IL Indoor

CLax, IL Indoor, National Lacrosse League

Dirty Dozen: Buffalo’s streaks within the streak, Iroquois score impressive CLax title, and what impact will a third NLL ref have?

The Bandits tried, but couldn't figure out a way to contain momentum for opponents this season. (Photo: Dan Brodie)

So the Buffalo Bandits are spectators for the National Lacrosse League playoffs for the first time since 2002. Much has happened in this 11-year span. Heck, the war in Iraq hadn’t even started. But here we are, about to kick off an NLL postseason without the Banditos and if it hasn’t started already, the Bandits are examining everything they can to find out what went wrong. Of course, a 6-game losing streak didn’t help, but even that can be overcome. Buffalo did it last year. The bigger problem with this year’s skid was the timing because it came toward the end of the season, which left little room for recovery. So what went wrong in Buffalo? The issue wasn’t singular, but there is one thing that jumps out. Really jumps out, and it was the unanswered run. READ MORE »

CLax, Canadian Lacrosse League, Iroquois Ironmen, Toronto Shooting Stars

CLax: Iroquois Ironmen hold on to claim Creators Cup with 14-11 championship game win over Toronto Shooting Stars

Creators Cup MVP Travis Hill (left) and his brother Blue enjoy the fruits of their labour after Sunday's 14-11 win over the Toronto Shooting Stars. (Photo: Tim Prothero)

The Iroquois Ironmen jumped out to a 6-1 start, led 12-5 at half time and held on to win the Creators Cup 14-11 over the Toronto Shooting Stars Sunday. The Ironmen didn’t score for the final 22:59 of the game but made their lead hold up thanks in part to the play of goalie Jake Lazore, who made 40 saves as the Shooting Stars wound up outshooting the Ironmen 51-44 for the game.

Travis Hill scored a hat trick for the Ironmen and four other players had 2 goals each, including Josh Johnson who added 4 assists. Josh Ruys, Mack O’Brien, Aaron Grayson and Connor Daly each scored twice for the Shooting Stars, who bounced back and forth between starting goalie Gary Muzzin and backup Craig Robertson. Neither goalie had a strong afternoon. Their struggles combined with some accurate Ironmen shooting to produce a .682 save percentage that spelled much of the difference in the game. READ MORE »

CLax, Canadian Lacrosse League, Durham Turfdogs, Iroquois Ironmen, Niagara Lock Monsters, Toronto Shooting Stars

CLax playoffs: Ironmen and Shooting Stars book tickets to today’s Creators Cup final

Kraig Maracle scoring the overtime goal that sent the Iroquois Ironmen to the Creators Cup final. (Photo: Tim Prothero)

The Iroquois Ironmen are back in the Creators Cup championship game for the second straight year after a thrilling 16-15 overtime win over the regular-season champion Niagara Lock Monsters yesterday in the Canadian Lacrosse League semi-finals. The Ironmen, who lost last year’s title game to the Ohsweken Demons, will meet the Toronto Shootings Stars in the final. Toronto also had to go to overtime but pulled out an 11-10 win over the Durham Turfdogs in the second semi-final.

Iroquois overcame a 5-goal Niagara run to the mid-point of the fourth quarter and a 5-minute major penalty that kept star forward Chris Attwood off the floor until the final 2:20 of the game to earn the win. Kraig Maracle scored the winning goal on a rocket from outside. READ MORE »

CLax, IL Indoor, National Lacrosse League

Dirty Dozen: Looks can be deceiving in NLL, props to Toronto Rock owner Jamie Dawick, and Stealth get creative with car giveaway

Are the Block E sweaters sported by Jarrett Davis and the Rush the coolest ever in the NLL? (Photo: Cristan Anderson)

Of the 9 teams in the National Lacrosse League, only 2 might finish with records better than .500 for the regular season. We may have 5 teams finish with 7-9 records and only 1 team may reach double-digits in victories. What’s going on here? Is it really that bad in the NLL? Hardly. To the contrary, it’s really that good in the NLL. “I’ve seen all of them,” said Philadelphia Wings owner Mike French, who has been on board with the Wings since their inception in 1987 and became part of the ownership group in 1998. “And every year the distance between the outhouse and the penthouse seems to be much less. It’s the most competitive it’s been in recent memory.” The way this season is shaping up with regard to team records, it’s reminiscent of the East Division of the mid-2000s when Toronto, Buffalo and Rochester would finish the season packed in a bunch with records that were deceivingly mediocre. Fact is, they were beating the snot out of each other and reaping the rewards in the playoffs. To a degree, that’s what we’re seeing league-wide today. READ MORE »

Brampton Inferno, CLax, Canadian Lacrosse League, Niagara Lock Monsters

CLax: Ben McCullough and Connor Danko are defender and goalie of the year

Ben McCullough of the Brampton Inferno is CLax's Defensive Player of the Year. (Photo: Tim Prothero)

The Canadian Lacrosse League has announced Niagara Lock MonstersConnor Danko as the 2013 CLax Goalie of the Year and the Brampton Inferno’s Ben McCullough as the 2013 CLax Defensive Player of the Year.

In his rookie campaign, Connor Danko helped lead the Lock Monsters to an 11-3 regular season record. In nine regular season games, Danko posted a 7-1 record tying the Clax single season wins record. He also finished second in the league in both goals against average (10.20 GAA) and save percentage (.809). Earlier this week, Danko was also named a 2013 CLax First Team All-Star. READ MORE »

CLax, Canadian Lacrosse League, Niagara Lock Monsters, Toronto Shooting Stars

CLax: Potter named top offensive player, O’Brien top transition player

Mack O'Brien showing the form that made him CLax's Transition Player of the Year. (Photo: Tim Prothero)

The Canadian Lacrosse League has announced Niagara Lock Monsters Andrew Potter and Toronto Shooting Stars Mack O’Brien as Clax major awards recipients for the 2013 season. Potter has been named the 2013 Clax Offensive Player of the Year while O’Brien was selected as the 2013 CLax Transition Player of the Year.

After being selected first overall in the 2013 Clax entry draft, Potter helped lead the Lock Monsters to an 11-3 regular season record. He finished the season second in league scoring registering 31 goals and 48 assists for 79 points. Potter also tied teammate Corey Fowler for a new CLax single season assists record with 48. Earlier this week, Potter was also named a 2013 CLax First Team All-Star.

“It was obvious early on that Andrew would be able to put up some big numbers but I think what most people don’t realize how good of a player he is at both ends of the floor,” said Lock Monsters GM / Head Coach Jeff Dowling. READ MORE »

Barrie Blizzard, Brampton Inferno, CLax, Canadian Lacrosse League, Durham Turfdogs, Iroquois Ironmen, Niagara Lock Monsters, Ohsweken Demons, Toronto Shooting Stars

CLax: All-Star teams

First-Team All-Star Ben McCullough pins All-Rookie Team member John St. John to the boards. (Photo: Tim Prothero)

The Canadian Lacrosse League has announced the 1st and 2nd Team All-Stars for the 2013 season. Niagara Lock Monsters rookie goaltender Connor Danko and teammate Andrew Potter both earned CLax first team honours. In nine regular season games, Danko posted a 7-1 record tying the Clax single season wins record. He also finished second in the league in both goals against average (10.20 GAA) and save percentage (.809). After being selected first overall in the 2013 Clax entry draft, Potter finished second in league scoring registering 31 goals and 48 assists for 79 points. READ MORE »

CLax, Canadian Lacrosse League

CLax: Wayne Paddick named ref of the year

The Canadian Lacrosse League has announced that Wayne Paddick is the 2013 CLax Official of the Year. “CLax is proud of the officiating and leadership of Wayne Paddick during the 2013 season,” said CLax Commissioner Paul St. John. ”He was voted the top official by our league GM’s and Head Coaches. As all fans know these gentlemen take this game very serious and when you are selected as the top official it tells you have respect by your peers, congratulations Wayne.” Paddick has been involved in lacrosse as a player, an executive and as a referee. He is a Level 5 Official at Ontario Lacrosse Referee’s Association and recently served as the President of the Ontario Lacrosse Referee’s Association.

Barrie Blizzard, Brampton Inferno, CLax, Canadian Lacrosse League, Durham Turfdogs, Niagara Lock Monsters

CLax: Caleb Wiles named Rookie of the Year and heads All-Rookie team

Caleb Wiles scoring one of the goals of the year in CLax. (Photo: Tim Prothero, VintageLax)

The Canadian Lacrosse League is pleased to announce Barrie Blizzard forward Caleb Wiles as the 2013 CLax Rookie of the Year. ”As a newcomer to CLax, Caleb proved to be one of the most dynamic and prolific scorers in our game,” said CLax Deputy Commissioner Jim Veltman. “Game in and game out he would produce highlight reel goals made of magic.”

In his first season, Wiles finished fifth in league scoring registering 63 points including 35 goals and 28 assists in 12 regular season games. He collected 10 power play goals and led the league with seven shorthanded markers. His 35 goals was also tied for the second highest in CLax history.

Wiles played his Junior A career with Orillia and has been a member of the Major Series Brooklin Redmen the past two seasons. The league also announced the 2013 All Rookie Team. READ MORE »

CLax, Canadian Lacrosse League, Toronto Shooting Stars

CLax: Glenn Clark named Coach of the Year

The Canadian Lacrosse League is pleases to announce Toronto Shooting Stars GM / head coach Glenn Clark as the 2013 CLax Coach of the Year.

In their first season in Toronto, Clark led the Shooting Stars to an 8-6 overall record good for second place overall. The Shooting Stars will now battle the Durham TurfDogs in the CLax semi-finals with their goals set on winning the 2013 Creator’s Cup.

“Glenn has played and coached at every level possible in lacrosse and his sense of professionalism in how we are trying to grow CLax has been terrific,” said CLax Commissioner Paul St. John. “Our league media crew as well as the Head Coaches voted Glenn the top CLax coach in 2013 for a job well done. As the leader of Toronto, Glenn guided the Shooting Stars to a second place finish overcoming the loss of two star players to the NLL (Derek Hopcroft and Angus Dineley).”

The 43-year old is the former head coach of the Toronto Rock of the National Lacrosse League, and also a former NLL player. Clark played in the NLL from 1998-2006 for both the Rock and the Philadelphia Wings. With the Rock, Clark won five NLL Championships.