IL Indoor

MLL Signs Sponsor, JT Talks NLL Publicity

The other week I blogged that sponsorships are essential for the National Lacrosse League (NLL) to be successful. Not only do they provide cash and value in-kind (think of the financial benefits that would result from a new airline partnership), sponsorships offer extremely valuable media support and exposure to the masses.

Major League Lacrosse (MLL) is the latest in the lax world to benefit from such a corporate partnership, announcing a new deal this week. The professional outdoor lacrosse league is teaming up with Sports Authority Inc., the premier full-line sporting goods retailer.

Sports Authority will become the exclusive national sporting goods retailer of the MLL, and will enjoy a plethora of media exposure including title sponsor of televised games, its preview shows, field level and goal post signage, plus official game jersey exposure.

READ MORE »

What’s gone wrong with the team that was “built” to win the Champion’s Cup in 2011?

With about a month left on the regular season clock, the pre-season perceived mighty Boston Blazers are under .500 and fighting for what, at least for now, appears to be the fourth and final spot in the East Division against an equally down and out Philadelphia Wings club.

Who da thunk it? And please simmer down because you’re lying like a rug if you’re claiming you did. No one did, period. Some mighta felt their before regular season praise was unearned, unjust or unproven, but an offense and locker room led by Dan Dawson, Casey Powell and Josh Sanderson… come on now, you thought they’d be stronger than 6-7 heading into April, easily. READ MORE »

Week 13 NLL team reports: ‘We have no choice but to rebound and realize the urgency.’ – Blazers coach Matt Sawyer

The home winless streak for the Colorado Mammoth is over after 13 games, and luck really had nothing to do with it. When John Grant Jr. scored the overtime winner Saturday night against Boston, the crowd of 17,123 at Pepsi Center finally celebrated a home victory for the first time since the 2009 regular-season finale. It also brought to an end the curious theory of a Gavin Prout curse. The forward had been a fan favorite in Colorado since the 2004 season but after he was traded following the 2009 season, the Mammoth didn’t win a home game. But just before this year’s trade deadline, a deal was struck for Prout’s return and whaddya know? The Mammoth win a home game. Shouldn’t be much of a surprise, though. With Saturday’s win, the Mammoth are 36-13 since 2004 with Prout in the lineup for home games. Just sayin’. READ MORE »

Off the Crosse-bar Podcast with Mammoth GM Steve Govett

This week on the Off the Crosse-Bar podcast we catch up with Colorado Mammoth GM Steve Govett. Over the past few seasons Govett has come under fire for some of the moves he’s made. Fans have cried for him to be fired, they’ve questioned every move, trade and draft he made. His team was on a two year home losing streak and Govett was always tinkering, trying to find the right combination of players, coaches, staff and anything else that he could get his hands on. Well after 700+ days without a home win, the streak is over and the team’s sights are set on a huge two weeks of lacrosse. Govett continues to strive for perfection and to bring a cup back the Colorado. All he’s worried about is his team’s success and what’s best for the Mammoth “right now”. So after the jump, check out what he has to say on this week’s, Off the Crosse-Bar Podcast. READ MORE »

3 Star Challenge: Even losers deserve some love, sometimes

Every week IL Indoor hands out 15 varying levels of praise in our Three Star Challenge, at the end of the season naming our Three Star champ, last year Casey Powell taking the honour. Check back every week for the previous weekend’s best NLL performers.

First Stars (50 Points)

Tracey Kelusky – Bandits
One of the sport’s best locker room guys, Kelusky’s Week 12 performance against the Minnesota Swarm (3G, 1A) was the vet proven, clutch and been there, done-that showcase the Bandits were banking on when they traded for him over the off-season. Aggressive on the forecheck (3FT) and obviously a big impact on the scoreboard, Kelusky was definitely one of last weekend’s best during Buffalo’s post-season clinching W. READ MORE »

GM defends another ‘bellies blow, “Batley’s been drinking too much Lake water…”, plus the links

Shortly after IL Indoor’s interview with Colorado Mammoth President and GM Steve Govett, New Westminster Salmonbellies boss Dan Richardson took great offense to comments made in regards to one of his star pupils in the WLA, Cliff Smith, defending Smith via his facebook page by saying, “Why on earth would you give up on a guy like Cliff Smith, to say he might not be there yet? How bout looking inward, at things like who’s he playing with, how are you playing him, how many coaches has he had in Colorado, I’ve lost count.” READ MORE »

Division title and two playoff berths can be clinched this weekend in the NLL’s Week 13

From Press Release

The National Lacrosse League has announced updated playoff scenarios heading into the games of April 1st and 2nd, Week #13 of the regular season. The Minnesota Swarm and Rochester Knighthawks each have a chance to clinch a playoff berth this weekend. There are currently four playoff berths remaining, with the Calgary Roughnecks, Toronto Rock, Buffalo Bandits and Washington Stealth having already confirmed their spots in the 2011 Playoffs, which begin on the weekend of April 29th. Calgary can clinch the Western Division regular season title with a win. READ MORE »

Tyler Richards rounds out Canadian goalie group; Mike Poulin and Brad Self notes

IL Indoor has received notice that Tyler Richards has been added to Canada’s roster for the World Indoor Lacrosse Championships. After the jump read more about Richards’ addition, tell us who you think should start between the pipes for the Canucks, will Mike Poulin make an encore appearance for the Czech team, and why Brad Self should be ready to go for the Lakers in the summer but won’t be landing in Rochester this season. READ MORE »

Canadians in the NCAA: Does March Madness Foreshadow Mayhem in May?

It is now roughly midseason in the NCAA lacrosse season and if any team needs inspiration for just how much upside their respective team could have if they can squeeze into a year-end tournament then look no farther than the NCAA basketball tournament.

This weekend we will see a basketball final four with no number 1 seeds remaining and two teams which can best be described as extreme long-shots.

Imagine if the NCAA had a 64 team lacrosse tournament that included Div I, Div II and Div III teams? Could you live with the thought of Dowling upsetting Notre Dame or Limestone trouncing Army or even RIT beating Duke in overtime? READ MORE »

Adanacs Sign Jon Harnett for a Summer out West

As the National Lacrosse League’s regular season winds down and the play-off races heat up, Canadian Summer teams are already gearing up for the start of their season come May. Recently the defending Mann Cup Champions from Peterborugh added Gavin Prout and Brandon Francis in hopes of bolstering their line-up to make a run at back to back cups. Today, the Coquitlam Adanacs of the Western Lacrosse Association added Calgary Roughnecks defender Jon Harnett to the roster. GM Les Wingrove hoping that Harnett will be one piece of the puzzle that will help the A’s challenge three time defending WLA Champions New Westminster Salmonbellies and the always dangerous Victoria Shamrocks for the right to host this year’s National Championships. After the jump check out the official press release from the A’s and stay tuned to IL Indoor for more news from the Canadian Senior loop. READ MORE »