IL Indoor

Edmonton Rush

Edmonton Rush sign free agent David Morgan, confirm Bobby McBride addition

Together in Portland, Morgan hooks up with Keenan again, now in Edmonton. (Matt J. Wiater)

From Press Release

Edmonton Rush General Manager/Head Coach Derek Keenan announced four roster moves as his club begins its final preparations for the start of the 2011 National Lacrosse League season.

The Rush open the NLL campaign on Saturday, Jan. 8 by paying a visit to the defending East Division-champion Toronto Rock. READ MORE »

NLL Top 50

Insider Top 50: The Just Outsiders

Jeff Zywicki stormed back in 2010, a vital part of the Stealth's Champion's Cup win. (Larry Palumbo)

Every week Insider will release our next series of National Lacrosse League ball players ranked in our 2011 Top 50, our number one ranked player announced on the eve of the NLL season opener. Click here for a breakdown to find out what goes into selecting our Top 50, and check out this week’s next best below and after the jump.

20 (27) Jeff Zywicki, Washington Stealth
Injury issues (lower body) kept Zywicki from playing a full 16-game regular season in 2010, but he was legitimate first-half MVP candidate previous to being put on the shelf. Never afraid to take punishment inside, one of the sport’s best finishers, and one of the most impressive full-post-season performances last year (13-points in three games), Zywicki was one of 2010’s top power forwards yet again. READ MORE »

Fight Club

Rock vs. Bandits pre-season brawl closing in on 220K YouTube views, one of the most watched lax vids ever

Whatever people’s opinion on fighting is in the sport, love or hate, eyes have been absolutely glued to the recent pre-season brawl between the Toronto Rock and Buffalo Bandits. The first video to hit the net, which was posted to YouTube just a little over a week ago, is already close to 220,000 views, making it one of the most watched lacrosse videos online, ever. It’s waltzed by the Mann Cup brawl from 2008 (100,778) and last year’s NLL viral hit during the brawl between the Philadelphia Wings and Boston Blazers (97,113), highlighted by a classic between Geoff Snider and Paul Dawson. It’s been asked a million times, but it seems appropriate to ask again after what’s spilled out in recent weeks…

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Colorado Mammoth

Ilija Gajic talks feeling better, expectations for 2011, and coaching the young Fish in Florida at Dick’s

Health issues (ulcerative colitis) did not allow then rookie Ilija Gajic to have the kind of breakout first year in the National Lacrosse League many expected him to produce, but after another sensational Mann Cup performance with the New Westminster Salmonbellies this past summer, Gajic is expecting a lot more from himself and the Colorado Mammoth in 2011. Above, Gajic talks about his health, his expectations for this upcoming NLL season, his missing moustache, and coaching the younger Salmonbellies at the Dick’s Sporting Goods Tournament of Champions this upcoming weekend in Florida. Also, check out www.coloradomammoth.com, the team launching a brand spankin’ new website just over a week before the Mammoth kick off the 2011 season against the defending champion Washington Stealth on January 8th at the Pepsi Center.

Buffalo Bandits, Toronto Rock

NLL suspends two players and disciplines 30 others following brawl during preseason scrimmage

Brett Bucktooth was handed a game midconduct by the league for his role in 'the brawl'. (Photo: Larry Palumbo)

From National Lacrosse League Press Release

The National Lacrosse League has concluded its review of a bench clearing brawl that took place on December 15th during a preseason scrimmage between the Toronto Rock and Buffalo Bandits. A total of 32 players were disciplined by the league today for their actions in the game, highlighted by the bench-clearing brawl that broke out with 5:02 remaining in the 3rd Quarter, and led officials to cancel the remainder of the scrimmage.  READ MORE »

Boston Blazers, Toronto Rock

Rock sad to see Matt Sawyer go, didn’t want to hold him back, plus the links

The Rock coaching staff will be without Matt Sawyer this year, now coaching for the rival Blazers. (Photo: Larry Palumbo)

Rewind back to a few months ago and any sign of good will shared between the Toronto Rock and Boston Blazers was the furthest thing from anyone’s mind.

After a free agent tug of war that saw the Rock try and land Boston RFA’s Paul Dawson and John Orsen, and later former B’s defender Kyle Ross from Calgary, the two teams flipped the switch to volume 11 on the deep fryer and were boiling blood several months before they were anywhere close to a meeting on the carpet. READ MORE »

Uncategorized

Lehigh University signs top Canadian prospects Patrick Corbett and Dan Taylor

Lehigh University has announced the addition of Canadians Patrick Corbett and Dan Taylor, the two recruits recently ranked fifth and sixth respectively in a Canadian High School ranking entitled, “ Canada Rising: Ranking Canada’s High School Lacrosse Stars,” appearing on Inside Lacrosse.

Taylor, who played his first full year of Junior ‘A’ lacrosse with the Calgary Mountaineers this past summer, was a finalist for IL Indoor’s Rookie of the Year in 2010, also impacting our Junior ‘A’ edition of the Money Ballers, looking at the best clutch scorers in lacrosse. After the jump, check out Lehigh’s press release on their recent Canuck adds. READ MORE »

Colorado Mammoth

Toll signs in Colorado, “I’m obviously really looking forward to joining that group of guys in Colorado”

Steve Toll didn't remain in the free agent pool for long, signing with Colorado today. (Dave Sanders)

Less than a week after surprisingly being left off of the Rochester Knighthawks 2011 roster, Steve Toll has been signed by the Colorado Mammoth, the team confirming earlier today that the five-time Champion’s Cup and two-time Mann Cup winner had inked a one-year contract.

“Steve is a winner in this league and has tremendous leadership skills that he will instill in our younger players,” said Mammoth Head Coach Bob Hamley. “Despite his age (36), he hasn’t shown any signs of slowing down.” READ MORE »

NLL History

25 Years: Who is the best transition/two-way player in National Lacrosse League history?

After serving in every possible role in the NLL outside of goaltending duties, where does Hall of Famer Jim Veltman rank amongst the best two-way players? (Photo: Graig Abel)

There are no doubt a countless amount of definitions for what a two-way (or transitional) player is in the National Lacrosse League, but one word found in almost everyone’s explanation for a tranny… versatility.

Whether it’s O-heavy, D-heavy, strictly between the restraining lines, in the corners, on the crease, or a role found on some other inch of rug, a two-way player in this sport typically has several extra bullets on their resume that makes them, well, more versatile than most in the league. In today’s edition of IL Indoor’s look back at the absolute best of the NLL over the past almost 25 years, we asked our respected panel who they felt was the best tranny in pro indoor history, and give you the chance to too. READ MORE »

Boston Blazers

Boston Blazers hire Toronto assistant and Orangeville boss Matt Sawyer as new coach

Boston didn't take long to replace Tom Ryan, today confirming the addition of Rock assistant Matt Sawyer. (Larry Palumbo)

It certainly didn’t take long for the Boston Blazers to decide on Tom Ryan’s replacement as the club’s new head coach, even going slightly off the pro grid, IL Indoor confirming with B’s President and GM Doug Reffue earlier today that the team has hired Toronto Rock assistant and long serving Orangeville Northmen (OLA Junior ‘A’) head coach Matt Sawyer. An official announcement from team will be made later today. READ MORE »