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Rochester Knighthawks, Washington Stealth

Washington Stealth recognized, BC based draft pick Jarrett Davis excited about playing for Knighthawks, plus the links

The Washington Stealth's Champion's Cup winning 2010 was recognized by the House of Representatives.

Late last night the Washington Stealth got word that the House of Representatives was formally recognizing and congratulating the franchise for their 2010 National Lacrosse League Champion’s Cup title, a first for an NLL or MILL team.

“I’ve seen the Stealth play and seen firsthand the inspiration the players have on kids in my community,” said Jay Inslee, the Representative from Washington’s 1st Congressional District, in a statement issued by the team Wednesday evening. “These athletes don’t get paid millions of dollars, but they play with all the spirit and heart of world class competitors. They demonstrate to kids what it means to play for the love of the game as well as the rewards that can only be found working as part of a team.” READ MORE »

Rochester Knighthawks

Rochester Knighthawks bring back Jody Gage as VP of Player Personnel

Rochester returns Jody Gage to their staff. (Larry Palumbo)

From Press Release

Lewis Staats, President of the Rochester Knighthawks, is pleased to announce that Jody Gage has officially rejoined the Knighthawks management team as Vice President of Player Personnel. In this position Jody will work closely with GM Curt Styres and Assistant GM Landon Miller.  He will be actively involved in, and have input into the day-to-day decision making for the Knighthawks team. READ MORE »

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Team-by-team National Lacrosse League schedules, looking past the calendar

Jeff Shattler is wondering why his Necks were nailed with such a tough sked. (Larry Palumbo)

Last year we took a deeper look at the National Lacrosse League schedule, looking at divisional breakdowns, opponent’s strength based on the previous year’s results, as well as how compact their weekends were and how spread out some of those all-important home dates were scattered.

Last year we ranked the Toronto Rock as having the toughest 2010 schedule, a sked with more double header weekends than almost anyone else, a super high win percentage owned by the opposition, and a pair against the, at the time, reigning Champion’s Cup winners, the Calgary Roughnecks. We also deemed the Necks as having the easiest sked a year ago. This year we think they have the toughest. After the jump, find out why. READ MORE »

NLL Fan Poll

Fan Poll: Which NLL team made the best improvement in the 2010 offseason?

Does Josh Sanderson make Boston an NLL title contender? (Photo: Larry Palumbo)

Trades, free agents, dispersal draft and entry draft. Lots of options for National Lacrosse League teams to work with during the recent off-season and it’s enough to make your head spin. Thing is, every team out there, even the defending champion Washington Stealth, had a job to do this offseason and that was to make themselves better. It really is that simple. Of course, it’s all easier said than done but there’s been plenty of action among teams since the Stealth were crowned champs last May. Question is, which team did the most effective work? Which team went from no playoffs to deep in the playoffs? Which team cleared the hurdle of being a first-round playoff contender to a title contender? READ MORE »

Behind the Scenes, Rochester Knighthawks

UFC fighter Matt Hamill and Rochester Knighthawks rookie Cody Jamieson drop puck at NHL exhibition game

Hamill, who fights Tito Ortiz next month, hooked up with Cody Jamieson last week in Rochester for an NHL preseason game.

Last week recent National Lacrosse League first overall entry draft pick Cody Jamieson hooked up with Ultimate Fighting Championship vet Matt Hamill at Rochester’s Blue Cross War Memorial Arena to drop the ceremonial puck at an exhibition game between the NHL’s Boston Bruins and Florida Panthers.

Hamill, who gained  mainstream exposure while competing on the UFC’s widely popular Ultimate Fighter reality competition, has had good success fighting in the UFC (9-2 as a professional), a deaf athlete that is currently also promoting a movie on the story of his life, simply entitled “Hamill”. After the jump check out vid from Hamill and Jamieson’s night at the Blue Cross last week. READ MORE »

Rochester Knighthawks

Vid: “It’s an organization that’s in my blood and to be able to do this is a dream come true.” – Mike Hasen

Earlier this month the Rochester Knighthawks named longtime franchise member Mike Hasen as Paul Gait’s replacement, Hasen the K’Hawks new Head Coach heading into the 2011 National Lacrosse League season. Above, check out Hasen’s video interview moments after being named the club’s latest bench boss (courtesy Rochester Knighthawks).

Inside the Numbers

National Lacrosse League longevity, all-time games played chart toppers

One of only 12 players in league history to play 20 or more playoff games, Rochester's Cory Bomberry. (Larry Palumbo)

The Colorado Mammoth recently saw both Rich Catton and Chris Gill officially announce their retirement from the National Lacrosse League in recent weeks.

Between the two of them Catton and Gill combined for a pretty outstanding 350 games played over their pro careers, a total that would likely tip the scales stacked up against some current NLL team’s entire roster. READ MORE »

Colorado Mammoth

Another Mammoth retires, 14-year pro vet, 3-time Cup winner Chris Gill hangs ‘em up

A champion in both Toronto and Colorado, Chris Gill retires from the NLL. (Photo: Michael Martin)

From Press Release

The Colorado Mammoth announced today that veteran forward Chris Gill has retired from the National Lacrosse League. Gill, who won three NLL championships (1999 and 2000 with Toronto, 2006 with Colorado) in his 14-year career, played with the Mammoth for four seasons, including the 2010 campaign.

“It’s been a long career,” said Gill.  READ MORE »

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Photos of the Week

So it’s felt more like Florida than Baltimore lately with temperatures hitting the 90’s. In honor of this exceptionally hot fall we’ve got the best of Orlando Titans from the 2010 season coming your way. Led by Casey Powell, the Titans went 11-5 and clinched the East Division title.

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Bowhunter in-game blog

Howdy, folks. We’re here in downtown Syracuse for the Bowhunter Cup, pitting the Iroqouis Nationals and Team USA in an exhibition matchup at the Oncenter War Memorial in preparation for the third World Indoor Lacrosse Championships next may in the Czech Republic.

Neither of these two squads will likely look the same when those games roll around next may. Iroquois Nationals genral manager Ansley Jemison said he was still putting together a team for the event leading up to it at the end of the week. This version of the Nationals includes Jeremy, Jerome, Miles and Lyle Thompson, even though Jeremy, Miles and Lyle may not be participating in the actual competition next spring. Regardless, the Nationals are already focused on putting together a stronger team than 2007’s crew, which fell 15-14 to Candada in that year’s gold-medal game.

Team USA — headlined by reigning NLL MVP Casey Powell and Paul Rabil — is hoping to improve upon its bronze-medal finish in the 2007 championship, and head coach Tom Ryan will be taking a hard look at each guy (and the one girl) on tonight’s roster to see what who might represent Team USA next time around.

READ MORE »