The 1999 First and Second All-Pro Teams were announced by the National Lacrosse League today. Voting was done by the team General Managers and coaching staffs. The results were as follows:

FIRST TEAM
Gary Gait, Baltimore Thunder
Jim Veltman, Toronto Rock
Jake Bergey, Philadelphia Wings
John Tavares, Buffalo Bandits
Tom Marechek, Philadelphia Wings
Dallas Eliuk, Philadelphia Wings (goalie)

SECOND TEAM
Paul Gait, Syracuse Smash
Duane Jacobs, Rochester Knighthawks
Joe Hiltz, Baltimore Thunder
Matt Panetta, New York Saints
Mark Millon, New York Saints
Bob Watson, Toronto Rock (goalie)

First Team All-Pros:

Gary Gait: Was also named today as the NLL’s MVP... Led the league in scoring during the regular season (82 points)... Recorded only the second 50+ goal season in the last thirteen seasons of pro indoor lacrosse (finished with exactly 50)... Was a First Team All-Pro last year as well as each of his seven seasons in the Major Indoor Lacrosse League (‘91-’97).

Jim Veltman: Led the league in loose balls recovered (166), the latter figure being 51 more than the second place finisher... Was the Week Fourteen NLL Player of the Week... Played in the inaugural NLL All-Star Game in February, having been chosen to the Canadian lineup in voting by NLL players... Toronto’s team captain... Helped lead his team to a 9-3 regular season record and first place... Was a Second Team All-Pro last season... Had earned Second Team All-Pro honors following the 1992 MILL season and was named to the MILL First All-Pro Team following 1993, 1994, 1995, and 1996.

Jake Bergey: Led his team in scoring and was fourth overall in the NLL in just his second pro season, totaling 31 goals and 39 assists for 70 points... Finished second in the league in assists... Was the NLL’s March Player of the Month and also won Player of the Week honors three times... Was the Game MVP in two of the Wings’ games and Co-Game MVP a third time... Voted by the fans as a starter at the first-ever NLL All-Star Game in February.

John Tavares: Led his team in scoring and was fifth overall in the NLL with 67 points (33 goals, 34 assists)... Was third in the league in loose balls (112)... Had six three-or-more goal games... Earned both a Game MVP and NLL Player of the Week award during the season... Voted by the fans as a starter at the first-ever NLL All-Star Game in February... Was a First Team All-Pro last year as well as each of the five MILL seasons 1993-1997.

Tom Marechek: Finished tied for sixth in the NLL in scoring (58 points). He was second in goals with 39, which marked a new personal one-season high... Voted by the fans as a starter at the inaugural NLL All-Star Game in February... Was the Game MVP of Philadelphia’s first win of the season, a road win which started them on a run of four wins in five games... Was tied for the league lead in shots on goal (157)... Was a 1998 NLL Second Team All-Pro and a 1995 MILL Second Team All-Pro and First Team All-Pro following 1996 and 1997.

Dallas Eliuk: The NLL’s save percentage leader (minimum 360 minutes) at .765... Was also tops in the league among netminders in minutes played (699) and saves (474)... Was one of only two goalies to play in all twelve of his team’s games... Was the Game MVP once and shared the award in one other game... The NLL Player of the Week for Week 11... Voted by the fans as a starter at the first-ever NLL All-Star Game in February... Was a First Team All-Pro last season and a MILL Second Team All-Pro following the 1992 season and First Team All-Pro each of the next five seasons.

Second Team All-Pros:

Paul Gait: Recorded the highest assists and points totals of his pro career, registering 37 and 74, respectively, to go with 37 goals... Was third in the NLL in points and goals and tied for third in assists... Was named yesterday as the NLL Player of the Week for the final week of the season. He had also shared that award following Week Three... Was the Game MVP in two of the Smash’s three victories...Voted by the fans as a starter at the inaugural NLL All-Star Game in February... Was a Second Team All-Pro one year ago after having been a MILL First Team All-Pro from 1991-1997.

Duane Jacobs: Led the Knighthawks in scoring with 48 points on 27 goals and 21 assists. His goal total was a new personal one-season high... Had six three-or-more goal games... Was the Game MVP in three of Rochester’s eight wins during the season... Played in the inaugural NLL All-Star Game in February, having been chosen to the American lineup in voting by NLL players... Was a Second Team All-Pro last season and a 1996 and 1997 MILL Second Team All-Pro.

Joe Hiltz: Second in the league in scoring with 80 points (34+46) in his first season of pro indoor lacrosse since 1993... Earned a Game MVP award in just his third game... Led the league in assists as well as power play goals (15), power play assists (26), and power play points (41)... Played in the inaugural NLL All-Star Game in February, having been chosen to the Canadian lineup in voting by NLL players.

Matt Panetta: Set personal one-season highs in goals, assists, and points after leading his team in scoring and finishing tied for sixth in the league with 58 points on 32 goals and 26 assists... One of six players to score two game-winning goals this season. The league leader had three... Had six three-or-more goal games... This is the first post-season award of his eight-year career.

Mark Millon: Set a new personal high for assists in one season with 28. Added to his 26 goals, he had 54 points, which tied him for the eighth most in the league... Won one Game MVP award... Voted by the fans as a starter at the first-ever NLL All-Star Game in February... Was a First Team All-Pro last season and a MILL Second Team All-Pro following the 1995 season (with Baltimore) and First Team All-Pro in 1997.

Bob Watson: Led all NLL goaltenders (minimum 360 minutes played) in goals-against average (12.00)... Was twice named the Game MVP this season... Was the NLL’s February Player of the Month and also won a Player of the Week award... Played in the first-ever NLL All-Star Game in February, having been chosen by the Canadian team’s head coach... Was a 1998 NLL Second Team All-Pro.