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Below is a collection of standings, results, statistics, award winners, and season summaries from the 1999 National Lacrosse League season, archived for our visitors' convenience.
Final Regular Season Standings
Team W L Pct GB GF GA Streak
x Toronto Rock 9 3 .750 -- 157 139 Won 5
x Baltimore Thunder 8 4 .667 1 211 175 Won 1
x Rochester Knighthawks 8 4 .667 1 169 160 Won 2
x Philadelphia Wings 5 7 .417 4 153 153 Lost 1
New York Saints 5 7 .417 4 149 156 Lost 2
Buffalo Bandits 4 8 .333 5 158 177 Lost 5
Syracuse Smash 3 9 .250 6 161 198 Won 1
x: clinched playoff berth
Week-By-Week Results
Winning teams in bold
Week One:
Sat 26 Dec New York 12 @ Rochester 11
Week Two:
Sat 2 Jan Rochester 13 @ Baltimore 20
Week Three:
Fri 8 Jan Buffalo 18 @ Philadelphia 17 OT
Sat 9 Jan Toronto 10 @ Baltimore 21
Sat 9 Jan Philadelphia 12 @ Syracuse 19
Week Four:
Sat 16 Jan Baltimore 22 @ Buffalo 15
Week Five:
Fri 22 Jan Buffalo 10 @ Toronto 11
Fri 22 Jan Rochester 15 @ Philadelphia 12
Sat 23 Jan Baltimore 15 @ New York 14
Sat 23 Jan Syracuse 13 @ Rochester 20
Week Six:
Fri 29 Jan Rochester 9 @ Toronto 16
Fri 29 Jan Syracuse 16 @ Buffalo 17
Sat 30 Jan Buffalo 12 @ New York 11
Sat 30 Jan Philadelphia 17 @ Baltimore 18 OT
Week Seven:
Fri 5 Feb Baltimore 14 @ Syracuse 15
Fri 5 Feb Philadelphia 13 @ Buffalo 11
Sat 6 Feb Toronto 10 @ Rochester 11 OT
Week Eight:
Fri 12 Feb New York 15 @ Baltimore 18
Week Nine:
Fri 19 Feb Philadelphia 7 @ Toronto 9
Sat 20 Feb NLL All-Star Game @ Rochester, NY
Canada 25 v United States 24 OT
Week Ten:
Fri 26 Feb New York 9 @ Toronto 13
Fri 26 Feb Rochester 17 @ Syracuse 15
Sat 27 Feb Toronto 11 @ Philadelphia 12 OT
Sat 27 Feb Buffalo 16 @ Baltimore 15
Sun 28 Feb Syracuse 8 @ New York 13
Week Eleven:
Sat 6 Mar Syracuse 6 @ Philadelphia 15
Sat 6 Mar New York 13 @ Buffalo 12
Week Twelve:
Sat 13 Mar Baltimore 13 @ Philadelphia 16
Sat 13 Mar Rochester 20 @ New York 15
Sat 13 Mar Toronto 19 @ Syracuse 12
Week Thirteen:
Sat 20 Mar Rochester 17 @ Buffalo 11
Week Fourteen:
Fri 26 Mar Syracuse 12 @ Toronto 19
Fri 26 Mar Philadelphia 13 @ New York 14
Sat 27 Mar Baltimore 14 @ Rochester 11
Sat 27 Mar Toronto 13 @ Buffalo 12 OT
Sat 27 Mar New York 15 @ Syracuse 14
Week Fifteen:
Fri 2 Apr Baltimore 15 @ Toronto 16
Sat 3 Apr New York 9 @ Philadelphia 10
Sat 3 Apr Buffalo 13 @ Rochester 15
Sat 3 Apr Syracuse 17 @ Baltimore 26
Week Sixteen:
Fri 9 Apr Toronto 10 @ New York 9
Sat 10 Apr Philadelphia 9 @ Rochester 10
Sat 10 Apr Buffalo 11 @ Syracuse 14
NLL Semifinals:
Fri 16 Apr Philadelphia 2 @ Toronto 13
Sat 17 Apr Rochester 14 @ Baltimore 12
NLL Championship Game:
Fri 23 Apr Rochester 10 @ Toronto 13
Team-by-Team Results
Baltimore Thunder
DATE OPPONENT BAL-OPP W/L REC POS
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Dec 25-27 -open date- 0-0 t-2
Sat Jan 2 ROCHESTER 7:35 20-13 W 1-0 t-1
Sat Jan 9 TORONTO 7:35 21-10 W 2-0 1st
Sat Jan 16 @ Buffalo 8:00 22-15 W 3-0 1st
Sat Jan 23 @ New York 7:30 15-14 W 4-0 1st
Sat Jan 30 PHILADELPHIA 7:35 18-17 OT W 5-0 1st
Fri Feb 5 @ Syracuse 8:00 14-15 L 5-1 1st
Fri Feb 12 NEW YORK 8:05 18-15 W 6-1 1st
Feb 19-21 -open date- 1st
Sat Feb 27 BUFFALO 7:35 15-16 L 6-2 1st
Mar 5- 7 -open date- 1st
Sat Mar 13 @ Philadelphia 7:30 13-16 L 6-3 1st
Mar 19-21 -open date- t-1
Sat Mar 27 @ Rochester 7:35 14-11 W 7-3 t-1
Fri Apr 2 @ Toronto 7:00 15-16 L 7-4 2nd
Sat Apr 3 SYRACUSE 7:35 26-17 W 8-4 2nd
Apr 9-11 -open date- t-2
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Sat Apr 17 ROCHESTER 7:35 12-14 L 8-5
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Buffalo Bandits
DATE OPPONENT BUF-OPP W/L REC POS
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Dec 25-27 -open date- 0-0 t-2
Jan 1- 3 -open date- t-3
Fri Jan 8 @ Philadephia 7:30 18-17 OT W 1-0 t-1
Sat Jan 16 BALTIMORE 8:00 15-22 L 1-1 4th
Fri Jan 24 @ Toronto 7:00 10-11 L 1-2 t-5
Fri Jan 29 SYRACUSE 8:00 17-16 W 2-2 2nd
Sat Jan 30 @ New York 7:30 12-11 W 3-2 3rd
Fri Feb 5 PHILADELPHIA 8:00 11-13 L 3-3 t-2
Feb 12-14 -open date- t-2
Feb 19-21 -open date- t-3
Sat Feb 27 @ Baltimore 7:35 16-15 W 4-3 t-2
Sat Mar 6 NEW YORK 8:00 12-13 L 4-4 4th
Mar 12-14 -open date- 4th
Sat Mar 20 ROCHESTER 8:00 11-17 L 4-5 t-4
Sat Mar 27 TORONTO 8:00 12-13 OT L 4-6 t-5
Sat Apr 3 @ Rochester 7:35 13-15 L 4-7 6th
Sat Apr 10 @ Syracuse 8:00 11-14 L 4-8 6th
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New York Saints
DATE OPPONENT NY-OPP W/L REC POS
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Sat Dec 26 @ Rochester 7:35 12-11 W 1-0 1st
Jan 1- 3 -open date- t-1
Jan 8-10 -open date- t-2
Jan 15-17 -open date- t-2
Sat Jan 23 BALTIMORE 7:30 14-15 L 1-1 t-3
Sat Jan 30 BUFFALO 7:30 11-12 L 1-2 t-5
Feb 5- 7 -open date- 6th
Fri Feb 12 @ Baltimore 7:30 15-18 L 1-3 6th
Feb 19-21 -open date- 6th
Fri Feb 26 @ Toronto 7:00 9-13 L 1-4 6th
Sun Feb 28 SYRACUSE 1:30 13- 8 W 2-4 t-5
Sat Mar 6 @ Buffalo 8:00 13-12 W 3-4 5th
Sat Mar 13 ROCHESTER 7:30 15-20 L 3-5 6th
Mar 19-21 -open date- 6th
Fri Mar 26 PHILADELPHIA 7:30 14-13 W 4-5 t-4
Sat Mar 27 @ Syracuse 8:00 15-14 W 5-5 4th
Sat Apr 3 @ Philadelphia 7:30 9-10 L 5-6 t-4
Fri Apr 9 TORONTO 7:30 9-10 L 5-7 t-4
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Philadelphia Wings
DATE OPPONENT PHI-OPP W/L REC POS
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Dec 25-27 -open date- 0-0 t-2
Jan 1- 3 -open date- t-3
Fri Jan 8 BUFFALO 7:30 17-18 OT L 0-1 6th
Sat Jan 9 @ Syracuse 8:00 12-19 L 0-2 t-6
Jan 15-17 -open date- t-6
Fri Jan 22 ROCHESTER 7:30 12-15 L 0-3 7th
Sat Jan 30 @ Baltimore 7:35 17-18 OT L 0-4 7th
Fri Feb 5 @ Buffalo 8:00 13-11 W 1-4 7th
Feb 12-14 -open date- 7th
Fri Feb 19 @ Toronto 7:00 7- 9 L 1-5 7th
Sat Feb 27 TORONTO 7:30 12-11 OT W 2-5 6th
Sat Mar 6 SYRACUSE 7:30 15- 6 W 3-5 6th
Sat Mar 13 BALTIMORE 7:30 16-13 W 4-5 5th
Mar 19-21 -open date- t-4
Fri Mar 26 @ New York 7:30 13-14 L 4-6 6th
Sat Apr 3 NEW YORK 7:30 10- 9 W 5-6 t-4
Sat Apr 10 @ Rochester 7:35 9-10 L 5-7 t-4
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Fri Apr 16 @ Toronto 7:00 2-13 L 5-8
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Rochester Knighthawks
DATE OPPONENT ROC-OPP W/L REC POS
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Sat Dec 26 NEW YORK 7:35 11-12 L 0-1 7th
Sat Jan 2 @ Baltimore 7:35 13-20 L 0-2 7th
Jan 8-10 -open date- t-6
Jan 15-17 -open date- t-6
Fri Jan 22 @ Philadelphia 7:30 15-12 W 1-2 t-5
Sat Jan 23 SYRACUSE 7:35 20-13 W 2-2 2nd
Fri Jan 29 @ Toronto 7:00 9-16 L 2-3 4th
Sat Feb 6 TORONTO 7:35 11-10 OT W 3-3 t-2
Feb 12-14 -open date- t-2
Feb 19-21 -open date- t-3
Fri Feb 26 @ Syracuse 8:00 17-15 W 4-3 3rd
Mar 5- 7 -open date- t-2
Sat Mar 13 @ New York 7:30 20-15 W 5-3 t-2
Sat Mar 20 @ Buffalo 8:00 17-11 W 6-3 t-1
Sat Mar 27 BALTIMORE 7:35 11-14 L 6-4 3rd
Sat Apr 3 BUFFALO 7:35 15-13 W 7-4 3rd
Sat Apr 10 PHILADELPHIA 7:35 10- 9 W 8-4 t-2
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Sat Apr 17 @ Baltimore 7:35 14-12 W 9-4
Fri Apr 23 @ Toronto 7:30 10-13 L 9-5
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Syracuse Smash
DATE OPPONENT SYR-OPP W/L REC POS
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Dec 25-27 -open date- 0-0 t-2
Jan 1- 3 -open date- t-3
Sat Jan 9 PHILADELPHIA 8:00 19-12 W 1-0 t-2
Jan 15-17 -open date- t-2
Sat Jan 23 @ Rochester 7:35 13-20 L 1-1 t-3
Fri Jan 29 @ Buffalo 8:00 16-17 L 1-2 t-6
Fri Feb 5 BALTIMORE 8:00 15-14 W 2-2 4th
Feb 12-14 -open date- t-4
Feb 19-21 -open date- 4th
Fri Feb 26 ROCHESTER 8:00 15-17 L 2-3 5th
Sun Feb 28 @ New York 1:30 8-13 L 2-4 t-5
Sat Mar 6 @ Philadelphia 7:30 6-15 L 2-5 7th
Sat Mar 13 TORONTO 8:00 12-19 L 2-6 7th
Mar 19-21 -open date- 7th
Fri Mar 26 @ Toronto 7:00 12-19 L 2-7 7th
Sat Mar 27 NEW YORK 8:00 14-15 L 2-8 7th
Sat Apr 3 @ Baltimore 7:35 17-26 L 2-9 7th
Sat Apr 10 BUFFALO 8:00 14-11 W 3-9 7th
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Toronto Rock
DATE OPPONENT TOR-OPP W/L REC POS
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Dec 25-27 -open date- 0-0 t-2
Jan 1- 3 -open date- t-3
Sat Jan 9 @ Baltimore 7:35 10-21 L 0-1 5th
Jan 15-17 -open date- 5th
Fri Jan 22 BUFFALO 7:00 11-10 W 1-1 4th
Fri Jan 29 ROCHESTER 7:00 16- 9 W 2-1 2nd
Sat Feb 6 @ Rochester 7:35 10-11 OT L 2-2 t-4
Feb 12-14 -open date- t-4
Fri Feb 19 PHILADELPHIA 7:00 9- 7 W 3-2 2nd
Fri Feb 26 NEW YORK 7:00 13- 9 W 4-2 2nd
Sat Feb 27 @ Philadelphia 7:30 11-12 OT L 4-3 t-2
Mar 5- 7 -open date- t-2
Sat Mar 13 @ Syracuse 8:00 19-12 W 5-3 t-2
Mar 19-21 -open date- 3rd
Fri Mar 26 SYRACUSE 7:00 19-12 W 6-3 t-1
Sat Mar 27 @ Buffalo 8:00 13-12 OT W 7-3 t-1
Fri Apr 2 BALTIMORE 7:00 16-15 W 8-3 1st
Fri Apr 9 @ New York 7:30 10- 9 W 9-3 1st
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Fri Apr 16 PHILADELPHIA 7:00 13- 2 W 10-3
Fri Apr 23 ROCHESTER 7:00 13-10 W 11-3
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Statistical Leaders
Scoring Leaders GP G A Pts
1. Gary Gait, Baltimore 11 50 32 82
2. Joe Hiltz, Baltimore 12 34 46 80
3. Paul Gait, Syracuse 12 37 37 74
4. Jake Bergey, Philadelphia 12 31 39 70
5. John Tavares, Buffalo 12 33 34 67
6. Tom Marechek, Philadelphia 12 39 19 58
Matt Panetta, New York 12 32 26 58
8. Mark Millon, New York 12 26 28 54
Colin Doyle, Toronto 12 17 37 54
10. Kevin Finneran, Philadelphia 12 20 32 52
Goals Scored Goals
1. Gary Gait, Baltimore 50
2. Tom Marechek, Philadelphia 39
3. Paul Gait, Syracuse 37
4. Joe Hiltz, Baltimore 34
5. John Tavares, Buffalo 33
Assists Assists
1. Joe Hiltz, Baltimore 46
2. Jake Bergey, Philadelphia 39
3. Colin Doyle, Toronto 37
Paul Gait, Syracuse 37
5. Darren Lowe, New York 35
Points Per Game GP Pts PPG
1. Gary Gait, Baltimore 11 82 7.45
2. Joe Hiltz, Baltimore 12 80 6.67
3. Paul Gait, Syracuse 12 74 6.17
4. Jake Bergey, Philadelphia 12 70 5.83
5. John Tavares, Buffalo 12 67 5.58
(minimum 9 games played)
Loose Balls Recovered Loose Balls
1. Jim Veltman, Toronto 166
2. Paul Cantabene, Baltimore 115
3. John Tavares, Buffalo 112
4. John Rosa, Buffalo 99
5. Tony Millon, Syracuse 97
Faceoffs Tot W L Pct.
1. Paul Cantabene, Baltimore 211 118 93 55.92
2. Brian Silcott, Buffalo 179 98 81 54.75
3. Rodney Tapp, Baltimore 221 119 102 53.85
4. Gordon Purdie, New York 179 95 84 53.07
5. Mike Accursi, Syracuse 131 69 62 52.67
Goals Against Average Minutes GA GAA
1. Bob Watson, Toronto 548 110 12.04
2. Dallas Eliuk, Philadephia 699 146 12.53
3. Sal LoCascio, New York 561 123 13.16
4. Marty O'Neill, Buffalo 385 90 14.03
5. Chris Sanderson, Baltimore 663 156 14.12
(minimum 360 minutes)
Save Percentage Shots Saves Pct.
1. Dallas Eliuk, Philadelphia 620 474 .764
2. Bob Watson, Toronto 454 344 .758
3. Marty O'Neill, Buffalo 346 256 .740
4. Sal LoCascio, New York 466 343 .736
5. Chris Sanderson, Baltimore 544 388 .713
(minimum 360 minutes)
Winning Percentage Wins Losses Pct.
1. Bob Watson, Toronto 6 2 .750
2. Pat O'Toole, Rochester 5 2 .714
3. Chris Sanderson, Baltimore 8 4 .667
4. Marty O'Neill, Buffalo 3 3 .500
5. Dallas Eliuk, Philadelphia 5 7 .417
(minimum 6 decisions)
Other Statistical Categories:
Penalty Min: Tony Millon, Syracuse 59
Shots on Goal: Gary Gait, Baltimore 157 (tie)
Tom Marechek, Philadelphia 157 (tie)
PP Goals: Joe Hiltz, Baltimore 15
SH Goals: Ed Fay, Syracuse 7
GW Goals: Dan Stroup, Toronto 3
Award Winners
Most Valuable Player: Gary Gait, Baltimore
Rookie of the Year: Jesse Hubbard, Baltimore
Championship Game MVP: Colin Doyle, Toronto
All-Star Game MVPs: Paul Cantabene, Balt. (Team USA)
Randy Mearns, Roch. (Team Canada)
1998 NLL All-Pro Teams:
First Team:
Jake Bergey, Philadelphia
Gary Gait, Baltimore
Tom Marechek, Philadelphia
John Tavares, Buffalo
Jim Veltman, Toronto
Dallas Eliuk, Philadelphia (goalie)
Second Team:
Paul Gait, Syracuse
Joe Hiltz, Baltimore
Duane Jacobs, Rochester
Mark Millon, New York
Matt Panetta, New York
Bob Watson, Toronto (goalie)
Player of the Month:
January: Gary Gait, Baltimore
February: Bob Watson, Toronto
March: Jake Bergey, Philadelphia
Rookie of the Month:
January: Chris Sanderson, Baltimore
February: Matt Disher, Buffalo
March: Casey Powell, Rochester
Player of the Week:
Week 1: ( 26 Dec) Sal LoCascio, New York
Week 2: ( 2 Jan) Matt Shearer, Baltimore
Week 3: ( 8- 9 Jan) Gary Gait, Baltimore &
Paul Gait, Syracuse
Week 4: ( 16 Jan) Joe Hiltz, Baltimore
Week 5: (22-23 Jan) Derek General, Rochester
Week 6: (29-30 Jan) John Tavares, Buffalo
Week 7: ( 5- 6 Feb) Jake Bergey, Philadelphia
Week 8: ( 12 Feb) Gary Gait, Baltimore
Week 9: ( 19 Feb) Bob Watson, Toronto
Week 10: (26-28 Feb) Jake Bergey, Philadelphia
Week 11: ( 6 Mar) Dallas Eliuk, Philadelphia
Week 12: ( 13 Mar) Jake Bergey, Philadelphia
Week 13: ( 20 Mar) Pat O'Toole, Rochester
Week 14: (26-27 Mar) Jim Veltman, Toronto
Week 15: ( 2- 3 Apr) Gary Gait, Baltimore
Week 16: ( 9-10 Apr) Paul Gait, Syracuse
1999 Season Summaries
(from Outsider's Guide team pages)
Baltimore Thunder
Preseason championship favorites, the 1999 Baltimore Thunder instead got a taste of being the type of team they eliminated the year before in the semifinals, the Rochester Knighthawks. Just like the Knighthawks of '98, Baltimore began red-hot, winning its first five and invoking thoughts of a 12-0 season by the team's radio commentators. Also just like that Knighthawk team, though, Baltimore staggered down the stretch.
After shockingly lopsided wins over Rochester, Toronto, and Buffalo (by seven, eleven, and seven goals, respectively), the Thunder ran into another team running hard out of the gates -- the New York Saints, who were coming out of a lengthy break after beating Rochester in the season opener. The Saints proved tougher than expected, but Baltimore pulled out a one-goal win in Uniondale.
The cracks began to appear the following week, in a game against long-time rivals from the north, the Philadelphia Wings. Although the Wings were off to a franchise-worst start -- punctuated by a conspicuous lack of defense -- they held tight with the Thunder, and took Baltimore to overtime before finally falling, 18-17.
The Thunder had to treasure this hard-fought win over cellar-dwelling Philadelphia for a long time, winning only once between the beginning of February and 27 March. Finally challenged for the league lead in late March, Baltimore travelled to Rochester and grounded the Knighthawks, 14-11. By then, though, the damage had been done. Toronto had crept into a tie for the lead, and Rochester remained not far behind.
Concluding the regular season with a home game against the lowly Syracuse Smash, Baltimore let out all its frustrations. Having all but lost home-floor advantage in the playoffs the night before (with a one-goal loss at Toronto), the Thunder unleashed their league-leading offensive weapons on a defense that couldn't hold up, romping to a 26-17 victory and assuring at least one playoff game at the Baltimore Arena.
The Rochester-Baltimore connections were reborn in the semifinals, with the same two teams that squared off in a 1998 semifinal meeting at the same arena and almost one year to the day after Baltimore put the last nail in the Knighthawks' 1998 coffin. This time though, Rochester had the hammer and nails, and buried the Thunder, 14-12.
After the 1999 season, the Thunder relocated to Civic Arena in Pittsburgh, and will now be known as the Pittsburgh CrosseFire.
Boston Blazers
The 1999 National Lacrosse League season came and went, and for the second consecutive season, it did not include the Boston Blazers. The Blazers, who were granted a one-year suspension of operations in 1998 (for financial reasons) and were expected to return to play this season, somewhat unexpectedly decided to remain out of play another season.
While many suspected that the Blazers would not be returning for 1999 as early as the preceding June, the finality of the decision didn't sink in until the schedules were released on 1 October 1998. As it stands now, the Boston/New England Blazers franchise has been suspended indefinitely.
The reasons for another year's absence continue to be cloudy, but it appears that team owner Frank DuRoss still hasn't been able to put the Blazers' financial house in order. A group of Blazer fans attempted last summer to restructure the club's ownership, but could not succeed in time. They tried again in the summer of 1999, and while their chances looked better this time, the efforts again failed.
No ideas have yet been floated as to how the team's roster would be restocked (by expansion draft, ability to reclaim players who left to play elsewhere, etc.), and the ownership of the team remains very much in question. The Outsider's Guide has backed, and will continue to back, efforts to resurrect the Blazers (at FleetCenter or elsewhere in New England).
Buffalo Bandits
Only one word can describe the Buffalo Bandits' 1999 season: disappointment. Disappointing to the fledgling league, which could have used a strong Bandit franchise to boost the entire league. Disappointing to the players, who, no matter what they tried, seemed like they could do nothing right. Disappointing for their fans, who were eager to see a return to old-time Bandit lacrosse, and upset when the return failed to happen. Disappointing to the franchise, which watched more and more disgruntled fans walk away.
The season started well enough for the Bandits, traveling to Philadelphia and knocking off the defending champion Wings in an overtime thriller. Consecutive losses -- a humiliating home defeat by the Baltimore Thunder, and a one-goal loss at Toronto -- were followed a weekend sweep of Syracuse and New York in late January, leaving the club with a solid 3-2 mark and sole possession of third place.
However, problems already had emerged. Goaltender Marty O'Neill was erratic in goal, and he was soon benched in favor of 1998 first-round pick Matt Disher. The young netminder showed flashes of brilliance, but he, too, had difficulties throughout the season. Meanwhile, the mental errors that plagued the Bandits even in their championship years were starting to cost the team valuable chances at victory once again. A series of these allowed Philadelphia to rally and eventually defeat the Bandits in an early-February rematch at Marine Midland Arena.
Catching the Baltimore Thunder sleeping during midseason, Buffalo was able to steal a 16-15 road victory in the last weekend of February. Things were looking fairly well in Banditland, with the team holding a 4-3 record and likely to qualify for the postseason. Soon, though, it would all go away.
With all three games in March to be played at home, one would think the Bandits were in great position. One look at their season thus far would show the opposite -- they struggled at home, having only one win in three tries, and that win was against the lowly Syracuse Smash. The Bandits lost in succession to New York, Rochester, and Toronto. Three home losses, two by one goal and one of those an overtime defeat, left the Bandits 4-6 and in deep, deep trouble.
So deep in fact, team leader and original Bandit Darris Kilgour, likely in his final season, asked to be traded, so he could have a shot at winning one more title before hanging up his stick. The day after the Toronto loss, and just minutes prior to the trading deadline, Kilgour was the primary player of a blockbuster trade, in which he went to Rochester, the Knighthawks' Chris Driscoll joined the Bandits, and two other players and three draft picks switched clubs.
Even with their chances so dim, the Bandits came out and fought hard against their next opponent -- ironically, the Rochester Knighthawks. Buffalo couldn't stay with the Knighthawks in last few moments, though, and lost. With nothing to play for but pride, the Bandits stumbled through a "meaningless" 14-11 loss to Syracuse to complete the season at 4-8, out of the playoffs for the first time in franchise history and finishing with its worst record ever.
New York Saints
The New York Saints seem to have some problems getting over the hump and making a trip to the postseason. In 1998, the Saints recovered from an 0-4 start to spend late March in the thick of a playoff race, but fell apart late and finished in sixth place. Likewise in 1999, the Saints stumbled early and battled back to temporarily hold fourth place. Once again, however, they couldn't win when it really counted, and again finished out of playoff position.
One team always get odd scheduling early in the season -- a product of building availability and of having an odd number of teams in the league -- and in 1999, it was New York. After playing in the league's season opener, 26 December, the Saints weren't scheduled to play again for nearly a month, leaving the team with much more time to iron out problems than other team would have. They went into their "second preseason" on a good note, upsetting Rochester, 12-11, at the Blue Cross Arena.
Instead of using their month-long hiatus to improve, though, the Saints went downhill. A run of four straight losses almost to the end of February -- the first two being one-goal home defeats -- landed the Saints in sixth place. In a rare Sunday afternoon game (28 February), the Saints began their turnaround, defeating the Syracuse Smash, 13-8. Defeating the Buffalo Bandits on the road put the Saints at 3-4 and back in the race.
Following a home loss to Rochester, New York recorded a weekend sweep, with one-goal victories at home against Philadelphia and at Syracuse on 26-27 March. Now at 5-5 and in sole possession of fourth place, a playoff spot was New York's to lose.
And, of course, the Saints lost it. A 10-9 defeat at Philadelphia pulled the Saints into a tie with the Wings for the final playoff spot. New York either had to win and hope Rochester defeated the Wings, or trounce the first-place Toronto Rock and hope the Knighthawks could do the same to the Wings (in order to catch up to Philadelphia on a tiebreaker). The Saints held close to the Rock, but Toronto was too much, coming from behind to post a 10-9 victory.
Now, the Saints' last chance was for Rochester to win by nine goals the next night. Alas, the Wings held close enough to Rochester to virtually ensure they would win the last playoff berth, and officially did so by losing by the identical 10-9 score the Saints lost by the night before. With both teams tied at 5-7, having split the season series, and having scored the same number of goals in their two head-to-head meetings, the tie was broken by season-long goal differential, which the Wings (153 - 153 = 0) were better than the Saints (149 - 156 = -7).
Philadelphia Wings
In 1998, the Philadelphia Wings lost Gary Gait, and most observers felt it would be a rebuilding year. The Wings then went out and won the inaugural Champion's Cup. In 1999, the Wings had to replace six veterans who had retired, but most believed they were still in the upper echelon. The Wings the went out and had a rebuilding year.
Trying to replace game-smart veterans such as Scott Gabrielson, Steve Govett, and Brian Voelker with inexperienced players proved to be the Wings' undoing, as they were caught shorthanded several times in a season-opening overtime loss to long-time rival Buffalo. Delayed in arriving in Syracuse the next night by a major snowstorm, exhausted from the Bandits game, and with goaltender Dallas Eliuk nursing a pinched nerve in his neck, the Wings got Smashed, 19-12.
Even though Rochester's marquee goaltender, Steve Dietrich, suffered yet another knee injury in Philadelphia's next game, the Wings could not capitalize. A trip to Baltimore ended with an 18-17 overtime defeat, and the Wings were off to their worst start in the franchise's thirteen-year existence.
The Wings needed to bear down, and finally were able to start. With the team coming together as one, defensive woes starting to be cured, and Eliuk's neck feeling better, the Wings were able to claim their first win at Buffalo, 13-11, on 5 February. After dropping a 9-7 decision in Toronto (in the league's lowest-scoring game ever), the Wings ran off three consecutive wins at home, against Toronto (in overtime), Syracuse (in a 15-6 romp), and Baltimore (in a comeback upset). At 4-5, the Wings were within striking distance of claiming a playoff berth for the eighth year in a row.
Following a week off, the Wings played the New York Saints, their primary competition for fourth place and a playoff bid. Each club won on their home turf, the Saints 14-13 at Nassau Coliseum and the Wings 10-9 at the First Union Center. With each tied at 5-6, and only the two of them still in the running for the final postseason berth, they each had some work to do. The Wings could afford a loss at Rochester, provided the Saints lost the night before.
However, that loss could not have been by too many goals, or the Saints would catch the Wings on season-long goal differential (while splitting the season series, they each scored twenty-three goals, making the overall differential the likely tiebreaker). With the Saints' one-goal loss on Friday night, the Wings knew Saturday they could loss by as many as seven goals and win the playoff spot. They lost to the Knighthawks by one goal, and qualified for the postseason by the skin of their teeth.
In the semifinals, the Wings were out of their league, humiliated by a hungrier and more determined Toronto Rock club, 13-2. Just as in their previous visit to Maple Leaf Gardens (the 9-7 loss in February), the Wings were shut out in both the first and third quarters. The two goals set an all-time record for fewest goals in any game, regular season or postseason.
Rochester Knighthawks
After a 1998 season full of strange occurrences -- playing a game with half its club stranded at the border, losing star goaltender Steve Dietrich to a blown knee on a fluke play, and dropping five straight decisions to end a promising season that begun with a 5-1 start -- the Rochester Knighthawks were looking forward to a normal season in 1999. What they got wasn't bad, but it was full of surprises.
However, Rochester stumbled out of the blocks in 1999 the same way they stumbled to the finish line in 1998. The Knighthawks lost by a goal to New York in the league's season opener, then were torched by a red-hot Baltimore Thunder club the following week.
Rochester's next game, a 23 January visit to Philadelphia, developed into an unlikely meeting of winless clubs (each were 0-2) with world-class goaltenders nagged by injury (Dietrich recovering from last season's torn knee ligament, Eliuk nursing a pinched nerve in his neck). Only Eliuk survived the game, as Dietrich tore the ligament again in a first-quarter collision with Philadelphia's Jim Rogers, and was lost for the remainder of the season. Derek General made the best of the emergency relief appearance, leading the Knighthawks to the 15-12 victory.
In need of a backup for General, Rochester quickly found former Bandit goaltender Patty O'Toole's home phone number, and had him signed within forty-eight hours. The backup role soon turned into a successful platoon, but as O'Toole kept bailing out General, Patty was given the starting role. Beginning at the start of February, the Knighthawks strung together six wins in seven games to finish 8-4 and qualify for the playoffs.
Just as in 1998, third-seeded Rochester visited Baltimore in the semifinal round. Unlike last season's Sunday evening defeat, though, the Knighthawks were able to upset their hosts, 14-12, and advance to the championship game at Toronto. Rochester could not capitalize, however, on the chance to win its second title in five years of existence, losing to the Rock, 13-10.
Syracuse Smash
After a dismal 2-10 inaugural season in 1998, the Syracuse Smash knew there was nowhere to go but up. In many ways, they did make strides -- they were a .500 team as late as the last weekend of February. In other ways, they made no progress at all -- after two full seasons, the Smash still haven't won away from the Onondaga County War Memorial Arena, twelve losses in all.
Year Two of the franchise began on a far different note than Year One. Instead of trying to win immediately with out-of-towners (which failed miserably in 1998, because they couldn't win and the fans couldn't relate to the players), the Smash began a slow building effort with a core of local players that included eight graduates of Syracuse University and many others who attended other upstate New York colleges -- thus, only a handful of original Smash players returned for the second season. The unbridaled optimism that surrounded the Smash in 1998 was gone, leaving the team with less pressure to win right away. Year One coach Kevin Alexander was long gone, replaced by a coaching triumvirate of Freeman Bucktooth, Patrick Donahue, and Steve Scaramuzzino.
All the changes seemed to have some good, as the Smash capitalized on the circumstances surrounding their season opener. Philadelphia had played a rough-and-tumble overtime thriller against Buffalo the night before, and the Wings were delayed in reaching Syracuse, due to a snowstorm (they were forced to bus up to Syracuse in the afternoon). The team lived up to their name, Smashing a weakened Philadelphia, 19-12.
Opening the season with an upset victory lifted Syracuse's spirits, but they were back to earth after a trip to Rochester two weeks later. Without backup goaltender Jim Rankin available to play, the team signed 43-year-old Bob Nelson, an assistant lacrosse coach at Oswego State who had never played professionally. Just as the Smash's luck would have it, starting goalie Derek Collins was injured early in the game, leaving Nelson to get hammered in a 20-13 defeat.
A loss the following week at Buffalo was followed by a stunning upset -- in a home game on 5 February, Syracuse handed the Baltimore Thunder their first loss of the season, 15-14. The Smash were 2-2, and apparently capable of playing a close game with any team in the league. After a two-week break, the Smash were back in action and perhaps ready to keep improving their position. Unfortunately, no one relayed that thought to the Smash players, who, after a close loss against Rochester, lost by at least five goals five of their next six games (the other game was a one-goal loss). All told, a seven-game losing streak sent the Smash from a 2-2 record and a fourth-place standing to a 2-9 mark and a familiar spot in last place.
Following the seventh straight loss, a 26-17 drubbing by the offensively-loaded Baltimore Thunder (who were letting out their late-season frustrations, after losing their chance at gaining home floor advantage through the playoffs the previous night), the Smash had one final chance to improve upon their record from 1998. Hosting the Buffalo Bandits in a game that had playoff implications for neither team, the Smash came out with more desire, posting a 14-11 victory and concluding their second season at 3-9, one game better than in their first season.
In this space after last season, the Outsider's Guide wrote that "vast improvement could be right around the corner." While the Smash did not show vast improvement in 1999, they did improve. The mid- and late-season collapse aside, the Smash did play close in many games. Offense dipped slightly, but the Smash allowed nearly two fewer goals per game. If the club can improve in the clutch, such a change could equal several additional victories.
Toronto Rock
We all figured the Toronto Rock would be a good team in 1999, likely to be a playoff qualifier. We just didn't believe they would play as well as they did. Starting in early March, the Rock ran off seven consecutive victories, claimed the league title in the franchise's second year, and took Toronto by storm even better than the Buffalo Bandits did when that franchise was created early this decade.
Prior to the season, the former (Hamilton) Ontario Raiders were sold by the Major Indoor Lacrosse Group to a group headed by Toronto Maple Leaf executive Bill Watters and which includes Major League Baseball CEO Paul Beeston and NHL personalities such as Bobby Orr, Don Cherry, Brendan Shanahan and Tie Domi. After the team purchased, it was immediately relocated to Toronto and soon was rechristened as the Rock.
For all the advance billing the Rock received, their first game was disastrous. Caught up in a January snowstorm, the team spent all day trying to reach Baltimore for the season opener. They played like a team that spent all day in a blizzard, too, getting embarrassed by the Thunder, 21-10. They recovered well for their home opener two weeks later, edging Buffalo by an 11-10 score. In its next home game, the following Friday, Toronto shredded the Rochester Knighthawks, 16-9.
Following an overtime loss at Rochester, Toronto was back at home to take on the struggling Philadelphia Wings. In a game of good defense, better goaltending, and numerous league records for lack of scoring, the Rock upended the Wings, 9-7. A week later, Philadelphia gained its revenge, with a 12-11 overtime decision at the First Union Center. It was the last time Toronto lost all season.
After running off identical 19-12 tallies in both halves of a home-and-home series with Syracuse, a 13-12 victory over Buffalo that virtually ended the Bandits' season, a game-of-the-year triumph over Baltimore (with home floor advantage the likely prize for the winner), and a season-ending win at New York, the Rock were 9-3 and owners of the top seed in the NLL playoffs. Any team that wanted the title would have to come through the Rock.
The first contender for the crown was Philadelphia, but Toronto soon turned the Wings into nothing but a pretender. When all was said and done, the more physical Rock had crushed Philadelphia, 13-2, in a record-setter for fewest goals in a game. In the championship game, Toronto played as hard as before, outlasting the Knighthawks in a 13-10 final.
Along the way, the Rock won eight times at Maple Leaf Gardens, losing not once -- a league record for home success that likely won't be approached for a long time. More importantly, the Rock sold Canada on the faster, flashier, rock-and-roll style of box lacrosse that has developed in the United States for over a decade, as well as on box lacrosse period, which had existed in seclusion in Canada for decades. Toronto's success surely will pave the way for further expansion in Canada.
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