Jake Bergey. Casey Powell. Both are a young, highly-acclaimed leader of their respective team. Both were an integral part in their teams' two wins to start March. Both were on losing teams this weekend. And both now can add a "monthly" honor to their 1999 accomplishments. Bergey was named Player of the Month for March today, while Powell was voted the month's top rookie.

Today’s honor caps off a period which saw Bergey earn a Player of the Week award, a Game MVP award, as well as a Co-Game MVP honor. Over Philadelphia’s three games played during the month, the 24-year old had nine goals and 16 assists for 25 points. One of his goals was the game-winning tally (13 March, vs. Baltimore), as the Wings won two of three to move to within one game of fourth place, which represents the final playoff spot. Bergey’s offensive performance during March left him tied for third in the NLL in scoring.

This is the first Player of the Month award for Bergey, who has been Player of the Week three times this season. He was the Rookie of the Month in February of last year.

Runners-up for the award were Rochester goalie Pat O’Toole and attackman Jim Veltman of the Toronto Rock. O’Toole was a Player of the Week during March. In the Knighthawks’ three games during the month, the native of Ontario had a 10.70 goals-against average and .775 save percentage and also picked up two assists and 34 loose balls. Veltman also was a Player of the Week as well as a Game MVP. In three games -- all wins -- he averaged six points by registering seven goals and 11 assists. He also scooped 46 loose balls.

Meanwhile, Powell, an attackman for the Rochester Knighthawks, was selected as Rookie of the Month award for March, beating out Toronto’s Rory Graham, Baltimore’s Jesse Hubbard, and Buffalo’s Craig Stevenson.

Powell, in his first pro season after a spectacular collegiate career at Syracuse University, played in all three of Rochester’s games in March, which resulted in a 2-1 record that lifted the team to their current 6-4 standing, one game out of first place. The 23-year old registered two goals and eight assists. With just two games left in the 1999 regular season, the 6’0", 187-pounder leads all NLL rookies in scoring with 24 points (in seven games played).

Graham had six points (3+3) and won 57 percent of his 94 face-offs in his team’s three games, all wins, which moved the Rock into a first place tie. Hubbard had five goals, all on the power play, in just two games as the Thunder held onto a share of the league lead with a 7-3 overall record. Stevenson had seven points (6+1) and won 51 percent of his 53 face-offs in Buffalo’s three games in March.