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| Shawn Evans led the NLL in scoring with 112 points (Courtesy Facebook) |
In the coming week the NLL will reveal their annual award winners but before that happens 21 SportsBeat wanted to weigh in and share who they thought the winners and honourable mentions should be.
After all we've had the chance to watch every game, every goal every whistle, right dow to every second of play. For this, a big thank you, goes out to the NLL and The Lacrosse Network who joined forces to broadcast all games on Youtube--Just goes to show the Internet isn't just used for posting pictures of cats and appetizing plates of food.
Most Valuable Player
4th-Mark Matthews F-Edmonton Rush
Matthews is a shoo-in for the Rookie of the year and a top contender for MVP. He finished fifth in the league with 37 goals, along with 31 assists for 69 points. Matthews bears a resemblance to John Grant Jr. in sheer size and strength. He can set a good pick and has an accurate outside shot. He has has great vision of the floor and can feed inside and when he sets his mind to go to the net, you're not going to stop him one-on-one.
3rd-Garret Billings F-Toronto Rock
Billings had another solid season lead the Rock in points and hitting the hundred point mark for the second time in his young career. Billings finished second overall in points once again this season and was named the February player of the month. The cog in the Rock's offence, he helped lead the team to the Eastern divisional title.
Billings has scored scored 30 or more goals in his first four seasons. His mark of 30 goals this season is surprisingly a career low. He finished 12th overall in goals and second with 70 with assists. His 15 power play goals was equal to the leagues best, however, his team won just two of their final five games.
Runner up-Matt Vinc G-Rochester Knighthawks
This is a goalies league. There is no more valuable a spot than a great goaltender. In a one game playoff format you need somebody who can deliver a consistent effort. Vinc has the ability to single-handedly win games and he is a large reason for the Knighthawks success. The three-time defensive player of the week, leads all back-stoppers all the crucial goaltending categories, i.e., 662 total saves, a 10.17 GAA, .803 save percentage. The only thing holding Vinc back from an MVP vote is his 8-8 record.
MVP-Shawn Evans F-Calgary Roughnecks
Evans has had a career season, breaking the 100 point mark for the first time in his eight year stint. It's safe to say he's the premier setup man in the league, leading the league with 80 assists and 32 goals for 112 points. He set a new single game Roughneck scoring record, when he pumped home 13 points, on four goals and nine assists against the Colorado Mammoth.
Evans scored 10 points or more on five separate occasions this season and has been atop the points standings for the majority of the year. He is a slippery player, who has a knack for drawing penalties and on top of that he's a small forward that can protect the ball and bounce off checks. He's also dangerous on the fore check, leading all forwards with 15 forced turnovers.
Rookie of the Year
3rd-Tyler Garrison D-Washington Stealth
Garrison is hands down the best rookie defensemen in the game and has made the jump to the NLL look easy. He led all rookie defenders with four goals, nine assists for 13 points and leads all rookie defenders with 21 forced turnovers.
Runner up-Kyle Matisz F-Minnesota Swarm
Matisz is a force on the crease, the towering 6'5'' forward has a knack for finding the back of the net. He is second in rookie scoring with 29 goals and assists with 33. The lethal shooter has a .23 shooting percentage-the best amongst rookie scorers. A rare combination of size and speed Matisz can box out in front of the net and in the corners, scooping up 70 loose balls.
ROTY-Mark Matthews F-Edmonton Rush
Matthews is one of those rare talents that only come around so often. The first overall draft pick has been an immediate game changer for the Rush. He set a new single season franchise record in Edmonton for goals with 38. He beat John Grant Jr.'s rookie scoring mark of 37 goals but fell short of Gary Gait's all-time rookie scoring record of 47 goals set in 199-it was different game then.
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| Jordan MacIntosh has elevated his game (Facebook) |
Transition Player of the Year
Andrew Suitor who suffered a season ending knee injury will likely miss the summer season as well. He gets an honourable mention here, as the prototypical transition man. The second year transition-man will undoubtedly have his name etched on this trophy several times and one they'll likely name the trophy after him. A player I regard as the best all round player in the game today, plays for a team that is built around this position. Minnesota at times better resemble a track team, gunning the ball up the floor. Several players from the Swarm could make the list, in fact two have.
4th-Tyler Hass T-Minnesota Swarm
Hass has size, speed and skill on both ends of the floor. The towering 6'6'' behemoth can run the floor, score and protect his net. Hass picked up 71 loose balls and is fifth with 23 forced turnovers to go along with eight goals and four assists.
3rd-Mark Steenhuis T-Buffalo Bandits
Steenhuis led the Bandits in scoring in back-to-back seasons in 09' and 10' but has now embraced a new role as a defense first player. Steenhuis still has the ability to score but he's more looked on to rag the ball, scoop up loosies and play defence but he still finds the opportunity to take his man one-on-one to the net and score.
Buffalo has gone through a rough patch, loosing six consecutive games late in the year. It was likely a frustrating season for Steenhuis and company, but he still put up solid numbers scoring 12 goals on 62 shots, adding 25 assits, while picking up 65 loose balls and forcing 22 turnovers.
Runner up-Geoff Snider T-Calgary Roughnecks
Snider is hands down the best face-off man that lives. The right handed bruiser can handle himself on the floor and hold other teams accountable with his fists. With 210 face-off wins, that stat alone puts him into the debate, but compare that with his league hight 235 loose-balls, 17 goals and 11 assists, coupled with 27 forced turnovers, Snider is a dangerous player.
Winner-Jordan MacIntosh T-Minnesota Swarm
MacIntosh began the season going out the back door and once he finally found his scoring touch he started going out the front door. With Suitor's absence the brunt of the face-off duties fell on his shoulders and MacIntosh has stepped up his game delivering 240 face off wins. He also picked up 197 loose-balls and finished his sophomore season 27 goals and 28 assits.
Defensive Player of the Year
The defensive award goes to the unheralded play of a specialized player who's play largely goes unnoticed but they usually draw the duty of shutting down the oppositions top players.
4th-Brett Mydske D-Edmonton Rush
Mydske is a pure defender who can throw his weight around and pry the ball away from the offence. Mydske is second with 28 forced turnovers and has 72 loose balls to go with six goals and four assists.
3rd-Mike Grimes D-Washington Stealth
A hulking defender who can lay a heavy crosscheck. Grimes is a shutdown defender who can move the ball up the floor and jump in on the rush. He has eight goals and 12 assists to go with 95 loose balls and 14 forced turnovers.
Runner up-Brad Self D-Rochester Knighthawks
Self has embraced a purely defensive roll with the Knighthawks. The one time transition player has great awareness on the floor. He has a busy stick and can pick off and knock down passes better than most in the game. Paired with his tremendous breakaway speed self also posses a breakaway threat. He led all defenders in points with nine goals and 13 assists to go with 97 loose balls and 13 forced turnovers.
Winner-Kyle Rubisch D-Edmonton Rush
Rubisch is a defensive force. He has the ability to make the big hit and scare offensive players away from the crease. A wily defender with a crafty stick, Rubisch led the league with 44 forced turnovers and 128 loose balls. He scored three goals on six shots and added eight assits.
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| Matt Vinc led all goalie with saves and GAA (Facebook) |
Goalie of the Year
3rd-Aaron Bold G-Edmonton Rush
Bold has had another stellar season between the pipes and makes the big saves when he has to. He is third in wins with eight, third with a 10.62 goals against average and made 439 saves.
Runner up-Nick Rose G-Toronto Rock
Rose has been solid for the Rock and led the NLL with 10 wins. He also second in the league with 607 total saves and third in the league with a 10.61 GAA.
Winner Matt Vinc G-Rochester Knighthawks
Vinc has consistently been the best goalie in the NLL. He's an excellent ball stopper and can throw a stretch pass like no other. Vinc leads is tops in all crucial goaltender categories, first with 662 total saves and holds a 10.17 GAA with a .803 save percentage.
Coach of the Year
Runner up-Curt Malawksy HC-Calgary Roughnecks
Malawsky and the Roughnecks won the West division in dramatic fashion beating Edmonton in overtime in the final regular season game. They had the best power play in the league and showed great resiliency and fight, in their ability to overcome adversity and battle back to win several games in the fourth quarter.
Winner-Troy Cordingly HC-Toronto Rock
Cordingly knows how to get the best out of his players because he holds everyone accountable. A verbose coach who isn't afraid of letting his players know what he's thinking. The Rock were the only team in the NLL to reach 10 wins and also the only team nought to lose back-to-back games.
Executive of the Year
Runner up-Bruce Urban Owner Edmonton Rush
Bruce is a hands on guy, one of the only owners to come up, shake my hand and introduce himself to the blog and ask who I wrote for and what I thought of the game. That went a long way.
Winner Jamie Dawick Owner-Toronto Rock
Dawick built a practice facility in Oakville last year as a home base for the Rock to practice out of. Dawick also hosted a couple preseason games there and has leased the space for other teams use and practice out of.
Couple that with his charity work for the Toronto Food bank and his laid back demeanor around the rink make him the shoe-in for the executive of the year.
