NLL Insider

The Beat

Lacrosse Links: Canadians invade, conquer Hawaii

In case the change from fall to winter hasn’t been depressing enough, you can take heart in the fact that some members of the fraternity we call lacrosse got to spend a good chunk of the past month out in sunny Hawaii, where Crease Monkeys took home the title at the Hawaii Invitational.

Why should I care about this fact as an NLL-loving sports fan, you ask? Well, the USA selection left the elite squads looking to fill some holes and – go figure – they reached out to a couple of your favorites to power up. Crease Monkeys alone had Zack Greer, Gavin Prout, Geoff Snider, John Grant Jr., Jordan Hall and Jeff Zywicki. READ MORE »

The Beat

Lacrosse Links: Keenan and Staff Set The Tone For Edmonton’s Season

A 5-11 record in 2009 left the Edmonton Rush outside of the postseason for a fourth straight season and in need of some serious changes – improving an anemic offense that scored fewer goals than any team in the league, igniting some sort of transition game and addressing a defense that allowed 12.5 goals per game.

Enter former Portland LumberJax head coach Derek Keenan, who was named the new head coach and general manager of the Rush in early July. Keenan added Brodie Merrill and Scott Stewart to the roster to take care of those transition issues and brought in Ryan Ward to add some athleticism to the offense. Now, Keenan and the Rush are about to embark on the 2009-2010 season with the start of training camp and Keenan’s message to set the tone for how things are going to be is pretty simple: Show up in shape or don’t show up at all.

Check out the whole story on the Edmonton Rush website.
READ MORE »

The Beat

Lacrosse Links: Hitting the Slopes with Tyler Jewell

Though not Canadian, Tyler Jewell will be spending plenty of time up there this winter, as the former lacrosse player at Boston College will be heading to Vancouver as part of the US Snowboard Team for the upcoming Olympic Games. READ MORE »

The Beat

Lacrosse Links: Reaction from the Gavin Prout trade, US Team Selection

The Gavin Prout trade story in the Durham Region News led with a hook on his reunion with Shawn Williams — but was quick to point out that neither is returning to the Brooklin Redmen in the MSL.

Check out the story with quotes from Prout and Knighthawks owner and CEO Curt Styres here.
READ MORE »

The Beat

Lacrosse Links: U.S. Team comes together with familiar NLL names

The final 23-man Team U.S.A. roster was announced yesterday, and the debate over the final grouping has already been heated among fans. Among familiar NLL names: Ryan Boyle (Orlando Titans), Brendan Mundorf (Titans), Ryan Powell (Portland Lumberjax), Paul Rabil (Washington Stealth), Eric Martin (Washington Stealth), Shawn Nadelen (Philly Wings) and Kyle Sweeney (Philly Wings). You can check out IL’s initial thought of the roster here at the podcast, or read IL editor Terry Foy’s total team breakdown. READ MORE »

NLL, The Beat

Lacrosse Links: Weekend Roundup

News of the Prout for Gajic trade between Denver and Rochester dominated headlines this weekend, but Philadephia and Calgary brokered a trade of their own — the Wings dealt transition specialist Rob Van Beek to the ‘Necks for a second round draft pick in 2010. Oh, and it was Halloween, too.
READ MORE »

The Beat

Lacrosse Links: Sound off on the Gajic/Prout Trade

Big news hit yesterday about the blockbuster trade that sent long-time Mammoth forward and captain Gavin Prout to Rochester for Ilija Gajic. Colorado also sent Andrew Potter and two first round picks to the Knighthawks in the trade, which will unite all three Gajic brothers in the Mile High City. What do you think? Do both teams “win” in this trade? Did one get the better end of the deal? How does this play out this season and even further down the road? Sound off in the Colorado Mammoth or Rochester Knighthawks forums.
READ MORE »

The Beat

Lacrosse Links: Australian Lacrosse Fans Impressed By All-Star Series

We’re officially a week removed from the NLL All-Star Series in Australia and even still, the East’s two-game sweep over the West remains a hot topic among lacrosse fans, and not necessarily for the games themselves. Sure there were highlight reel goals from the likes of John Grant, Jr., Gary Gait and Mark Steenhuis and even a fight between Australian players Wes Green and Keith Nyberg, but don’t forget that more than 7,000 fans showed up to watch, which would rank 10th in the NLL if it was put alongside the league’s season average attendance numbers. Needless to say, the sport is set to take some big strides down under in the near future.
READ MORE »

The Beat

Lacrosse Links: Kaleb Toth Resigns with Riggers

Slam Sports put together a story on Kaleb Toth leading the Roughnecks to a title defense the day after he signed. Check it out here.

Also, because it’s something of a light links day, here’s a story from the San Jose Mercury News about a California lacrosse player with Canadian blood heading to Prince George to play hockey. I wonder if he’ll still get to play lacrosse.
READ MORE »

The Beat

Lacrosse Links: Highlights from NLL’s trip Down Under

The NLL has video highlights posted of the weekend’s action in Australia, which saw the east take both games of the NLL All Star Series, 24-16 and 20-19. The games, played in Melbourne, were the first professional games ever played outside of North America. READ MORE »