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Brooklin Redmen, CLA, Futures Report, IL Indoor, Langley Thunder, National Lacrosse League, Road to the Mann Cup, Senior A, The Ballers, The Life

Off the Crosse-bar Podcast with future NLL star Mark Matthews

There’s so much going on in the lacrosse world these days that it’s often hard to keep up but that’s what we’re here for. From the National Lacrosse League regular season winding down and the play-offs right around the corner, Canadian summer leagues a few weeks away from starting and the NCAA being on the home stretch to crowning a new set of champions it often hard to keep track of who’s where. Well one guy that hasn’t been lost in all the frantic action is Mark Matthews from the Denver Pioneers and Whitby Warriors Jr A team. Labeled as “the next big thing” and we’re not talking Brock Lesnar ‘Big’ here but more like John Grant Jr big. This isn’t to put pressure on a young player that has yet to play in the NLL or even Sr lacrosse but it’s a credit to the natural physical and mental skills he posses. If you haven’t heard of or seen Matthews play, you’ll be in for a treat as he’s that damn good. Coming off back to back Minto Cup titles, (2010 with Coquitlam, 2011 with Whitby) Matthews is in his senior year with the Pioneers and hopes to add another title to his growing resume. Turn the page and turn up the speakers as we go one on one with next year’s number one draft pick in the NLL (yes we can see the future), this week on the Off the Crosse-Bar Podcast. READ MORE »

Futures Report, IL Indoor

Canadians in NCAA: New season upon us

Mark Matthews lit it up for Denver last season, and more is expected in 2012. (Photo: Kyle Castle, Denver University)

It is once again that magical time of the year and that of course means it is lacrosse season. While lacrosse is played all year round in different jurisdictions, it will always be a spring sport to me and spring is just around the corner. And of course, for those of us who just can’t wait until spring has arrived there will always be those teams that for a variety of reasons start their season early. As in past years, the first edition of “Canadians in the NCAA” focuses on Division I. In this respect there has only been one game played on the men’s side and two on women’s but even with this limited schedule players like Keane, Adams, Diachenko, Matthews and Masterton are already making their marks. So here we go for another year! READ MORE »

Futures Report, Grassroots, ILF U-19 World Games, International

Canada’s present selects Canada’s futures- U19 roster announced

When your coaches are some of the top players in the game today, you want to make sure you put on a solid showing. Well, Canada’s best players under 19 years old have been doing just that in hopes of catching the eyes of National Lacrosse League stars Brodie Merrill, Geoff Snider, Taylor Wray and former NLLer Matt Brown and the rest of coaching staff. Over the November 24-25 weekend, they all gathered in Oshawa, Ontario doing what they could to make the final 24 that will represent the red and white at  the 2012 FIL Under-19 Men’s Field World Championships being held in Turku, Finland.

Probably the most positive sign for Canadian field lacrosse is the fact that all but three players on the final 24-man roster are attending NCAA colleges or universitites. After the jump, check out the official press release from Team Canada and the list of young men that look to dethrone the Americans and give Canada its first ever U19 gold medal. READ MORE »

Futures Report, National Lacrosse League

Top Draft Pick Profiles: Dan Coates bringing ‘hard-nosed defense’ to Colorado Mammoth

Dan Coates

Dan Coates took his time getting to the National Lacrosse League, and it’s the Colorado Mammoth who should be able to reap the reward of that patience. Regarded the last couple of years as one of the top defensive prospects making his way to the pro ranks, Coates elected to play another season at Canisius College in Buffalo this past spring so he wasn’t enrolled in the NLL entry draft until this year, and the Mammoth made him the No. 8 pick overall, the final pick of the first round. But when it comes to defense, the 6-foot, 180-pound player is at the front of the pack. “It’s exciting,” he tells ILIndoor.com. “I spent 4 years in Buffalo and made a lot of great friends and I can’t say enough about playing for Randy Mearns.” READ MORE »

Futures Report, National Lacrosse League

2011 National Lacrosse League Entry Draft: It’s the ILIndoor.com mock draft

Young Johnny Powless brings first-round talent and maturity to tonight's NLL entry draft. (Photo: Ward Laforme Jr.)

Today’s the day. It’s time for the 2011 National Lacrosse League entry draft, the draft we’ve been pimpin’ so hard as a draft that’s loaded with studs. We’ve offered you our Top 50 prospects ranked, and we’ve even pretended to be general managers ourselves. But today, we’re done with the fancy stuff. Today, we come at ya straight. Staffers are makin’ their picks all on their own and livin’ with the results. And if ya wanna check how some of us did in last year’s mock draft, you can check it here. But if you’re ready to move forward into 2011 and into the 2012 season, check it after the jump to see what we’re thinking and how the first round is gonna go down tonight. READ MORE »

Futures Report, IL Indoor Fan Poll

National Lacrosse League Entry Draft, You make the call: The Votes are in, here’s who you picked from first to eighth

Jesse Gamble completes the NLL Fan Draft, going to Colorado with the eighth pick.

It was very clear you wanted to give Colorado a left-shooting forward with the final selection in the 2011 IL Indoor NLL Fan Draft, that much was clear. It was just a matter of which one. In the end, Kitchener-Waterloo Kodiaks’ Jesse Gamble won the day, taking 39% (889 votes) to get by Jamie Lincoln (34%, 760). Defender Joel White was third with 200 votes (9%) while the final five were divided amazingly evenly: Jordan MacIntosh 82 votes; Travis Cornwall 81; Adam Jones, Jeff Cornwall and Corbyn Tao 80 each. After the jump, see the final results of your voting. READ MORE »

Futures Report, NLL Entry Draft

National Lacrosse League Entry Draft: IL Indoor’s Hot 50 for 2011

Kevin Crowley will probably be the first player chosen in the 2011 NLL Entry Draft, and he's Number 1 in IL Indoor's Hot 50 for 2011. (Photo: Larry Palumbo)

Where last year’s National Lacrosse League entry draft had some high end offensive talent but was feted primarily for its defenders, the 2011 version of the annual talent distribution event is loaded with front door stars. Mix in some solid back door prospects and a sprinkling of transition talent and you’ve got as deep a draft as the league has seen in a while. There’ll be very good players available well into the second round.

With the league’s overall talent pool continuing to become more concentrated after another team folded, it’ll be harder than ever for young players to break in. But with the calibre of talent knocking at the door in this draft, some vets will be looking over their shoulders and hoping to hang on to their roster spots. READ MORE »

Futures Report

NLL Entry Draft: Hello, My Name Is … Everyone we’ve profiled at ILIndoor.com (Updated with additional profiles)

The 2011 National Lacrosse League entry draft is just days away and we here at ILIndoor.com have been keeping ourselves busy with profiles of a ton of prospects. We’ve run the gamut and tried to include everyone and for the most part, we got everyone who wanted to be a part of it. Thing is, we have even more to come in the days leading up to Wednesday’s draft. Today we’re simply compiling all the profiles into a streamlined post for your reference and enjoyment. Some of these fellas are first-round picks while others are late-rounders and still others are gonna find themselves on the outside looking in. But no matter where they end up next week, today they’re all together. In this neat, tidy and convenient file. READ MORE »

Futures Report

NLL Entry Draft: Hello, My Name Is … Spencer Janes

Spencer Janes

Spencer Janes says he’s a reliable guy, which could mean he’ll be on time to practice, he’ll bring the pizza you ordered with the fellas, and he’ll come pick ya up if your car breaks down. Admirable qualities, all of them, but we’re guessing that’s not exactly what he meant when he answered the question of how to describe your game. He said he’s reliable and who’s going to doubt that? Steady production through his Junior A years in Mississauga and Peterborough, along with his first summer of senior ball with the Brampton Excelsiors, show he’s the kind of guy who can cash in when it’s needed, or he can shove opponents around when that’s needed. Of course, that shoving part is a little easier to do when you’re the 6-3, 245-pound guy, and that’s the kind of game he’ll bring, along with that big frame, to the NLL if his name is called on Wednesday night. READ MORE »

Futures Report, IL Indoor Fan Poll

NLL Entry Draft, You Make the Call: Kirk finds a home in Rockies, time for last call

Evan Kirk heads to Denver after round seven of the NLL Fan Draft.

And then there was one…pick remaining in the IL Indoor NLL Fan Draft, that is. You selected Evan Kirk with the Calgary Roughnecks second choice in the first round, seventh overall, leaving just the Colorado Mammoth’s number eight to be decided. There’s still lots of talent to consider from this very deep draft. They can go for offense with Adam Jones, Jamie Lincoln, Corbyn Tao or Jesse Gamble. There are solid defenders in Jeff Cornwall and Joel White. Or they can look to spark the transition with Jordan MacIntosh or Travis Cornwall. Whoever they’re going to get, it’s in your hands. After the jump you can review the options and make the call. READ MORE »