2012 NLL Season Thread...

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Philadelphia at Toronto - 7:00PM EST

Washington at Rochester - 7:30PM EST

Colorado at Minnesota - 8:00PM EST

Edmonton at Calgary - 9:00PM EST

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From NLL.com

League Suspends Five Knighthawks Players Indefinitely

02/15/2012, 1:17pm (EST)
By NLL.com
League investigating alleged incident at restaurant in Bloomington, Minnesota

The National Lacrosse League has suspended the five Rochester Knighthawks players who were arrested following an alleged incident at a restaurant in Bloomington, Minnesota on Monday, February 13th. The five players – Tyler Burton, Cody Jamieson, Jordan Hall, Travis Hill & Sid Smith – have each been suspended indefinitely pending further investigation by the league.

“Players in the NLL are held to a higher standard and expected to conduct themselves in a way that promotes the values upon which the League is based”, said NLL Commissioner George Daniel. “The players involved in this incident that were arrested failed to live up to this standard and are subject to discipline, even where the conduct itself may not ultimately result in conviction of a crime."

The players suspended will have the opportunity to present information to the Commissioner on their behalf. The players will also have the right to appeal the Commissioner's decision to an independent arbitrator in accordance with the Collective Bargaining Agreement.

Link:
League Suspends Five Knighthawks Players Indefinitely | National Lacrosse League

Ugh, what a mess, this is!

5 hawks arrested in MINN - NLL Forums

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From The Toronto Sun:

Rock fans can help beat cancer

ALEX CONSIGLIO, Special to the Toronto Sun

First posted: Friday, February 17, 2012 08:24 PM EST | Updated: Friday, February 17, 2012 08:30 PM EST

The Toronto Rock and Philadelphia Wings will be working together Saturday night.

Despite the tough-fought battle expected for first place on the floor, the two teams are supporting a drive to raise funds for Wings goaltender Brandon Miller’s brother, Kyle Miller, who’s battling cancer for the second time.

Kyle, who was a member of the gold medal winning Canadian team at the 2006 World Field Lacrosse Championships, has designed a black hat featuring the words ‘Beat It’ in contrasting red.

“The ‘Beat It’ slogan came from my ‘No questions — No excuses’ attitude toward beating cancer,” said Kyle, who wears the hat while undergoing chemotherapy treatment. “Plain and simple, I will beat it.”

On Saturday at the Air Canada Centre, fans will have the opportunity to purchase one of the hats, with a portion of proceeds being donated to the Mount Sinai Hospital’s Sarcoma Unit, where Kyle is currently being treated for Osteosarcoma cancer, a type of bone cancer.

“We’re pleased to help out a member of the lacrosse family,” said Rock owner and president Jamie Dawick. “It’s a great cause, and the bravery Kyle has shown in his second battle with the disease is an inspiration to us all.”

Each hat sold is individually numbered and the purchaser can register their hat online and become a member of Kyle’s Beat It team, where over 1,000 members have joined already.

“Jamie Dawick is a special person and I’m so grateful for his support,” said Kyle. “He didn’t hesitate one bit when we approached him.”

Kyle’s goal is to help further the research at Mount Sinai with the hopes of finding a cure for Osteosarcoma cancer.

For those unable to attend Saturday’s game, the hats are also available online for $25.00 at Home.

Link:
Rock fans can help beat cancer | Other Sports | Sports | Toronto Sun

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From The Toronto Sun:

Rock, Wings in first-place showdown

ALEX CONSIGLIO, Special to the Toronto Sun

First posted: Friday, February 17, 2012 04:57 PM EST | Updated: Friday, February 17, 2012 05:01 PM EST

More than first place is on the line for the Toronto Rock when the Philadelphia Wings come to the Air Canada Centre looking for revenge Saturday.

The Rock embarrassed the Wings two weeks ago in Philadelphia when the teams met for the first time this season.

After the Rock built a a 9-6 halftime lead, they kept the Wings off the scoreboard for the entire second half on the way to an easy 15-6 victory.

It was the Rock’s third win in a row, for a 3-2 record, and launched Toronto into first place as it headed into its second by-week of the season. The Wings went on to rebound and beat the Buffalo Bandits, bringing their record to 3-2 for a first place tie with the Rock.

If the Rock can clip the Wings again Saturday, it not only claims sole possession of first place in the Eastern Conference, but clinches the tiebreak between the two clubs.

“Our guys aren’t stupid,” said Rock assistant coach and general manager Terry Sanderson. “They know what’s on the line here and we’re not going to fool one another that this is just another game.”

It’s an opportunity made even more important when considering Philadelphia already holds the tiebreak against the second place Bandits, whom the Rock has an 0-1 record against so far.

“We’ve already forgotten about that first game against Philadelphia,” said Sanderson. “There’s absolutely zero concern that we will be taking Philly lightly — our guys know very well that’s not the Philadelphia team we’ll be seeing Saturday.”

Sanderson said the first meeting was simply a case of the Rock being on its A-game and the Wings definitely not bringing theirs.

“Philadelphia has our utmost respect and attention in this upcoming game,” said Sanderson.

The Wings, dead last in the league for the last two seasons, are enjoying a turnaround on the backs of two key acquisitions.

They nabbed Dan Dawson through the Boston Blazers dispersal draft and added Kevin Crowley by drafting him first overall.

Dawson and Crowley, leading the team with 31 and 23 points respectively, were held to only four points combined last time they faced the Rock.

“When teams score three or four goals, we have to rebound as a team,” said Wings head coach and general manager John Mouradian as he remembered Rock Josh Sanderson’s natural hat-trick that sealed his team’s fate two weeks ago.

“That’s the key, keeping the game within one or two goals,” said Mouradian, who called Saturday night’s game a “paramount” opportunity for the Wings franchise.

The Rock is 11-3 against Philadelphia at the ACC, with an all-time record of 22-10 against the Wings. But, according to Mouradian, things have changed.

“There used to be a time when Toronto didn’t have to pay much attention to Philadelphia and now they have to,” said Mouradian.

“Now we have the upper hand on Buffalo and we’re going to come into this game against the Rock with the determination, drive and aggression to give us a chance at this tiebreak as well.”

INJURY NOTES

* Rock Blaine Manning remains out with a broken collarbone.

* Rock captain Colin Doyle is a game time decision with a hamstring injury.

* Rock defender Rob Marshall is out with a broken foot.

* Two Wings defenders are on the injury reserve, Bill McGlone and Steve Grossi.

Next Matchup

The Rock and Wings play their final game against each other on Mar. 9 in Toronto.

Link:
Rock, Wings in first-place showdown | Other Sports | Sports | Toronto Sun

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Philadelphia Wings - 14
Toronto Rock - 8
Philadelphia defeats Toronto to take over East Division lead | National Lacrosse League

Rochester Knighthawks - 15
Washington Stealth - 12
Knighthawks rally late to defeat Stealth | National Lacrosse League

Colorado Mammoth - 12
Minnesota Swarm - 7
Late burst keeps Colorado unbeaten on the season | National Lacrosse League

Calgary Roughnecks - 12
Edmonton Rush - 8
Calgary continues its domination over Edmonton | National Lacrosse League

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From The Toronto Sun:

Philly rocks the Rock

Alex Consiglio, Toronto Sun

First posted: Sunday, February 19, 2012 12:19 AM EST

TORONTO - The Toronto Rock let a prime opportunity slip through its fingers on home turf Saturday night.

The Rock was in a tight, defensive game against the Philadelphia Wings for first place in the Eastern Conference until the Wings exploded with minutes left in the first half.

With the Rock up 4-3, the Wings scored three unanswered goals to take a 6-4 lead into halftime on way to a 14-8 victory in front of 10,360 fans.

With the loss, the Rock failed to claim the tiebreak between the clubs and must now win the final meeting March 9 in Toronto to take the season series 2-1.

“We got owned in our own rink and we got the shit kicked out of us by a team we controlled the first time we played,” said Rock head coach Troy Cordingley.

Last time these two teams met, the tale was the polar opposite. The Rock won 15-6 while holding the Wings’ top scorers, Dan Dawson and Kevin Crowley, to only four points combined. The Rock’s Josh Sanderson had nine points alone that night.

This time around, Sanderson had only three assists while Dawson and Crowley both had hat tricks and 18 points combined. Brendan Mundorf alone had five goals for the Wings.

“We’ve been absolutely brutal all three home games,” said Sanderson. “We got to start playing better at home.”

The Rock, 3-3, is now 1-2 at home and in second place behind the Wings, who carried their momentum into the second half with two quick goals for an 8-4 lead.

The Rock responded with a goal by Dan Carey, followed by its first power-play goal of the game, in five opportunities, to make it 8-6 Philadelphia. But then Mundorf was at it again, burying his fourth and fifth goals of the game, both assisted by Dawson who finished the game with seven.

“Mundorf is choosing his shots according to who’s in net and that says a lot about the type of shooter he is,” said Wings head coach John Mouradian.

Mundorfs’s fifth goal mirrored the game as a whole.

The Wings won a loose ball, gained a new shot clock, and every single layer got a touch before Mundorf made it 10-6 Philadelphia heading into the final quarter.

“The guys just did a good job moving the ball around and getting me open shots,” said Mundorf, noting the Rock clawed to within three goals twice in the fourth quarter.

The second time around, the Wings responded with back-to-back goals to extend their lead to five and prompt a goalie change by the Rock.

With a cold Pat Campbell in net, the Wings quickly buried another for the 14-8 final.

“It shows we can protect a lead,” said Mundorf. “It’s encouraging for our guys.”

Rock Pat Merrill left the game in the first half and did not return due to a leg injury.

The Rock plays Friday against the Rochester Knighthawks in Toronto.

Link:
Philly rocks the Rock | Lacrosse | Sports | Toronto Sun

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Rochester at Philadelphia - 7:00PM EST

Washington at Toronto - 7:00PM EST

Colorado at Buffalo - 7:30PM EST

Minnesota at Calgary - 9:00PM EST

National Lacrosse League 2012 Regular Season Boxscores - 3/3/2012

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From The Toronto Sun:

Rock on a roller coaster

By Bill Lankhof ,Toronto Sun

First posted: Thursday, February 23, 2012 08:47 PM EST | Updated: Thursday, February 23, 2012 08:52 PM EST

Two weeks ago, the Toronto Rock went into Philadelphia and made the Wings cry uncle, beating them 15-6 to grab first place in the East Division of the National Lacrosse League.

Last week, the Wings came to the Air Canada Centre and beat on the Rock, 14-8, to move back into first place.

In the first week of February, Rock netminder Matt Roik was the NLL defensive player of the week. Last week he wasn’t even good enough to finish the game, chased after giving up 13 goals on 37 shots

Just a couple of weeks ago the Rock had five players named as all-stars. Last week coach Troy Cordingley looked along the bench and pretty much counted no stars.

So, what gives?

“There is just so much parity in the league right now. I wouldn’t be surprised if someone wins the East with a 9-7 record. Every game is a war,” Cordingley said this week, as the Rock, 3-3, prepared to meet the Rochester Knighthawks (3-4) Friday at the Air Canada Centre.

The Rock will be without Phil Sanderson, out with a sore neck. Colin Doyle is one game recovered from a hamstring injury and is expected to contribute more than in last week’s loss. Actually Cordingley expects pretty much everyone to contribute more.

“The thing that was the most disappointing was the effort,” he said. “We need to bring our A-game, be responsible ...be hungry. We lacked that last week and it showed in the loss.”

Doyle has turned down a chance to participate in the all-star game Saturday, saying he needs the time to let his body rest and heal for the regular season. “With the bulk of our schedule coming up, I need to focus on getting 100% healthy,” he told the club’s website.

The Knighthawks, meantime, will be back at full strength after the league reinstated Tyler Burton, Jordan Hall, Travis Hill, Sid Smith and the club’s leading scorer, Cody Jamieson. They sat out last week’s win over Washington after being arrested and charged following an altercation at a Minnesota bar Feb. 13.

“We have to be at our best, if not better. It’s always tough coming into Toronto because we have a lot of local guys and there are a lot of distractions for them,” coach Mike Hasen said.

A pre-game ceremony will have Bob Watson’s jersey raised into the ACC rafters. The Hall of Fame goaltender is the first player in franchise history to have his number retired. “The whole family is very excited,” said Watson, who retired as the NLL’s all-time saves leader. “My daughter arranged for a limousine. It’s been the talk of the house for the last while. They’re proud ... to see their dad’s number go up to the roof.”

Link:
Rock on a roller coaster | Other Sports | Sports | Toronto Sun

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From The Toronto Sun:

Rose backstops Rock to 12-8 win

By Bill Lankhof ,Toronto Sun

First posted: Saturday, April 07, 2012 09:56 PM EDT | Updated: Saturday, April 07, 2012 10:02 PM EDT

For the Toronto Rock, lately, everything has been coming up roses. As in Nick Rose.

Ever since the goaltender arrived three games ago, Toronto’s lacrosse team has been, well, Rock steady.

Saturday the Rock beat Edmonton 12-8 at the Air Canada Centre behind the Orangeville native. Three games. Three pro starts. Three wins. It doesn’t get any better.

“Nothing fazes him. He’s amazing for a 24-year-old kid. He’s just been so steady for us and that’s really helped our defence,” said coach Troy Cordingley, as the Rock move to 7-6 on the season and look ahead to three road games before the playoffs.

In three weeks, Rose has backstopped wins over Rochester, Buffalo and Edmonton to help turn around a season on the brink of ugly. “It’s nice to play in front of family and friends,” said Rose, who was making his home debut, “but in this league you can go from hero to zero in a week.”

Maybe. But not this week.

“When we had a 4-6 (record) and we got booed off the floor, I think that was a wakeup call. Tonight we didn’t play smart in certain situations but we had the work ethic back,” said Cordingly, who got scoring from 10 different players.

Colin Doyle led the way with three goals, with singles from Kasey Biernes, Garrett Billings, Stephan Leblanc, Cam Woods, Damon Edwards, Rob Marshall, Josh Sanderson, Stephen Hoar and Blaine Manning, who got his 800th career point in a spirited affair that saw Aaron Wilson and Toronto’s Jesse Gamble do their MMA imitation.

Edmonton opened a 2-0 lead, and if not for Rose it could’ve gotten out of hand. The Rush defence harassed and Toronto was careless with the ball in the opening quarter, outshot 12-5. Passes bounced off walls, behind players, off sticks ... everywhere but into the Edmonton net. “They’re probably the best defence in the league. Everyone of their guys is fast and strong,” explained Billings.

A turnover resulted in the first Rush goal with Derek Suddons beating Rose to the stick side. Less than two minutes later Ryan Ward went high to the other side to make it 2-0. Silence reigned at the ACC as if a Leafs’ game were about to break out.

The Rock finally tied it near midpoint of the second quarter on a play that began with Hoar intercepting a pass in the Toronto end, and culminated with some lovely stick work by Leblanc, for his 21st goal of the season. That seemed to put life into an announced season-high crowd of 14,060, and it was Rock & roll after that — six goals in less than six minutes, and nine in a row to open an 11-4 lead.

Toronto now has won three in a row. “We’ve been playing some good lacrosse although this one wasn’t pretty,” said Billings.

Particularly so midway through the second half when Toronto saw that lead cut by five Edmonton goals. “It’s a game of swings,” said Billings. “We had a little brain cramp ... we needed to get stops there, and we got them.”

Link:
Rose backstops Rock to 12-8 win | Other Sports | Sports | Toronto Sun

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From The Toronto Star:

Toronto Rock beat Edmonton Rush 12-8 in NLL action

Neil Stevens The Canadian Press

The Toronto Rock remain undefeated with Nick Rose in goal.

Colin Doyle scored three goals and Rose made 36 saves in a 12-8 victory over the Edmonton Rush in front of a season-high Air Canada Centre crowd of 14,860 Saturday night.

Garrett Billings, Stephan Leblanc, Josh Sanderson, Kasey Beirnes, Blaine Manning, Damon Edwards, Stephen Hoar, Cam Woods and Rob Marshall also scored for Toronto.

Manning’s goal was his 800th pro point, and he’s only the 10th player in National Lacrosse League history to reach that milestone. He returned for the final regular-season Rock home game after missing 10 games rehabbing from a broken collarbone.

Rose, 3-0 since being rescued from backup boredom with Calgary at the NLL trading deadline, has helped Toronto get back over .500 at 7-6 in its push to finish the 16-game season and enter the playoffs on a high.

Ryan Ward scored three goals for Edmonton (4-8), Corey Small got two, Derek Suddons, Scott Evans and Chris Corbeil chipped in with one each and Aaron Bold made 23 saves.

Edmonton jumped to an early lead on long shots by Suddons and Ward. Billings made it 2-1 when he whipped an underhand shot in off Bold’s left arm in the seventh minute, and Rose flicked up his stick to snare a John Lafontaine breakaway shot a few minutes later.

Leblanc put an end to 15 scoreless minutes at 6:12 of the second quarter. He had his back to the net when Doyle tossed him an over-the-back pass. Leblanc caught the ball, twirled around and fired in a low shot.

The Rush regained the lead, 3-2, when Ward slipped behind his check to take a Scott Evans pass and pick a top net corner from the front edge of the crease.

Quick breaks by Rock defencemen who seldom score produced three goals in a little more than two minutes to turn the game Toronto’s way.

Woods got a return pass from Hoar at the side of the crease for quick relay into uncovered net for his second goal of the year, Edwards was set up by Jesse Gamble for a go-ahead goal that was his first in a Rock uniform, and Marshall bounced one in to cap a solo effort for his second of the season.

Toronto kept building its lead.

Sanderson connected with a sidearm shot from the middle of Edmonton’s zone, Doyle floated in an overhand shot that appeared to travel in slow motion to the back of the Rush net, and Hoar rushed through the middle of Edmonton’s zone to take a Phil Sanderson pass and fire the ball in for a sixth consecutive Rock goal and it was 8-3 at halftime.

Beirnes and Doyle made it eight in a row early in the third quarter. Bold was replaced by Brodie MacDonald, who faced only one shot. Manning made it nine in a row on that shot, and Bold was sent back in with Toronto up 11-3.

Edmonton countered with four goals in four minutes: Evans bounced one in from the side of the crease, Small and Corbeil connected with long shots and Ward picked a top corner from the top of a power-play setup, leaving the score 11-7 after three quarters.

The fourth was a scoreless stalemate until Small took a low shot that struck Rose and bounced over him and into the net with 4:40 remaining.

Doyle ended the Rush rally with his third of the night.

Link:
Toronto Rock beat Edmonton Rush 12-8 in NLL action - thestar.com