2008 NLL season

The 2008 National Lacrosse League season, the 22nd in the history of the NLL, began on December 29, 2007 and concluded with the Buffalo Bandits winning the championship game over the Portland LumberJax on May 17, 2008.

2008 NLL season
LeagueNational Lacrosse League
SportIndoor lacrosse
DurationDecember 29, 2007 – May 17, 2008
Number of games16
Number of teams12
Regular season
Season MVPAthan Iannucci (Philadelphia)
Top scorerAthan Iannucci (Philadelphia)
Playoffs
Eastern championsBuffalo Bandits
  Eastern runners-upMinnesota Swarm
Western championsSan Jose Stealth
  Western runners-upColorado Mammoth
Champion's Cup
ChampionsBuffalo Bandits
  Runners-upPortland LumberJax
Finals MVPMark Steenhuis (Buffalo)

In an odd coincidence, all four eastern division teams that made the playoffs finished with identical 10-6 records. Due to tiebreakers, the Buffalo Bandits clinched first place overall, followed by the Minnesota Swarm, New York Titans in their playoff debut, and the Philadelphia Wings in their return to the playoffs after a five-year absence.

There was also a tie atop the west division standings, as the San Jose Stealth and Colorado Mammoth both finished with 9-7 records. The Stealth won that tiebreaker and clinched their first western division title. The Calgary Roughnecks and Portland LumberJax finished out the playoff teams in the west despite having losing records.

History was made in 2008 as neither the Rochester Knighthawks nor the Toronto Rock made the playoffs, for the first time in the history of either team (though the Toronto franchise, then the Ontario Raiders, missed the playoffs in their inaugural season in 1998). The Knighthawks broke a 13-year streak of making the playoffs, the Rock streak was stopped at 9 years.[1]

Philadelphia Wings second-year stars Athan Iannucci and Geoff Snider set a number of new league records in 2008. Iannucci eclipsed Gary Gait's record of 61 goals by scoring 71, and Snider set or tied marks in loose balls (244), face offs won (318, tied with Peter Jacobs in 2005), and penalty minutes (103).[2]

The 2008 season almost never happened. On October 16, 2007 the league released a statement officially cancelling the season, after no agreement could be reached on a new collective bargaining agreement.[3] However, negotiations continued, and on October 25, the league announced that a new CBA has been agreed on, and that the season would proceed.[4] The new revised schedule was released on November 2, 2007, but only included 12 of the expected 14 teams. The expansion Boston Blazers and 2007 Western division champion Arizona Sting had decided for "a number of business reasons"[5] to opt out of the 2008 season and return in 2009. Due to the short time frame between the agreement on a new CBA and the start of the season, the New York Titans were unable to secure 8 home dates for the revised schedule, and thus both the Toronto Rock and Buffalo Bandits hosted a Titans home game in their own arena.

Team movement

An expansion franchise for Boston, Massachusetts was announced on May 9, 2007. It was expected that the team would play at the TD Banknorth Garden, which is also home to the NBA's Boston Celtics and the NHL's Boston Bruins.[6] On October 3, 2007 the Boston franchise was officially named the Boston Blazers.[7]

When the revised schedule was released on November 2, 2007, it was announced that both the Arizona Sting and Boston Blazers were suspending operations for the 2008 season, returning in 2009.[5]

Work stoppage

In the off-season between the 2007 and 2008 seasons the Collective Bargaining Agreement between the National Lacrosse League and the Professional Lacrosse Players' Association expired. The owners announced that if there no deal was in place before midnight, October 15, 2007 the 2008 season would be cancelled.[8] On the morning of October 16, the league announced that no agreement had been reached, and that the season was cancelled.[3] The next day, commissioner Jim Jennings even said that the league would not change its mind about the cancellation, saying:

There's no hope due to the fact that we've released our dates. It's very difficult to get dates in places like (New York's) Madison Square Garden and (Toronto's) ACC Centre and places like that. To try to restart this thing up on a moment's notice is an impossibility.[9]

However, the negotiations continued, and on October 25, the league announced that a new seven-year agreement had been reached, and that the season would be played.[4]

Before the initial cancellation of the season, the Versus network announced that it would not carry a game of the week, as they had in 2007, even if an agreement was reached before the deadline.[10]

Final standings

Reference: [11]

East Division
PTeamGPWLPCTGBHomeRoadGFGADiffGF/GPGA/GP

1Buffalo Bandits – xyz16106.6250.07–23–4203174+2912.6910.88
2Minnesota Swarm – x16106.6250.06–24–4199196+312.4412.25
3New York Titans – x16106.6250.05–15–5197186+1112.3111.62
4Philadelphia Wings – x16106.6250.07–13–5225220+514.0613.75
5Rochester Knighthawks1688.5002.04–44–4197171+2612.3110.69
6Toronto Rock1679.4383.04–53–4172174-210.7510.88
7Chicago Shamrox16610.3754.03–53–5176212-3611.0013.25
West Division
PTeamGPWLPCTGBHomeRoadGFGADiffGF/GPGA/GP

1San Jose Stealth – xy1697.5620.04–45–3185172+1311.5610.75
2Colorado Mammoth – x1697.5620.06–23–5184167+1711.5010.44
3Calgary Roughnecks – x1679.4382.05–32–6183178+511.4411.12
4Portland LumberJax – x16610.3753.03–53–5179194-1511.1912.12
5Edmonton Rush16412.2505.03–51–7141197-568.8112.31

x: Clinched playoff berth; c: Clinched playoff berth by crossing over to another division; y: Clinched division; z: Clinched best regular season record; GP: Games Played
W: Wins; L: Losses; GB: Games back; PCT: Win percentage; Home: Record at Home; Road: Record on the Road; GF: Goals scored; GA: Goals allowed
Differential: Difference between goals scored and allowed; GF/GP: Average number of goals scored per game; GA/GP: Average number of goals allowed per game

Playoffs
Divisional Semifinal Divisional Final Champion's Cup Final
         
E1 Buffalo 14
E4 Philadelphia 12
E1 Buffalo 19
Eastern Division
E3 New York 12
E2 Minnesota 8
E3 New York 11
E1 Buffalo 14
W4 Portland 13
W1 San Jose 16
W4 Portland 18
W3 Calgary 12
Western Division
W4 Portland 16
W2 Colorado 13
W3 Calgary 15

Milestones and events

Pre-season
  • August 22, 2007: Colorado Mammoth head coach Gary Gait announced that he was stepping down to become the head coach of the women's lacrosse team at his alma mater, Syracuse University.[12] Former Arizona Sting assistant coach Bob McMahon was announced as Gait's replacement.[13]
  • July 24, 2007: Less than three months after the end of the 2007 NLL season, the league announced one of the biggest blockbuster trades in NLL history. The trade involved three teams and six players, including a former Rookie of the Year and a former MVP and Goaltender of the Year. The trade saw the Calgary Roughnecks sending defenseman Taylor Wray to the Philadelphia Wings, and their first round pick in the 2007 entry draft and their second round pick in the 2008 entry draft to the Buffalo Bandits. The Wings sent Sean Greenhalgh to Buffalo and Ian Llord to Calgary, and the Bandits sent goaltender Steve Dietrich and Kyle Couling to Calgary and Jason Crosbie to Philadelphia.[14] During the entry draft in September, Llord was traded again, this time from Calgary to Buffalo for two draft picks.[15]
  • October 16, 2007: The league announced that the 2008 season had been cancelled due to the failure of the owners and players to reach a CBA.[3]
  • October 25, 2007: The league announced that a new agreement had been reached, and that the 2008 would indeed be played.[4]
  • November 2, 2007: The revised schedule was released, and the league announced that the Arizona Sting and Boston Blazers would not play in 2008.[5]
  • November 5, 2007: A dispersal draft was held for the remaining teams to choose players from the Arizona and Boston franchises.[16]

Regular season
  • January 9: The league announced the inductees into the National Lacrosse League Hall of Fame for 2008: Sal LoCascio, Johnny Mouradian, Tony Resch, and Neil Stevens.[17]
  • January 12: The Rochester Knighthawks' 16-game winning streak came to an end as the Buffalo Bandits defeated the Knighthawks 14-9 in Rochester.[18] The Knighthawks had extended the streak with a victory over Buffalo in the opening game the previous night.[19]
  • January 17: The NLL announced that New York Titans star Casey Powell would once again host "Inside the NLL with Casey Powell", a weekly one-hour show on Sirius Satellite Radio.[20]
  • January 20: John Tavares of the Buffalo Bandits scored his 597th career goal in a win over the New York Titans, passing Gary Gait and becoming the NLL's all-time leader in goals scored.[21]
  • January 30: The Edmonton Rush traded Chris Seller to the Calgary Roughnecks for a third round draft pick in the 2008 entry draft.[22]
  • February 5: Forward Andrew Lazore is traded from the Chicago Shamrox to the Buffalo Bandits for two second-round draft picks in the 2008 entry draft.[23]
  • February 8: The Minnesota Swarm established a league record by running up a 12-0 lead before the New York Titans broke their scoreless streak in the third quarter.[24]
  • February 20: After starting the season with an 0-5 record, the Rush fired the franchise's original head coach and general manager, Paul Day. On February 21, the Rush announced that Day's replacement would be former NLL Coach and GM of the Year Bob Hamley.[25]
  • March 5: Three separate trades involving four teams and six players were made:[26]
    • Edmonton traded a 2008 conditional third-round draft pick and a 2009 conditional third-round draft pick to Chicago for Lindsay Plunkett
    • Chicago sent goalie Brandon Miller and a 2008 second-round draft pick to Philadelphia for Matt Roik, Brad Self, a 2009 first-round draft pick, and a 2010 second-round draft pick
    • In a three-way deal, Edmonton sent A.J. Shannon to Philadelphia, the Wings send Dan Marohl and Keith Cromwell to Minnesota, and Minnesota sent Mike Hominuck to the Rush.
  • March 22: Colorado's Brian Langtry scored 9 goals and assisted on 4 others in a losing cause, as the Mammoth lost to the Portland LumberJax. Langtry's 9 goals is the most scored by a player in one game this season.[27]
  • March 25: Multiple players were dealt on the season's trade deadline:[28]
  • April 12: Athan Iannucci scored three goals and broke Gary Gait's record of 61 goals in a season. Iannucci entered the game with 60 goals, averaging 4.6 goals per game, but didn't score the record-tying goal until six minutes into the third quarter. He then scored the record-setting goal less than three minutes later and then completed his hat-trick in the fourth quarter.[29][30]
  • April 27: After announcing his retirement earlier in the year, Jim Veltman, the league's all-time loose balls leader, played the final game of his 16-year career.[31][32]

Glenn Clark suspension

On January 11, the Minnesota Swarm defeated the Toronto Rock 17-16 in overtime, in a game which saw three Swarm players and one Rock player given game misconducts. After the game, Rock head coach Glenn Clark was involved in an altercation with Minnesota forward Sean Pollock outside the Rock dressing room.[33] Clark was later charged with assault by Toronto Police[33] and suspended indefinitely by the NLL.[34] The Rock announced that assistant coach Terry Bullen would serve as the interim head coach[35] and Bullen led the Rock to a 2-2 record.

On February 6, the charges against Clark were dropped by Toronto Police,[36] and the NLL lifted the suspension on February 13.[37]

All-Star game

The 2008 All-Star Game was held at Rexall Place in Edmonton on March 16, 2008. The East division All-Stars defeated the West division 17-16 in overtime, as Shawn Williams scored the winner 31 seconds into OT. Philadelphia Wings' transition player Geoff Snider was named MVP.[38]

All-Star teams
Eastern Division starters   Western Division starters
Athan Iannucci, Philadelphia Jeff Zywicki, San Jose
John Tavares, Buffalo Dan Carey, Colorado
John Grant, Jr., Rochester Gavin Prout, Colorado
Mark Steenhuis, Buffalo Brodie Merrill, Portland
Ryan Cousins, Minnesota Eric Martin, San Jose
Nick Patterson, Minnesota (goalie) Gee Nash, Colorado (goalie)
Eastern Division reserves Western Division reserves
Scott Evans, Rochester Mike Accursi, Edmonton
Casey Powell, New York * Dan Dawson, Arizona
Andy Secore, Minnesota * Colin Doyle, San Jose
Geoff Snider, Philadelphia Ryan Powell, Portland *
Steve Toll, Rochester Lewis Ratcliff, Calgary
Jim Veltman, Toronto Jeff Shattler, Calgary
Peter Lough, Toronto Josh Sims, Colorado *
Jarett Park, New York Jimmy Quinlan, Edmonton
Scott Self, Chicago Andrew McBride, Calgary
Chris White, Buffalo Chris McElroy, Edmonton
Taylor Wray, Philadelphia Bruce Murray, Colorado
Bob Watson, Toronto (goalie) Anthony Cosmo, San Jose (goalie)
Ryan Ward, Minnesota (replacing C. Powell) Dan Stroup, Edmonton (replacing R. Powell)
Shawn Williams, Rochester (replacing Secore) Nick Carlson, Colorado (replacing Sims)

* Unable to play due to injury

Awards

Annual
Award Winner Team
Reebok Most Valuable Player Athan Iannucci[39] Philadelphia
US Navy Goaltender of the Year Bob Watson[40] Toronto
Edge Defensive Player of the Year Ryan Cousins[41] Minnesota
Transition Player of the Year Mark Steenhuis[42] Buffalo
Rookie of the Year Craig Point[43] Minnesota
Sportsmanship Award Dan Carey[44] Colorado
GM of the Year Marty O'Neill[45] Minnesota
Les Bartley Award Adam Mueller[46] New York
Executive of the Year Award Tom Garrity[47] Minnesota
Tom Borrelli Award Paul Tutka[47]  

All-Pro teams

First Team

Second Team

All-Rookie team

Weekly awards

The NLL gives out awards weekly for the best overall player, best offensive player, best transition player, best defensive player, and best rookie.

MonthWeekOverallOffensiveDefensiveTransitionRookie
December1 Jason WulderJason WulderGord NashJosh SimsDane Dobbie
January2 Blaine ManningBlaine ManningRob MarshallBobby McBrideBobby McBride
3 Jeff ZywickiJeff ZywickiNick PattersonJohnny ChristmasCraig Point
4 John TavaresJohn TavaresBob WatsonPat McCreadyMerrick Thomson
5 Sean PollockSean PollockRyan AveryGeoff SniderJordan Hall
February6 Jeff ZywickiJeff ZywickiAaron BoldJimmy QuinlanCraig Point
7 Pat O'TooleShawn EvansPat O'TooleJarett ParkCraig Point
8 John Grant, Jr.John Grant, Jr.Bob WatsonBrodie MerrillJordan Hall
9 Casey PowellCasey PowellDaniel SamsRob Van BeekDaniel Sams
10 Shawn EvansShawn EvansCurtis PalidworMark SteenhuisSteve Hutchins
March11 Ken MontourLuke WilesKen MontourMark SteenhuisFrank Resetarits
12 Gavin ProutMike HominuckMatt VincJohn OrsonCraig Point
13 Bob WatsonBrian LangtryBob WatsonMitch BelisleSean Morris
14 Cody JacobsCody JacobsRory GlavesChris McKayMatt MacLeod
April15 Jeff ZywickiRyan WardScott SelfMark SteenhuisBobby McBride
16 Athan IannucciAthan IannucciPat O'TooleNolan HeavenorTom Johnson
17 Pat MaddalenaPat MaddalenaMatt VincMark SteenhuisJordan Hall
18 Jim VeltmanJohn TavaresGreg PeyserBrad SelfPeter Jacobs

Monthly awards

Awards are also given out monthly for the best overall player and best rookie.

MonthOverallRookie
January Athan IannucciMerrick Thomson
February Athan IannucciCraig Point
March Curtis PalidworJordan Hall
April Athan IannucciPeter Jacobs

Statistics leaders

Bold numbers indicate new single-season records. Italics indicate tied single-season records.

StatPlayerTeamNumber
GoalsAthan IannucciPhiladelphia71
AssistsGavin ProutColorado67
PointsAthan IannucciPhiladelphia100
Penalty MinutesGeoff SniderPhiladelphia103
Shots on GoalAthan IannucciPhiladelphia253
Loose BallsGeoff SniderPhiladelphia244
Save PctKen MontourBuffalo.808
GAAChris LevisColorado10.04
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See also

References
  1. "2008 Season Was Down To The Wire". NLL.com. April 27, 2008. Archived from the original on 10 May 2008. Retrieved 2008-05-21.
  2. "Snider Breaks Loose Ball Record". NLL.com. April 29, 2008. Archived from the original on 10 May 2008. Retrieved 2008-05-21.
  3. "2008 Season Cancelled". NLL.com. 2007-10-16. Archived from the original on 17 October 2007. Retrieved 2007-10-16.
  4. "NLL, PLPA reach seven-year deal". NLL.com. October 25, 2007. Archived from the original on 26 October 2007. Retrieved 2007-10-25.
  5. "League Releases New 2008 Schedule". NLL.com. November 2, 2007. Archived from the original on 6 November 2007. Retrieved 2007-11-02.
  6. "Expansion Team Awarded to Boston for 2008". NLL.com. May 9, 2007. Archived from the original on 12 May 2007. Retrieved 2007-05-09.
  7. "Boston Team Name: Blazers". NLL.com. October 3, 2007. Retrieved 2007-03-10.
  8. "NLL Season could be cancelled". Calgary Sun. October 12, 2007. Retrieved 2007-10-14.
  9. "Report: NLL won't change mind". NLL.com. October 17, 2007. Archived from the original on 18 October 2007. Retrieved 2007-10-17.
  10. Johnson, Craig (October 11, 2007). "NLL: Saturday night Game of the Week on VERSUS a no-go". InsideLacrosse.com. Archived from the original on December 14, 2007. Retrieved 2007-10-12.
  11. "National Lacrosse League - 2008 Regular Season - Standings". NLL.com. Retrieved May 3, 2012.
  12. "Gait Steps Down as Mammoth Coach". NLL.com. August 22, 2007. Archived from the original on 24 August 2007. Retrieved 2007-08-22.
  13. "Bob McMahon named Colorado Head Coach". NLL.com. September 26, 2007. Archived from the original on 4 October 2007. Retrieved 2007-09-26.
  14. "Three Team Blockbuster Trade Announced". NLL.com. July 24, 2007. Retrieved 2007-07-24.
  15. "Draft day trade frenzy". NLL.com. September 2, 2007. Archived from the original on 6 September 2007. Retrieved 2007-09-28.
  16. "Dawson selected first overall by Portland". NLL.com. November 5, 2007. Archived from the original on 7 November 2007. Retrieved 2007-11-07.
  17. "NLL Announces Hall of Fame Class of 2008". NLL.com. January 9, 2008. Archived from the original on 15 January 2008. Retrieved 2008-02-05.
  18. "Bandits end K-Hawks Streak with 14-9 Win". NLL.com. January 12, 2008. Archived from the original on 15 January 2008. Retrieved 2008-01-13.
  19. "K-Hawks Top Bandits in Friday's Opener, 12-9". NLL.com. January 11, 2008. Archived from the original on 13 January 2008. Retrieved 2008-01-13.
  20. "Casey Powell Show Returns To Sirius". NLL.com. January 17, 2008. Archived from the original on 19 January 2008. Retrieved 2008-02-05.
  21. "Tavares Breaks Goal Scoring Record". NLL.com. January 19, 2008. Archived from the original on 19 January 2008. Retrieved 2008-01-20.
  22. "Rush Deals Seller to Roughnecks". NLL.com. January 30, 2008. Archived from the original on 2 February 2008. Retrieved 2008-02-05.
  23. "Chicago Deals Lazore to Buffalo". NLL.com. February 5, 2008. Archived from the original on 7 February 2008. Retrieved 2008-02-05.
  24. "Minnesota routs New York, 16-9". NLL.com. February 8, 2008. Archived from the original on 10 February 2008. Retrieved 2008-02-14.
  25. Tutka, Paul (21 February 2008). "Bob Hamley hiring made official". NLLInsider.com. Archived from the original on 6 March 2008. Retrieved 21 February 2008.
  26. "Trade Frenzy: six players dealt". NLL.com. March 5, 2008. Retrieved 2008-03-05.
  27. "Weekend Recap, News, & Quotes". NLL.com. March 24, 2008. Archived from the original on 28 March 2008. Retrieved 2008-03-24.
  28. Chavez, Bob (March 26, 2008). "Rush set up bright NLL future". nllinsider.com. Archived from the original on 28 March 2008. Retrieved 2008-04-09.
  29. "Iannucci Breaks Single-Season Goals Record". NLL.com. April 12, 2008. Archived from the original on 13 April 2008. Retrieved 2008-04-12.
  30. "Philadelphia-Minnesota Boxscore". Pointstreak. April 12, 2008. Retrieved 2008-04-12.
  31. Shanahan, Brian (2008-04-30). "Jim Veltman: One More Time". NLLInsider.com. Archived from the original on 29 June 2008. Retrieved 2008-05-22.
  32. Borrelli, Tom (2008-04-30). "'Scoop' Says Goodbye, For Now". LaxMagazine.com. Archived from the original on 2012-07-11. Retrieved 2008-05-22.
  33. Ryan, Allan (January 14, 2008). "Rock coach charged after dustup with player". Toronto Star. Archived from the original on 17 January 2008. Retrieved 2008-01-16.
  34. "League Suspends Clark Indefinitely". NLL.com. January 17, 2008. Archived from the original on 19 January 2008. Retrieved 2008-01-18.
  35. "Bullen Named Rock Interim Head Coach". NLL.com. January 17, 2008. Retrieved 2008-02-05.
  36. "Charges against Rock coach dropped". Toronto Star. February 6, 2008. Archived from the original on 9 February 2008. Retrieved 2008-02-06.
  37. "League Lifts Clark Suspension". NLL.com. February 13, 2008. Archived from the original on 15 February 2008. Retrieved 2008-02-13.
  38. "East All-Stars Win In Overtime, 17-16". NLL.com. March 16, 2008. Archived from the original on 19 March 2008. Retrieved 2008-03-16.
  39. "Athan Iannucci Wins Reebok MVP Award". NLL.com. May 15, 2008. Archived from the original on 17 May 2008. Retrieved 2008-05-15.
  40. "Watson Named US Navy Goalie of the Year". NLL.com. May 7, 2008. Archived from the original on 10 May 2008. Retrieved 2008-05-07.
  41. "Cousins Named Edge Defensive Player of the Year". NLL.com. May 12, 2008. Retrieved 2008-05-12.
  42. "Steenhuis Named Top Transition Player". NLL.com. May 12, 2008. Retrieved 2008-05-12.
  43. "Point Named Rookie of the Year". NLL.com. May 13, 2008. Archived from the original on 17 May 2008. Retrieved 2008-05-13.
  44. "Dan Carey and Chris McElroy Recognized". NLL.com. May 5, 2008. Retrieved 2009-05-06.
  45. "Marty O'Neill Named GM of the Year". NLL.com. May 8, 2008. Archived from the original on 10 May 2008. Retrieved 2008-05-08.
  46. "Adam Mueller Wins Les Bartley Award". NLL.com. May 8, 2008. Archived from the original on 10 May 2008. Retrieved 2008-05-08.
  47. "Tom Garrity Named Executive of the Year". NLL.com. May 6, 2008. Archived from the original on 10 May 2008. Retrieved 2008-05-06.


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