The National Lacrosse League announced it has awarded a franchise to the city of Boston for the 2008 season.

The Boston team becomes the league's fourteenth franchise, and will play its home games at TD Banknorth Garden, the home arena of the NHL's Boston Bruins and the NBA's Boston Celtics.

The team also announced former NLL star Tom Ryan as head coach.

"Our league and its member clubs are excited to be in Boston," said commissioner Jim Jennings. "We have a lot of NLL fans throughout New England, and they will now have a team of their own."

The team is the NLL's first in New England since the Boston Blazers suspended operations in 1997, ending a nine-year run at the Centrum (Worcester, MA), Boston Gardens, and FleetCenter (now TD Banknorth Garden).

The ownership group will be led by Tim Armstrong, President of Advertising and Commerce for Google. Armstrong is also a former lacrosse player at Connecticut College, where he was a defenseman and team captain.

"We are excited by the growth of lacrosse both here in New England and across America," said Armstrong. "Sports fans of New England will now have a National Lacrosse League team of their own to root for. TD Banknorth Garden is a great venue for indoor lacrosse, and we look forward to building this organization into a legacy franchise here in Boston."

The team also introduced its head coach, former NLL player Tom Ryan. Ryan, who retired as a player in 2002, brings nearly two decades of experience as a player and coach to Boston.

"I am excited for the opportunity to build this team from the ground up." said Ryan. "We have a dynamic team owner in Tim Armstrong, and everything in place to build a winning team here at TD Banknorth Garden that New England fans will love."

Ryan, 36, played nine seasons in the NLL, amassing 202 points (82 goals, 120 assists) in 95 career games. He began his pro career in 1995 in Boston, and went on to play with the Philadelphia Wings, where he was a member of the 2001 world championship team.

"Tom Ryan was a fierce competitor in the professional game and back when I played against him in college," said Armstrong. "I couldn't be more excited to have him as the head coach who will lead our team onto the floor when we begin play."

Ryan has a wide range of coaching experience. Selected last October as head coach of the U.S. National Team, he will be leading Team USA in next week's World Indoor Lacrosse Championship in Nova Scotia, an event consisting of several NLL players who will be representing their home countries.

Ryan has also served as an assistant coach for the women's lacrosse teams at Towson University and Loyola College -- as well as the men's lacrosse team at Connecticut College, where he earned his masters degree in psychology.

A 1993 graduate of Bowdoin College, Ryan was an All-American attackman and holds the school's record as the all-time leading scorer, which includes a 97-point senior season (56 goals, 41 assists).

The Boston NLL team has begun accepting deposits for season tickets for their inaugural 2008 season. A $25 deposit will ensure great seats to catch all the NLL action. The team is also holding a name the team contest on its website, www.bostonindoorlacrosse.com.