Facing a 5:00 PM (Eastern) Thursday deadline to select franchise players, National Lacrosse League teams have begun to apply the tag to veteran free agents.

Each of the league's ten teams may name two veterans as franchise players. The designation is used for potential unrestricted free agents, players 32 years of age or older who have six or more seasons in the Major Indoor Lacrosse League and NLL.

Franchise players are no longer eligible for free agency, but are guaranteed the maximum salary of $20,625 (American) for the 2004 season.

The franchise player rules are part of the re-adopted 2001-2003 collective bargaining agreement. The league's owners, unable to reach a deal with the players association on a new CBA, yesterday imposed the terms of the old deal so that the season can begin on time.

In many cases, the choice of a franchise player is not difficult. The Buffalo Bandits tagged forward John Tavares (49 goals, a league-leading 58 assists, and a league-best 107 points in 2003) and goaltender Steve Dietrich (11.60 goals-against average, third-best in NLL, and 74.8 save percentage).

That left forwards Randy Fraser and Rich Kilgour, as well as goaltender Derek General, as unrestricted free agents, able to sign with any team.

Across the border, in Toronto, the defending champion Rock unsurprisingly named forward (and captain) Jim Veltman and defenseman Pat Coyle as its franchise players.

Veltman scored 16 goals and dished out 43 assists last season, both solid totals, but his claim to fame is recovering loose balls -- his 207 scoops last season and 1554 over an eleven-year career are both NLL records.

Rock forwards Chris Driscoll and Kevin Finneran, defenseman Glenn Clark and goaltender Bob Watson are unrestricted free agents.

Meanwhile, the Colorado Mammoth applied the tag to forwards Ted Dowling and Gary Gait. The former is a superb offensive player, scoring 28 goals and assisting on 42 othersin 2003, but Gait is arguably the greatest player ever, with 502 goals, 409 assists and six most valuable player awards in his illustrious career.

The decision leaves forward Tom Phair and defenseman John Rosa among the ranks of the unrestricted free agents.

The Arizona Sting went the other way, electing not to name a franchise player. Only defenseman Rodney Tapp (no goals, five assists, 175-132 on faceoffs) was eligible for the distinction.

A list of the remaining teams and their eligible unrestricted free agents follows.

Anaheim Storm: Brian O'Keefe, Gordon Purdie, Steve Sombrotto, Paul Talmo.

Calgary Roughnecks: Neil Doddridge, Tyson Leies, Jason Wulder.

Philadelphia Wings: Paul Cantabene, Dallas Eliuk, Tom Marechek, Tom Ryan.

Rochester Knighthawks: Pat Cougevan, Curt Malawsky, Pat O'Toole, Tim Soudan, Regy Thorpe.

San Jose Stealth: Rob Blasdell, Dan Teat.

Vancouver Ravens: Ryan Campbell, Dwight Maetche, Dan Stroup.