The OFFICIAL 2010 NLL Regular Season Thread

[EagleFan]

With the season starting later today I figured I would start up a thread. I don't know how many people on this thread either know of or follow the NLL but it's a hell of a lot of fun.

The NLL is the National Lacrosse League and plays indoor lacrosse with 11 teams from the US and Canada. The sport is fast and exciting.


The Teams

Philadelphia Wings - The longest running franchise in the league. Started in 1987 whn it was Eagle Pro Box Lacrosse League (not related to Philadelphia Eagles) and remained through the league becoming the Major Indoor Lacrosse League and now the NLL. Six time champions but in a drought since 2001.

Orlando Titans - Just moved from New York to Orlando this season. First season in New York was 2007 but suffered attendance issues and moved this season. Attendance problems caused mostly by not having a home as their home games were played in multiple locations in the New York area.

Colorado Mammoth - An original franchise along with Philadelphia but have moved several times. They were the Baltimoe Thunder from 1987 until 1999, then the Pittsburgh CrossFire for one season and the Washingeon (DC) Power for two seasons before moving to Colordado in 2003. They won the championship in the legue's first season in 1987 as Baltimore and they have won one championship as Colorado. They are usually at or near the top of the league in attendance figures.

Washington Stealth - First season in Washington (state) and they play in Everett Washington a little north of Seattle. They began in 2000 as the Albany Attack and moved to San Jose in 2004 before moving again this season.

Buffalo Bandits - Another of the storied franchises in the league. Started in 1992 and have won 4 championships. Their rivalry with the Wings used to be one of the most intense in the league (aided by facing each other 4 times in the championship game in a 5 year span in the 90's).

Rochester Knighthawks - Began in 1995 and own the league record with 13 consecutive years making the playoffs (beating the Wings previous record of 11). Have won 2 championships.

Toronto Rock - Started in 1998 as the Ontario Raiders but moved to Toronto in 1999. Have won 5 championships in their short tenure but have had trouble the past two seasons and missed the playoffs but should be a team on the rise.

Boston Blazers - Their second season in the league. In their first season they made the playoffs and played a very good team game based on tight defense and timely scoring.

Minnesota Swarm - Began play in 2005.

Calgary Roughnecks - Began play in 2002. They are the defending league champion and have won 2 championships in their tenure.

Edmonton Rush - Began play in 2006. Have been a struggling franchise that have not yet made the playoffs.

[EagleFan]

Week One Games

Friday 1/8 - Philadelphia Wings @ Orlando Titans
Saturday 1/9 - Colorado Mammoth @ Washington Stealth
Saturday 1/9 - Buffalo Bandits @ Rochester Knighthawks
Saturday 1/9 - Toronto Rock @ Boston Blazers
Sunday 1/10 - Minnesota Swarm @ Calgary Roughnecks

[Pumpy Tudors]

Are any of these games nationally televised anywhere?

[DeToxRox]

Originally Posted by Pumpy Tudors

Are any of these games nationally televised anywhere?

Are you for real black?

[Lathum]

Let me know when the Beers play the Felons for the Denslow Cup.

[EagleFan]

Originally Posted by Pumpy Tudors

Are any of these games nationally televised anywhere?

Not nationally televised in he normal manner.


NLL.com -- Official Website of the National Lacrosse League - Home has links to internet broadcasts of each game.

[RainMaker]

I thought we had a team in Chicago called the Shamrox. Always wanted to see a game of theirs, they had smoking hot cheerleaders.

[chrisj]

Wow - I am actually shocked there are other NLL fans here. Here's hoping for a good season for the new look Rush.

Originally Posted by RainMaker

I thought we had a team in Chicago called the Shamrox. Always wanted to see a game of theirs, they had smoking hot cheerleaders.

They folded just prior to last season, if I recall. Sounded like problems with the team owner.

Originally Posted by Pumpy Tudors

Are any of these games nationally televised anywhere?

Not in the US - although there is a TV deal in Canada to broadcast a dozen or so games.

[EagleFan]

Originally Posted by chrisj

Wow - I am actually shocked there are other NLL fans here. Here's hoping for a good season for the new look Rush.

Glad that I found another one on here.

Hoping to draw a little interest with the thread maybe, I guess it can't hurt right?


Disappointed that Iannucci is out for the season with his knee injury. Hoping that newly acquired Teat and others can pick up some of the slack. Want to see what Snider's younger brother can do as well.

[EagleFan]

Originally Posted by RainMaker

I thought we had a team in Chicago called the Shamrox. Always wanted to see a game of theirs, they had smoking hot cheerleaders.

What chrisj said, they folded very late prior to last season, caused a last minute rescheduling nightmare for the league.

[EagleFan]

Philadelphia Wings - live streaming video powered by Livestream

Unfortunately the feeds are from the arena feeds and aren't high detail.

[Butter]

I remember they used to show these games on ESPN2 from time to time. Whenever they scored, the announcer would say "He's got rope!" Annoyed the shit outta me.

[EagleFan]

Originally Posted by Butter_of_69

I remember they used to show these games on ESPN2 from time to time. Whenever they scored, the announcer would say "He's got rope!" Annoyed the shit outta me.

That annoyed the hit out of a lot of people. Hated that crap. That was when they were trying to play ESPN2 off as a more in your face version of ESPN and that god-awful saong "Whoot there it is" was out; they did a "deuce there it is" for ESPN2 and they tried to make it sound like the crowd was actually chanting that when coming back from breaks.

I liked that the league was getting some coverage but hated how it was being done.

[Pumpy Tudors]

Originally Posted by DeToxRox

Are you for real black?

Not sure.

[RainMaker]

Originally Posted by EagleFan

What chrisj said, they folded very late prior to last season, caused a last minute rescheduling nightmare for the league.

That sucks. They seemed to have done a good job getting their name out there too. Saw them doing publicity stuff throughout the city and ran a lot of commercials on Comcast Sports here. I think they even had a TV deal with the station to carry some games. Lacrosse isn't big out here but there are a lot of high schools picking it up as a sport so you'd think they could tap into that market.

[Mizzou B-ball fan]

I never got into NLL while I was in Baltimore, but I went to several Johns Hopkins NCAA lacrosse games since it was walking distance from where I lived. If you haven't every seen lacrosse in person, you should definitely go see a game. Some of the physical play and acrobatic shots are incredible. I didn't expect it when I went to my first game, but I really enjoyed it.

[Young Drachma]

This surprised me. I mean, the thread existing.

[Pumpy Tudors]

Originally Posted by Dark Cloud

This surprised me. I mean, the thread existing.

This has nearly inspired me to get an AF1 thread going!

[Young Drachma]

Originally Posted by Pumpy Tudors

This has nearly inspired me to get an AF1 thread going!

Might as well. People don't know what happened to it, of the new name and such. I had to google to find out about the bankruptcy and changes.

[EagleFan]

One hour until the season starts! You know you're pumped!!!

[Chubby]

Go Bandits!!!

[EagleFan]

For tonight's game...

NLL.com -- Live Game Webcast

[EagleFan]

WTF? The Titans come out in their road uniforms? Now both teams have white on. Not a good way to start the season.

[EagleFan]

Ouch....

Titans 13 Wings 8

[EagleFan]

Saturday Results...

Stealth 17 Mammoth 8

Knighthawks 10 Bandits 5

Rock 17 Blazers 7

[chrisj]

Watched most of the Toronto / Boston game on TSN2. I knew Toronto was going to be better this season - but didn't think they'd be that good. Looks like Colin Doyle will really make a huge impact for them.

[EagleFan]

Originally Posted by chrisj

Watched most of the Toronto / Boston game on TSN2. I knew Toronto was going to be better this season - but didn't think they'd be that good. Looks like Colin Doyle will really make a huge impact for them.

They're off to a very good start with tonight's OT win.

[EagleFan]

Last Sunday:

Roughnecks 12 Swarm 7

[EagleFan]

Week 2 Games:

Friday 1/15: Edmonton Rush @ Washington Stealth
Friday 1/15: Calgary Roughnecks @ Minnesota Swarm
Friday 1/15: Boston Blazers @ Toronto Rock
Saturday 1/16: Edmonton Rush @ Colorado Mammoth
Saturday 1/16: Rochester Knighthawks @ Buffalo Bandits
Saturday 1/16: Boston Blazers @ Philadelphia Wings

[EagleFan]

Friday Results:

Stealth 11 Rush 5
Swarm 12 Roughnecks 10
Rock 8 Blazers 7 (OT)

[EagleFan]

Going to be at the Wings game tomorrow. I'll try to get some decent pictures and post them.


W-I-N-G-S Wings!!!!!

[EagleFan]

Saturday results:

Rush 14 Mommoth 13
Knighthawks 13 Bandits 11
Wings 12 Blazers 8


Great home opener for the Wings. In the absence of offensive leader Athan Iannucci they did a very good job of distributing the ball tonight (12 goals from 8 different players with 4 scoring 2). Everone chipped in. Defensively they did a much better job this week of not letting Miller get hung out to dry with point blank shots and Miller did a fne job of answering the call when a few did happen (you can't keep some from happening all game long).

Westervelt named game MVP but I think Miller should have won that honor.

Unfortunately no pictures as two of the guys were running late so I ended up playing NHL 10 with the guy who showed up on time and when they showed up I got up and left and forgot the camers. Still 7 home games left for me to bring it so I should get some nice shots.

"Red Status" night for me next week so I will e taking my daughter and one of the poker guys will be bringing his daughter (they are about the same age) and we will be on the field for the introductions. The girls are going to get a kick out of that. I have to find out what the rules for cameras are on the field for that. I hope I can get a few pictures while down there.

[EagleFan]

Standings

Rank  East                  GP W L  PCT  GF GA STK PIM GB
  1   Rochester Knighthawks  2 2 0 1.000 23 16 2-0  55  - 
  2   Toronto Rock           2 2 0 1.000 25 14 2-0 103  - 
  3   Orlando Titans         1 1 0 1.000 13  8 1-0  82 0.5 
  4   Philadelphia Wings     2 1 1 0.500 20 21 1-0  62 1.0 
  5   Boston Blazers         3 0 3 0.167 22 37 0-3 137 2.0 
  6   Buffalo Bandits        2 0 2 0.000 16 23 0-2  78 2.0 

Rank  West                  GP W L  PCT  GF GA STK PIM GB 
  1   Washington Stealth     2 2 0 1.000 32 15 2-0  52  - 
  2   Calgary Roughnecks     2 1 1 0.500 22 19 0-1  24 1.0 
  3   Edmonton Rush          2 1 1 0.500 21 28 1-0  23 1.5 
  4   Minnesota Swarm        2 1 1 0.500 19 22 1-0  34 1.0 
  5   Colorado Mammoth       2 0 2 0.000 21 31 0-2  75 1.5

[EagleFan]

Later in the season I am going to extend an offer to FOFC. I have season tickets for the Wings and I tried this last season but it was too late when I posted the offer (game day when people had to back out from going last minute).

If anyone in the Philly area from FOFC is interested in going to a game I will offer up a couple tickets to a game. I'll post the offer in advance this year.

[EagleFan]

Week 3 Games:

Friday 1/22 - Colorado Mammoth @ Minnesota Swarm
Friday 1/22 - Buffalo Bandits @ Washington Stealth
Saturday 1/23 -Colorado Mammoth @ Philadelphia Wings
Saturday 1/23 - Rochester Knighthawks @ Toronto Rock
Saturday 1/23 - Buffalo Bandits @ Edmonton Rush
Saturday 1/23 - Orlando Titans @ Boston Blazers
Saturday 1/23 - Washington Stealth @ Calgrary Roughnecks

[EagleFan]

First result of the weekend:

Mammoth 15 Swarm 14 in overtime


Bandits are up 1-0 early in the game. Go Stealth...

[chrisj]

Going to the Rush/Bandits game on Saturday - the Rush need to win this one, they are basically the only game in Edmonton right now.

[EagleFan]

Originally Posted by chrisj

Going to the Rush/Bandits game on Saturday - the Rush need to win this one, they are basically the only game in Edmonton right now.

Cool, enjoy it. Go Rush!!!

Going to start getting ready to leave for the Wings game. Taking my oldest daughter (9) and a friend of mine and his dauighter (also 9). We took them to a game last year and they liked it. This year should be even better for them as we'll be on the field for the introductions.

[EagleFan]

Other final last night:

Stealth 13 Bandits 11


An 0-3 start for the Bandits, gotta love that!!!!

[EagleFan]

Standings

East                   W L  PCT  GF GA STK  GB
Rochester Knighthawks  2 0 1.000 23 16  W2   - 
Toronto Rock           2 0 1.000 25 14  W2   - 
Orlando Titans         1 0 1.000 13  8  W1  0.5 
Philadelphia Wings     1 1 0.500 20 21  W1  1.0 
Boston Blazers         0 3 0.167 22 37  L3  2.5 
Buffalo Bandits        0 3 0.000 27 36  L3  2.5 

West                   W L  PCT  GF GA STK  GB 
Washington Stealth     3 0 1.000 45 26  W3   - 
Calgary Roughnecks     1 1 0.500 22 19  L1  1.5 
Edmonton Rush          1 1 0.500 21 28  W1  1.5 
Minnesota Swarm        1 2 0.333 33 37  L1  2.0 
Colorado Mammoth       1 2 0.333 36 45  W1  2.0

[chrisj]

Huge win for Edmonton tonight over Buffalo, 11-7 (although Buffalo was down 11-5 until about 2 minutes left when the Rush let up a bit).

Ryan Ward has been huge for Edmonton this season - he is having a career year so far. 10 goals and 8 assists in 3 games.

[EagleFan]

Originally Posted by chrisj

Huge win for Edmonton tonight over Buffalo, 11-7 (although Buffalo was down 11-5 until about 2 minutes left when the Rush let up a bit).

Ryan Ward has been huge for Edmonton this season - he is having a career year so far. 10 goals and 8 assists in 3 games.

One good thing happened yesterday at least, any Bandit loss is a good thing...

[EagleFan]

Saturday results:

Mammoth 12 Wings 11 (OT)
Rock 17 Knighthawks 3 (Holy crap)
Rush 11 Bandits 7
Blazers 13 Titans 9
Stealth 16 Roughnecks 15

[EagleFan]

Standings[/color]

East                   W L  PCT  GF GA STK  GB
Toronto Rock           3 0 1.000 42 17  W3   - 
Rochester Knighthawks  2 1  .667 26 33  L1  1.0 
Orlando Titans         1 1  .500 22 21  L1  1.5 
Philadelphia Wings     1 2 0.333 31 33  L1  2.0 
Boston Blazers         1 3 0.250 35 46  W1  2.5 
Buffalo Bandits        0 4 0.000 34 47  L4  3.5 

West                   W L  PCT  GF GA STK  GB 
Washington Stealth     4 0 1.000 61 41  W4   - 
Edmonton Rush          2 1 0.667 32 35  W2  1.5 
Colorado Mammoth       2 2 0.500 48 56  W2  2.0
Calgary Roughnecks     1 2 0.333 37 35  L2  2.5 
Minnesota Swarm        1 2 0.333 33 37  L1  2.5 

[Oilers9911]

The Rock with an absolute beat down of Rochester. Should make for an interesting rematch in Rochester next weekend. Rock super rookie Garrett Billings with 5 more goals bringing his total to 11 in 3 games including an overtime winner.

[Vince, Pt. II]

I'm sad to see the Stealth move from San Jose. I never made it out to a game, but enjoy watching Lacrosse on TV when it's on.

[EagleFan]

Originally Posted by Oilers9911

The Rock with an absolute beat down of Rochester. Should make for an interesting rematch in Rochester next weekend. Rock super rookie Garrett Billings with 5 more goals bringing his total to 11 in 3 games including an overtime winner.

It's early but the Rock are looking frighteningly good. It's looking like a Rock/Stealth championship matchup early on.

[EagleFan]

dola:

Now for my complaining. That game tying shorthanded goal that the Mammoth scored should hve been too many men. There is no possible way that a player could have been right in front of the goal wide open on a legal change. When he was receiving the pass the player he was replacing was just getting to the bench.

Also... how the hell can you call a goaltender interferrence penalty in overtime, especially when the player was pushed into the goallie by the defense.

Oh well, they played poorly at times and didn't deserve the win anyway (but neither team did to be honest).

Going to try to post a few pictures from the game, and I have a video clip of a really nice goal by McGlone. Unfortunately not a lot of good pictures, I must have accidentally changed the setting when I was messing with it earlier and didn't notice.

[EagleFan]

Week 4 Games:

Friday 1/29 - Rochester Khighthawks @ Orlando Titans
Saturday 1/30 - Washington Stealth @ Colorado Mammoth
Saturday 1/30 - Calgary Roughnecks @ Edmonton Rush
Saturday 1/30 - Minnesota Swarm @ Buffalo Bandits
Saturday 1/30 - Philadelphia Wings @ Boston Blazers
Saturday 1/30 - Toronto Rock @ Rochester Knighthawks

[EagleFan]

Week 4 Results:

Titans 13 Knighthawks 8
Stealth 12 Mammoth 11
Rush 14 Roughnecks 11
Bandits 11 Swarm 7
Blazers 11 Wings 9
Knighthawks 16 Rock 8