IL Indoor

National Lacrosse League, Toronto Rock

Toronto rockin’ the Mos for Movember

It’s the final day of Movember and the Toronto Rock are rightly proud of the fact that they’ve raised close to $5,000 for men’s health awareness, specifically the issue of prostate cancer research. Led by Josh Sanderson, Rock teammates Kasey Biernes, Matt Roik, Glen Bryan and Stephen Hoar, the players are raising funds by soliciting donations as they rock the mustache, with team owner Jamie Dawick matching whatever they raise. Check out Shooter’s mustache in this vid, along with his thoughts on being “the new guy” in Toronto.

National Lacrosse League

Breaking: Anthony Cosmo will not play for Minnesota Swarm, plus the links

Anthony Cosmo will not play for the Swarm after the team picked him up in the dispersal draft. (Photo: Boston Blazers)

ILIndoor.com has learned that goalie Anthony Cosmo will not play for the Minnesota Swarm this season. The goalie, taken with the No. 3 overall pick in the Boston Blazers dispersal draft in September, was placed on the hold-out list by the Swarm. “This has nothing to do with the proposal made by the Swarm and everything to do with Anthony’s need to play near his family and home,” Richard Furlong, Cosmo’s agent, told ILIndoor this morning. “The Swarm, from its ownership on down is a first rate class organization, but travel obligations become much more burdensome on players such as Anthony as they begin and nurture their new families.” READ MORE »

IL Indoor, National Lacrosse League

ILIndoor Top 35: Mac Allen #27

You want defense? You want Mac Allen on your side. Otherwise, he'll be in your face. (Photo: Colorado Mammoth)

Ever see those horror movies where the bad dude sneaks around and around, kinda laying low until the time is just right to jump? And when he does finally jump, it’s nothing but bad news for whoever he runs into? That’s pretty much the Mac Allen story, especially in the National Lacrosse League. He kinda snuck into the NLL with Edmonton in 2007 and played 19 games over the next 2 seasons before he found himself in Rochester, the season after the Knighthawks won it all. But there is no sneaking around anymore for Allen. Not when you’re one of the nastiest defenders in the game today for the Colorado Mammoth. And by nasty, we mean one of the best. READ MORE »

North American Lacrosse League, Wilkes-Barre Shamrocks

NALL Notebook: It’s official, David Earl is a Wilkes-Barre Shamrock

David Earl

The first draft pick in North American Lacrosse League history will play in the league’s first season. The Wilkes-Barre Shamrocks have announced that midfielder David Earl, out of Notre Dame, has signed a contract as one of their franchise players. The Shamrocks selected Earl with the first pick in NALL’s inaugural college draft.

The first free agent draft will be held December 11 in Richmond, Virginia after the league-wide combine run by USIL. Commissioner Anthony Caruso says the draft will be expanded because of “overwhelming interest in the league from players.” The league’s governors are expected to decide on a conference call today how many rounds the draft will now be, but it will be in the range of 15-25, rather than the original 11. “We have so many interested players who have said they want to be part of the league,” Caruso says. After the jump, see the release about Earl’s signing.

READ MORE »

National Lacrosse League

NLL News: After further review, replay rules revisited, legal stick lengths shortened

The National Lacrosse League issued a news release on Tuesday, announcing a tweak to the instant replay rule used by the league. This year, each team will be permitted to challenge an on-field call just one time per half. NLL Vice President of Operations Brian Lemon says there will be a max of 2 replay challenges per half, unless there’s something initiated by game officials in the final 2 minutes of the 4th quarter and overtime. “Under previous rules, you could have as many as six.” said Lemon. “This change will allow coaches to challenge plays while minimizing the number of additional stoppages of play during the game.” Also changing on Tuesday was stick length for runners, notably for defenders. No longer can they use a 46-inch stick. Legal limit is now 42 inches. These rules changes follow several other changes announced back in September.

Buffalo Bandits, Calgary Roughnecks, Colorado Mammoth, Edmonton Rush, IL Indoor Fan Poll, Minnesota Swarm, NLL Fan Poll, National Lacrosse League, Philadelphia Wings, Rochester Knighthawks, Toronto Rock, Washington Stealth

IL Indoor Fan Poll: Who is the NLL’s top offensive player?

Stephan Leblanc was a stud this summer in Major Series for Six Nations. Will that carry over to the NLL in 2012?

It’s sometimes tough to place a positional label on players in the National Lacrosse League. Some guys seem to transcend the expectations that come with the “D,” “F” or “T” appearing next to their names on the roster card.

That was clear when trying to come up with an agreed-upon list of the top offensive players in the NLL. And that’s where you come in, dearest reader. We need you to chime in and let us know who you feel is currently the best offensive player in the league. Sure, not all of these guys are pure forwards. But we’ve come up with a list of the very best offensive contributors in the pro box ranks. READ MORE »

Minnesota Swarm, National Lacrosse League

Swarm draft pick Jordan MacIntosh: 1-on-1

Hopes are high for the Minnesota Swarm this National Lacrosse League season. A busy offseason saw some players come and go, but there’s a core of fellas in camp now, including No. 4 overall draft pick Jordan MacIntosh, who are eager to get the 2012 season running. A rookie he may be, MacIntosh has a pretty good idea of where he’s gonna fit in for the Swarm. “Faceoffs is one,” he said. “And I’m a transition guy so I like to push the ball, I like to make odd-man opportunties and score while the other team’s changing.”

National Lacrosse League, Rochester Knighthawks

Getting feisty at Knighthawks camp

Training camps are underway all across the National Lacrosse League and the battle for roster spots is as tight as ever. The Rochester Knighthawks’ camp is no exception and if you feel like reading about it, you can check out this report. Or, you can just watch Josh Ruys and Scott Rouse throw down. Your choice.

Buffalo Bandits, IL Indoor, National Lacrosse League

ILIndoor.com: A Look at Buffalo’s Training Camp

“Take a look at the faces around you. These are the guys you’re fighting for your spot!”

“Your jersey has the Bandits’ symbol on it, look down, take pride in it now, or walk off my floor!”

“This will only be a tough decision for us if you make it tough. Make our decision easy!”

These were a few quotes from Coach Darris Kilgour at midfield Sunday at the Bandits’ first training camp. The whole afternoon had a tense feel in the air and everyone – players, media and coaches knew what was at stake. READ MORE »

National Lacrosse League

Bandits coach Darris Kilgour talks candidly about responsibility, choices, plus the links

Bandits coach Darris Kilgour said he made a bad choice last May, but has learned from it. (Photo: John Hickey)

Darris Kilgour is not proud of it, but he is owning it. Last May, the coach of the Buffalo Bandits was arrested and charged with DWI. Over this past weekend, he told The Buffalo News how much he regrets the decision he made. “I embarrassed the organization, I embarrassed myself, my family, all Native Americans across the board,” Kilgour told reporter Budd Bailey. “I lived up to the stereotype. I’m very disappointed with myself. I take full responsibility for it.” It’s a very poignant story because if you know Kilgour, you know the passion he brings to not only the game, but to life. He’s at peace with the knowledge that he can’t undo what’s been done, and the reminders of his choice are constant. But he’s not backing down, not hiding. READ MORE »