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2015 MEDIA GUIDE 2015 NLL MEDIA GUIDE AND RECORD BOOK || Introduction Introduction || 2015 NLL MEDIA GUIDE AND RECORD BOOK TABLE OF CONTENTS NLL INTRODUCTION New England Black Wolves .............................. 38-43 Single-Game Individual and Team Records ............81 Table of Contents/Staff Directory .............................1 Rochester Knighthawks ................................... 44-50 Miscellaneous Single-Game Records .....................82 Introduction to the NLL ...........................................2 Toronto Rock .................................................... 51-57 All-Time Regular Season Coaching Records ...........83 2015 Division and Playoff Formats ...........................2 Vancouver Stealth ........................................... 58-63 All-Time Playoff Coaching Records .........................84 Lacrosse Talk ............................................................3 HISTORY AND RECORDS Yearly Leaders .......................................................85 Playoff Tiebreakers .............................................. 4-5 Pro Indoor Lacrosse Timeline ........................... 64-72 Championship Game History .................................86 TEAM INFORMATION League Award Winners and Honors .......................73 Championship Game Records ................................86 Buffalo Bandits .................................................. 6-12 League All-Pros ............................................... 74-76 All-Star Game History ............................................87 Calgary Roughnecks ........................................ 13-19 All-Rookie Teams ...................................................77 Year-by-Year Standings ................................... 88-93 Colorado Mammoth ........................................ 20-26 Regular Season and Playoff Career Records ...........78 All-Time Game Results................................... 94-103 Edmonton Rush ............................................... 27-32 Single-Season Records ..........................................79 First Round Draft History ............................. 104-105 Minnesota Swarm ........................................... 33-37 Single-Season Rookie Records ...............................80 NATIONAL LACROSSE LEAGUE STAFF DIRECTORY 53 West 36th Street, Suite 406 • New York, NY 10018 Commissioner ..................................................................................................................................................................................... George Daniel VP of Lacrosse Operations ..................................................................................................................................................................... Brian Lemon VP of Broadcast Services and Communications ........................................................................................................................................Doug Fritts Director of Business and Administrative Operations .............................................................................................................................Justin Rubino Director of Business Development .......................................................................................................................................................... Dan Gacetta Media Relations and Social Media Coordinator...........................................................................................................................................Jeff Baker Head Statistician .....................................................................................................................................................................................Rob Benson 2015 NLL MEDIA GUIDE AND RECORD BOOK The 2015 National Lacrosse League Media Guide and Record Book is a production of the National Lacrosse League. The guide was designed by Eric Rhew. Data was provided by Rob Benson, NLL Head Statistician. Editorial assistance provided by Doug Fritts and Jeff Baker. Photos provided by Craig Abel, Dan Brodie, Jack Dempsey, Dale MacMillan, Larry Palumbo, Scott Pierson, Brad Watson and Bill Wippert. www.nll.com 1 2015 NLL MEDIA GUIDE AND RECORD BOOK || Introduction Introduction || 2015 NLL MEDIA GUIDE AND RECORD BOOK INTRODUCTION TO THE NLL 2015 DIVISIONS & PLAYOFF SCENARIOS The National Lacrosse League Guide and Record Book profiles the league’s his- A total of six NLL teams, the top three tory and sets the scene for the 2015 season, the 29th season of professional indoor clubs in each division’s standings, will lacrosse. The league played its inaugural game in January 1987, in what was first- qualify for the playoffs. The two regular known as the Eagle Pro Box Lacrosse League. In 1988, the name was changed to the season division champions will earn a Major Indoor Lacrosse League (MILL). The MILL became the National Lacrosse League first-round bye as top seeds. The second (NLL) following the 1997 season. All of the statistics and records in this book encom- seed will host the third seed in their re- pass all 28 seasons of the league’s existence. Therefore, a League Record is one that spective division for the single-game covers all three names and the league’s entire 28-year history. A complete timeline of elimination Division Semifinal in the first the major events in league history can be found in this book. round. The National Lacrosse League plays indoor lacrosse. The game is a hybrid, combin- The first two rounds of the playoffs ing parts of box lacrosse (played inside the confines of an ice hockey rink on a turf shall remain under the same format as surface or concrete surface, more prevalent in Canada) with field lacrosse (played last year with single elimination for both on an outdoor field, either on grass or turf, more prevalent in the United States). In- first-round Division Semifinal games door lacrosse was designed to combine the most exciting elements of box and field along with a two-game series for the Division Finals. The top seed from each division lacrosse. The game is played inside the confines of an ice hockey rink, with glass and plays the winner of the Division Semifinal game between the second and third seeds, rink boards intact. The playing surface is artificial turf, which is placed directly over the with the lower-seeded team hosting the first game and the higher seed hosting the arena’s ice surface. Each team plays with five runners and a goaltender. The combina- second game of the series. As adopted for 2014, a 10-minute tiebreaker game will be tion of the confined playing area and the physical play leads many fans to describe played immediately following Game 2 of the Division Finals should the series be tied indoor lacrosse as “like hockey, on foot, with more scoring.” 1-1. A combined 23 goals are scored in the average NLL game. Indoor lacrosse is similar New for 2015, the Champion’s Cup Finals will expand to a full best-of-three series to basketball in terms of its frequent scoring, use of a shot clock (30 seconds), and use with the higher-seeded team hosting Game 1 and Game 3 (if necessary). of the over-and-back rule. When teams are on offense, they often spread the floor and The league’s divisions remained intact from last season with the Buffalo Bandits, pass the ball around in a manner similar to that of basketball. Minnesota Swarm, New England Black Wolves, Rochester Knighthawks and Toronto The NLL game is also played in four quarters, each 15 minutes in length. Games Rock in the five-team East Division. The four-team West Division is comprised of the that are tied at the end of regulation are decided in overtime, where the first team to Calgary Roughnecks, Colorado Mammoth, Edmonton Rush and Vancouver Stealth. score wins the game. There are no tie games and there are no points or credit awarded for an “overtime loss” in the NLL. The standings and team records are strictly Wins- Losses. Each team plays an 18-game regular season schedule. The NLL schedule is struc- tured in a similar fashion to that of the National Football League. All games are played on the weekends. The weekends of the schedule are numbered. Opening weekend of the season is Week #1. As the League has grown, so has the schedule. Here is a look at schedule growth in recent League history: 1996: 10-game schedule 2002: 16-game schedule 1997: 12-game schedule 2014: 18-game schedule 2001: 14-game schedule COMMISSIONER GEORGE DANIEL George Daniel is entering his 15th year with the National Lacrosse League and his seventh season as NLL Commis- sioner. Prior to being Commissioner, Daniel served as Deputy Commissioner & General Counsel for the league for seven seasons and served as a team president for one year. Daniel, a native of Easton, Pennsylvania, is a graduate of Temple University School of Law and a member of the Pennsylvania Bar. 2 www.nll.com 2015 NLL MEDIA GUIDE AND RECORD BOOK || Introduction Introduction || 2015 NLL MEDIA GUIDE AND RECORD BOOK LACROSSE TALK Assist - Awarded to the player or players (maximum of two) who touched the ball prior to the goal, provided Offensive Screen - Legal action by an attacking player to impede the defensive coverage of a defender on no defender plays or possesses the ball in between. an attacking player “without” possession of the ball. Body Check - Slowing or stopping an opponent in possession of the ball. The check must be above the waist Outlet Pass - The first pass from the goaltender that begins the transition from defense to offense. and below