East beat the West, 19-15, back in 2004 so make your travel plans now to be at the game.

• Cast your votes today for the IL Laxie Awards: Inside Lacrosse

Knighthawks set up get-well message service for Grant

With well wishes pouring in from around the lacrosse world for John Grant Jr., the Rochester Knighthawks have set up a service to convey their thoughts to the ailing superstar.

It was announced on Monday that Grant, the reigning MLL MVP for the Rochester Rattlers and a five-time NLL first team All Pro, would miss the 2009 season after an infection that spread to his knee and required the removal of his ACL.

Fans that wish to send their wishes to the Peterborough native can send letters to the Knighthawks’ office:

C/O John Grant
The Blue Cross Arena
100 Exchange Street
Rochester, NY 14614.

Fans can also send emails to jgrant@knighthawks.net. Both methods of delivery will be active as of Wednesday, September 10th. To read the full release from the Knighthawks, follow after the jump. READ MORE »

John Grant Jr. to miss 2009 season after emergency surgery

Rochester Knighthawks and Peterborough Lakers’ superstar John Grant Jr. will not play in the NLL in 2009, the Knighhawks announced in a press release issued this afternoon.

The Ontario native, who was recently named Major League Lacrosse MVP for helping lead the Rochester Rattlers to their first championship, will be out indefinitely after an infection that required emergency surgery last week.

According to the release, the infection spread from his elbow into his knee, and doctors were required to remove his left ACL and screws attaching the ligament to the bone itself. Grant will be in a knee brace from four to 12 months, after which he will undergo another surgery to re-insert his ACL.

Check back with NLLInsider.com for further details on this story. To read the full Rochester press release, continue reading after the jump. READ MORE »

Full draft results

Daryl Veltman went first overall, Buffalo snagged a couple guys from Six Nations, Portland added another goalie to their collection, and together Bellarmine University and the Victoria Shamrocks contributed about 11 rookie hopefuls. The full NLL draft results after the jump. READ MORE »

Paul Suggate named Knighthawks head coach

NLLinsider’s own Paul Tutka brought it up over ten days ago and today the Knighthawks announced it: Paul Suggate has taken over as Rochester’s head coach, with Freeman Bucktooth and former Knighthawks defender Mike Hasen signing on as assistants.

“It is an honor to be surrounded by guys like Regy [Thorpe], Jody [Gage] and Curt [Styres],” said Suggate. “They are high-caliber guys that are doing what they can to win a championship. My focus is simple: I want to be the best that I can and help the guys be the best that they can be. Each night we have to earn the right to be the best.” READ MORE »

2009 NLL schedule released

Attention NLL fans, with the league’s latest release you may now go about the business of marking up your 2009 calendars and scheduling your road trips because here it is: your 2009 NLL schedule. The full schedule after the jump. READ MORE »

Comeau adds familiar faces behind NY’s bench

With an overhaul of the New York Titans’ front office and bench staff happening here in this off-season, the news that head coach and GM Ed Comeau has hired two of his former Knighthawks assistants probably comes as little surprise. Joining Comeau and Blane Harrison, the Titans defensive specialist who was brought on board last season, will be Sean Ferris and John Munroe. Both men were a part of the 2007 Knighthawks Champion’s Cup winning team.

Ferris has worked under Comeau for the past four seasons, having joined the Knighthawks bench staff in 2004. Prior to that he worked as head scout for the Toronto Rock from 1999-2004, during which the Rock captured four league titles. In addition to his NLL work, Ferris is the head scout of Team Canada and an assistant coach for the Jr. A Burlington Chiefs.

Munroe also has four years of experience with Comeau, having been an assistant coach with the Knighthawks for the 2003, 2004, 2007 and 2008 seasons. Aside from his coaching resume, Munroe is probably best known for the nine years he spent playing for the MSL Peterborough Lakers, a four-time all-star and one-time recipient of defensive player of the year honours.

Inside Lacrosse introduces the inaugural Laxie Awards

Hey everyone, wanted to take this time to remind our readers over here at NLLInsider.com about Inside Lacrosse’s first ever Laxie Awards. The editors at Inside Lacrosse spent the last month working late nights in fiery bull sessions to come up with the categories and selections, categories that span the lacrosse world, and now we’re asking the readers to make their vote count for their favorites.

Among the categories are several NLL favorites, including the NLL Player of the Year category. NLL superstars are also among the categories throughout the voting card, including Rochester Knighthawk John Grant Jr. for the coveted Player of the Year award. Go to the Laxie Awards site today and make your vote count!