Forwards Gary Gait, John Tavares, and Jim Veltman continued their perennial presence on the National Lacrosse League's annual All-Pro Teams on Wednesday, named to the league's fifteenth annual All-Pro First Team.

The three "usual suspects" -- who play for the Colorado Mammoth, Buffalo Bandits and Toronto Rock, respectively -- have a combined 32 appearances on the top line, and 37 overall.

The All-Pro First Team merges together the Defensive Player of the Year, the Goaltender of the Year, and the top four vote-getters for Most Valuable Player, but because there was a tie for the Defensive award, the NLL announced a seven-man squad (the Second Team remains at six players).

That puts Gait, Tavares, Veltman, and Rochester Knighthawks forward Shawn Williams -- one of whom will be named Most Valuable Player tomorrow -- on the First Team along with goaltender Gord Nash (Colorado) and defensemen Cam Woods (San Jose Stealth) and Taylor Wray (Calgary Roughnecks).

In addition to sharing Defensive Player of the Year honors with Woods, Wray was named yesterday as the NLL's Rookie of the Year.

The Second Team does not necessarily have to include a defenseman, and this year's unit does not. In fact, the five forwards selected are led by two of the league's best playmakers, Colorado's Gavin Prout and San Jose's Josh Sanderson.

Toronto teammates Blaine Manning and Colin Doyle and Calgary Roughnecks star Tracey Kelusky also made the team, as did Knighthawks goaltender Pat O'Toole.

The All-Pro teams are selected by a vote among the governors, general managers, and head coaches of the ten NLL clubs.

In alphabetical order, sketches on the All-Pro Team members:

Colin Doyle scored 33 goals and dished out 55 assists in 2004... helped Rock to 10-6 record and Eastern Division regular season title... tied for second in NLL with four shorthanded goals... fifth All-Pro selection, fourth on Second Team.

Gary Gait tied Tavares for the scoring title (the seventh of his career) this season, tallying 93 points on 55 goals and 38 assists... became NLL's first-ever 1000-point scorer during an 18-6 rout of San Jose in March... co-winner of NLL's Sportsmanship Award... fourteenth All-Pro selection, all on First Team.

Tracey Kelusky was second on the Roughnecks in scoring with 69 points, in 32 goals and 37 assists... assist total tied for team high... fourth All-Pro selection (second on Second Team).

Blaine Manning led Toronto with 36 goals and 90 points this season, and was second with 54 assists... point total was fourth-best in NLL... led NLL with nineteen power play goals... second All-Pro selection (both on Second Team).

Pat O'Toole rallied the Knighthawks into the playoffs with superb late-season play... his 515 saves were third-most in NLL this season... posted 74.6 save percentage and 11.54 goals-against average... second All-Pro selection (first on Second team).

Gee Nash led the Mammoth to a league-best 13-3 record and the Western Division regular season championship... led the league's regular starting goaltenders in both save percentage (79.0 percent) and goals-against average (10.68)... Second All-Pro selection (first on First Team).

Gavin Prout finished as the league's third-leading scorer in 2004, scoring 34 goals and assisting on 57 others for 91 points... three game-winning goals this season... Player of the Month for January... second All-Pro selection (both on Second Team).

Josh Sanderson led the league with 61 assists, the second time he has won the playmaking title... also scored 28 goals... led Stealth to 11-5 record this season, the second-best record in the league... third All-Pro selection (all on Second Team).

John Tavares shared the regular season points title with Gait, finishing with 93 points (49 goals, 44 assists)... Player of the Month for February... captain of Eastern Division team at 2004 NLL All Star Game in Denver... twelfth All-Pro selection (eleventh on First Team).

Jim Veltman led the league in loose ball recoveries (179) for the seventh straight season and twelfth time in thirteen years... led Rock to 10-6 record and Eastern Division regular-season championship... scored twelve goals and dished out 53 assists... eleventh All-Pro selection (seventh on First Team).

Shawn Williams burst into prominence with a fantastic end to the season, earning three Overall Player of the Week awards in the last four weeks... only player with more than one Offensive Player of the Week award, winning five times (Weeks 6, 10, 13, 15, and 16)... 45 goals and 36 goals this season... first All-Pro selection.

Cam Woods served as the captain for the Stealth's inaugural season in San Jose... integral role on defense led to selection as Co-Defensive Player of the year... scored six goals, added thirteen assists, and scooped up 111 loose balls... first All-Pro selection.

Taylor Wray quickly established himself as a leader of the Roughnecks' defensive unit this season... eight goals, eight assists, 82 loose ball recoveries this season... previously named Co-Defensive Player of the Year and Rookie of the Year... only first-year player on All-Pro Teams.