Below are some of the smaller items which made news in the National Lacrosse League in August 2001, including trades, rumors, odd facts and injury updates.

31 August 2001:
      Paging all NLL draftees and other potential entering players -- the Professional Lacrosse Players Association is holding an information session Thursday, 6 September at the Atrium Inn in Vancouver, beginning at 6:00 PM Pacific. Find out about the league pay scale, player entitlements, and much more, plus meet other members. In other PLPA news, the players' association will be holding its annual executive meeting 21-23 September at New Orleans, with the final day also being the annual general meeting. The latter starts at noon and will be held at the Chateau Sonesta Hotel in New Orleans.
      The Calgary Roughnecks have signed defenseman Bryan Kopec, according to reports. Although his job will revolve more around stopping goals than creating them, Kopec had solid offensive numbers this summer with the WLA's Okanagan Thunder. In twenty regular-season games, he scored five goals and assisted on 21 others. Kopec's 80 penalty minutes ranked second in the six-team league. He has never played in the NLL.
      The Toronto Rock is joining forces with the Ontario Lacrosse Association to help Dustin Sanderson, the 15-year-old midget player paralyzed in a game earlier this month. The Rock and Express will donate a dollar per ticket sold for its 3 February game against the Montreal Express to help pay down Dustin's medical expenses, with Molson Canada, Via Rail, Sportsnet, Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment, TicketMaster, and Fan 590 matching the Rock's donation and Core Media donating a dollar per game program sold. "This was a very unfortunate accident, the Toronto Rock support Dustin and his family. We wanted to show our support by creating funds that will help Dustin and his family get through these rough times. I would like to encourage all individuals and corporations to donate to this meaningful cause," Rock managing partner Brad Watters said. Dustin is part of the famous Sanderson family of Orangeville; his brothers are Chris and Ryan Sanderson (of Philadelphia and Albany, respectively), while cousins Josh and Phil Sanderson play for Albany and uncle Terry is the Express' head coach. A trust fund has been established at CIBC Bank in the name of Phillip and Susan Sanderson, in trust of Dustin Sanderson. The account number is: 70524951662.
      Joining the Dustin Sanderson effort is Ontario sports artist Rob MacDougall, who has donated ten limited-edition prints of a commemorative painting of Jack Bionda, the late lacrosse legend, for an online charity auction at http://ebay.ca/charity. Joined in promoting the auction by Albany Attack veteran Troy Cordingley, MacDougall is seeking sports collectibles of all types (from autographed lacrosse sweaters to baseballs) to add to the auction. All proceeds go to the trust fund mentioned above. To donate an item to the auction, email Cordingley at troycordingley@hotmail.com.

 

29 August 2001:
      NLL commissioner Jim Jennings gave NLL fans great news on the American television contract during an interview at Saturday's entry draft. "They've [AOL Time Warner] guaranteed us that if our ratings show well on CNN/SI, we'll move right to TNT," Jennings told the LacrosseNetwork.com netcast team. "That's our ultimate goal, to get onto TNT... Hopefully, the first year our ratings will be high and we'll be able to move from 20 million homes to 70 million homes."
      Teams have re-entered free agent signing mode, with four clubs inking a total of seven players in the past two days. The Calgary Roughnecks signed John Kilbride (7 goals and 1 assist for New Westminster (WLA) this summer). The Montreal Express inked Eric Gervais (summer team and stats unavailable), Darren McEwan (33 + 18 for Burnaby (WLA)), and Steve Penny (10 + 10 for Victoria (WLA)). The New Jersey Storm signed Matt Panetta (33 + 7 for Bridgeport (MLL)) and Tony Henderson (33 + 20 for Six Nations (OLA)). The Toronto Rock signed Mike Murray (12 + 13 for Brampton (OLA)). Gervais (Baltimore/Pittsburgh, 1999-2000), Henderson (Syracuse, 1998), and Panetta (Philadelphia and New York, 1992-2001) are the only members of this signing class with NLL experience.

 

28 August 2001:
      The media is running with the Jen Adams story, and apparently, so are the NLL and the Washington Power. On Saturday, Adams became the first woman drafted by a professional lacrosse team, selected in the ninth round by the Power out of the University of Maryland. A publicity stunt or an odd tribute to one of the greatest female lacrosse players of all time, most NLL fans figured. Don't be so quick to snicker and walk away, though -- Power GM Steve Govett is planning to invite the 22-year-old Australian to training camp, and commissioner Jim Jennings has told the Canadian Press that he will not stand in the way of a run at history. As for Adams, she's both amused and intrigued. "It was a bit of a surprise and we had a good laugh about it this morning," she said. "I don't know exactly what to think and I'm really not sure what I'll do."
      The Vancouver Ravens and Washington Power are taking professional indoor lacrosse to The Island, with an 11 November exhibition game (8:00 PM Eastern) at Memorial Arena in Victoria, BC. Dubbed the "Bionda Cup" in honor of the late lacrosse great Jack Bionda, the exhibition is a charity event, with all proceeds invested in The Ravens Fund, a non-profit organization created to promote youth lacrosse and community issues. Many familiar faces will be rolling into Victoria that night, including Victoria Shamrock (WLA) alumni Darren Reisig, Fred Jenner, Grant Hamilton and Ian Rubel of the Ravens; and Gary Gait, Paul Gait, Devin Dalep and Neil Doddridge of the Power. Tickets go on sale Saturday, 15 September, and range from $10 to $20 (Canadian).

 

23 August 2001:
      The NLL has hired Ben DeLuca, a former account manager at SFX Sports Group, to the position of Lacrosse Operations Coordinator. With the NLL, DeLuca will work with Vice President of Lacrosse Operations Barry Powless on player and team personnel matters. While with SFX, he worked with corporate clients such as Major League Baseball, Burger King, and the Denver Broncos. He also has lacrosse in his background -- the Rochester native played and coached at Cornell University.
      Expect some major wheeling and dealing before, during, and after Saturday's entry draft. The latest buzz is that Gavin Prout is stepping back from his recent Storm-or-bust demands, and has told the Washington Power that he'd play for that team. However, the player the Power covets most is Blaine Manning, generally projected as the second-overall pick. Manning, in fact, appears to have "pulled a Prout" by reportedly declaring he will play nowhere but Washington. Where this leaves New York is anyone's guess, but it's quite clear that with Prout and Manning equally uninterested in them and Doug Shanahan exploring the idea of a pro football career, the first-overall pick is doing them no good. When the dust clears at draft's end, NLL may have escaped the embarrassment of several top draft picks holding out.
      The Washington Power today signed free agent defenseman Christian Cook. Playing for the MLL's New Jersey Pride this summer, Cook has a goal and an assist in thirteen games. His 28 loose ball recoveries are good for fourth-best on the team. Cook, 26, is a 1998 graduate of Princeton University.

 

22 August 2001:
      Does Gavin Prout need to enroll in Geography 101 down at Loyola College? Among the reasons the projected number-one pick cites for why he will not play for the New York Saints is the travel time required to reach Long Island for the games. He might have to miss Friday classes getting from the airport to Nassau Coliseum, he says, so he wants to play for the New Jersey Storm. The Outsider's Guide supposes that the commute from Newark International to East Rutherford is a lot quicker than LaGuardia to Uniondale, since the flying time wouldn't be much shorter. To his credit (or perhaps his detriment), Saints owner Mike Gongas still says he intends to select Prout with the first-overall pick. Wherever he lands, Prout will not be on hand for a congratulatory handshake -- he's decided not to attend Saturday's draft.
      The Calgary Roughnecks today signed forwards Jayme Bryde and Todd Katanchik to free agent contracts. Bryde, brother of Ottawa's Kris Bryde, had 24 goals and 18 assists this summer with the WLA's Maple Ridge Burrards. Katanchik, who has played sporadically in the pros with Charlotte, Syracuse, and Philadelphia, scored eight goals and assisted on 15 others with the WLA's New Westminster Salmonbellies.
      The Montreal Express have signed free agent forward Wayne Grant. His most recent stint in major summer lacrosse was in 1999, with the OLA's Peterborough Lakers (12 + 9 in 10 games). Since then, he's played in the Iroquois Lacrosse Association.
      The New York Saints jumped into the fray, too, inking forward Josh Black. In thirteen games this summer for Peterborough, Black scored nine goals and had fourteen assists.

 

21 August 2001:
      For a league whose biggest draft controversy centered around whether the league could change its rules on draft order after the original order was already established (the 1999 battle for John Grant, Jr.), having a projected first-overall pick who will be paid to sit out in order to gain free agency might be too much to handle. By week's end, though, all hell could break loose. Gavin Prout is about to tell the New York Saints (who own the top pick) and eleven other teams not to bother selecting him in Saturday's entry draft. Call it dirty tricks, call it tampering, or call it out-and-out bribery, but according to sources around the NLL, Prout will receive a substantial amount of money not to play the next two seasons, so that he can gain his free agency and sign with the New Jersey Storm. How substantial? Reportedly well more than what Storm owner Jayson Williams paid for the entire franchise. In the meantime, the Storm could use some front office help, and Prout will need a job... Stay tuned, NLL fans.
      Details are emerging about the American television contract announced yesterday. The league and CNN/SI are in a revenue-sharing plan in which they are attempting to sell eight sponsorship packages at $250,000 each. Each package includes floor and dasherboard signs, tickets to games, and commercial time on the broadcasts. An eight-advertiser sellout would reap a cool $1 million (US) for the league. The Canadian television deal, yet to be announced, will likely include a rights fee paid to the league, perhaps several million dollars (Canadian).
      The Calgary Roughnecks yesterday signed free agent Dave McCrimmen to a contract. The Sherwood Park, Alberta, native currently plays for the Edmonton Outlaws of Alberta's Senior B circuit, and formerly played for the WLA's Okanagan Thunder. Roughnecks coach/GM Kevin Melnyk likes him -- "He's fast and he's got a bit of a mean streak. He should fit in well here."

 

16 August 2001:
      The Albany Attack today signed free agent forward Troy Cordingley, beginning his second tour of duty with the club. On 21 March, Albany traded the nine-year veteran to the Rochester Knighthawks for a second-round pick in next Saturday's entry draft. Prior to the trade, Cordingley had nine goals and twenty-one assists in ten games; afterwards, he had five goals and seven assists in five games, including the Knighthawks' semifinal loss in Philadelphia. The nine-year veteran was an original member of the Attack, selected in the August 1999 expansion draft. Prior to that, Cordingley had played seven seasons for the Buffalo Bandits.
      The Montreal Express today traded forwards Mike Benedict and Jason Tasse to the Ottawa Rebel for forward Bruce Alexander and a fourth-round pick in this year's entry draft. Benedict led the original Columbus Landsharks (now the Express) in both goals (25) and assists (32) last season. Tasse, who made his pro debut with the Rebel last season and was taken by the Express in June's expansion draft, brings his defensive play back to Ottawa. Alexander was the Rebel's third-leading scorer last season, with 14 goals and 22 assists in 13 games. Because there is common ownership between the two teams, the trade had to be approved by the league's Board of Governors.
      The Vancouver Ravens yesterday added to the biggest preseason roster in the league, adding three WLA veterans to bring their on-field ranks to a whopping thirty-four. Newly taken under wing are Grant Hamilton, Kerry Susheski, and Colby Rope. Hamilton, 33, has 28 points this summer (7 + 21) in 21 games for the Victoria Shamrocks, who begin the WLA championship series tomorrow night. Susheski, 22, recorded 47 points (26 + 21) in 20 regular-season games this summer, fourth-best on the New Westminster Salmonbellies, and added two goals and six assists in the Bellies' four-game semifinal sweep at the hands of the Coquitlam Adanacs. Rope, 25, was under contract to the Okanagan Thunder this summer but did not play due to work commitments; last summer, Rope had 56 points (23 + 33) in 25 games with Okanagan. Also, the Ravens have named Bob "Buff" McCready as their Eastern Scout. McCready was the first head coach of the Buffalo Bandits and most recently had been an assistant coach with the Rochester Knighthawks.

 

15 August 2001:
      When NLL commissioner Jim Jennings conducts his monthly teleconference with the media Monday afternoon (20 August, 3:00 PM Eastern), the latest hot topic will be American and Canadian television contracts. The numerous Saturday afternoon contests between Canadian clubs this coming season suggests that the league has hammered out a game of the week deal with either CTV SportsNet or The Score; whichever network has won the battle, the other is likely to pick up some games, as well. The American television package is far sketchier, because the league has far more networks to work with but, aside from the ESPN family, none with any experience broadcasting lacrosse. TNT, TNN, CNN/SI, and even MTV have, at one point or another, been suggested as possibilities, but it is possible that a total outsider could emerge.
      The league today announced three changes to the 2001-2002 schedule announced yesterday, but only one concerns a change of date. The Calgary at Vancouver game, originally slated for Sunday, 3 March, has been pushed back to Saturday, 16 March; game time is still 3:30 PM Eastern. The Albany Attack has switched game times for a pair of midseason games. The 12 January meeting with Rochester is now a 7:30 PM start, while the Ottawa game a week later has become a 1:00 PM matinee. These changes are also reflected on the news update posted yesterday.
      Continuing their massive buildup of high draft picks, the Columbus Landsharks today traded Craig Gelsvik to the Ottawa Rebel for the fifth-overall selection in this month's entry draft. With the trade, the Landsharks now own four of the top ten picks in the 25 August draft, including three in a row (fourth, fifth, sixth, and ninth overall). Gelsvik, acquired by Columbus in the 15 June expansion draft, appeared on the NLL scene last season as a standout defenseman for the Toronto Rock. The Landsharks also announced four free agent signings on their web site -- Sean Holmes, Bill Warder, Andy Dudan, and Rob Taylor. Except for Taylor, who has no NLL experience, the signees were all rookies last season with the Buffalo Bandits, where current 'Sharks coach Ron Roy was an assistant coach.
      The Montreal Express is the only team without a logo and will hold that status at least until Tuesday, 11 September, when a blowout press conference is scheduled. The logo and uniform design, marketing agreements, and ticket information will be unveiled, and the team's local minority owners will be introduced to the public. The Express' colors reportedly will include blue and gold.

 

14 August 2001:
      Yesterday, we joking observed in this column that the signing-players-left-and-right Vancouver Ravens would not need to conduct an open tryout. Sure enough, the expansion team will open its doors to all comers, on 22-23 September. Contact the Ravens at 604.669.RAVE (7283) for more information on the open tryout. The team also announced today that the open tryout, the preseason training camp in October, and the weekly in-season practices will all be held at Sportstown BC, in nearby Richmond. A premier multi-sport facility, Sportstown BC will become the Ravens' "Official Training Nest" and home to Wednesday Night Lacrosse, a weekly community lacrosse clinic.

 

13 August 2001:
      The Calgary Roughnecks will hold open tryouts from 15-16 September at the Stampede Corral Centre in Calgary. To register, fax a bio of yourself (listing your lacrosse experience) to the Roughnecks at 403.206.2888. The Roughies are also looking for volunteers to help with gameday activities; if interested, email the team at info@calgaryroughnecks.com (include day and evening phone number and your past lacrosse involvement or volunteer experience).
      Elsewhere in western Canada, the Vancouver Ravens need no open tryouts -- with thirty-one players already under contract (and more on the way), British Columbia's NLL franchise will need to slash its roster by at least ten players during training camp. Newly added to the roster are forwards Rich Catton, Rob Buchan, and Kevin Brunsch, and goaltender Dwight Maetche. Catton, 29, was taken from the Buffalo Bandits in June's expansion draft; he had two goals and five assists last season for Buffalo. Buchan, 27, scored 31 goals and had 22 assists in nineteen games this summer for the WLA's Okanagan Thunder; he has never played in NLL. Brunsch, 31, had 15 points (9 + 6) in eight regular-season games and four points (2 + 2) in three playoff games for the Coquitlam Adanacs this summer; his only NLL experience was a three-game stint with Buffalo in 2000. Maetche, 40, emerged from retirement this spring to play for Okanagan; in six MILL/NLL seasons, Maetche tended goal for the Philadelphia Wings, Charlotte Cobras, and New York Saints.

 

11 August 2001:
      NLL observers, keep an eye on the New Jersey Storm at all times -- "Roomful of Jims" (GM Brady, assistant GM Rogers, and head coach Hinkson) may be skirting league rules once again. After previously failing in a bid to sign Gavin Prout and having a deal with Scott Stewart voided, the Storm now have Joel Johnson under contract. However, the same problem that prevented Prout and Stewart from joining the Storm could ultimately kill the Johnson contract, too -- after exhausting their junior eligibility and entering the NLL draft, Prout and Stewart each went to college, meaning they can not be signed as free agents by an NLL team until after the entry draft later this month (assuming they don't get drafted first, a very unlikely case for either player). The Storm's Johnson is believed to be the same player who just completed his junior season at Keuka College in western New York -- if so, the Storm has just completed a hat trick of trickery, trying to sign three players it couldn't legally sign.

 

10 August 2001:
      The complete 2001-2002 schedule hasn't been released yet, but leaks on season openers for certain teams suggests that it may not be far away. The Vancouver Sun today reports that the expansion Ravens' first-ever games will be on 17 and 18 November, at Toronto the first night and Ottawa the second, and that the home opener will be two weeks later, against the Rock on 1 December. Also, the New York Saints' home opener has been rumored for Saturday, 8 December.
      Part of the NLL's draft day festivities, as previously announced, will be a youth clinic conducted by coaches and players from around the league. Now, many of the instructors have been announced. Two coaches with strong ties to the host Buffalo Bandits -- current coach Ted Sawicki and former star Darris Kilgour (now coaching the Washington Power) will administer the camp. Among the players scheduled to serve as instructors are Buffalo's John Tavares and Mike Accursi; Washington's Paul Gait; New York Saint star Roy Colsey; new Rochester Knighthawk (and former Bandit) Shawn Williams; and the Toronto Rock's Steve Toll. The clinic starts at 9:00 AM on Saturday, 25 August, and is open to Bandits season ticket holders.
      Later on draft day, the league will conduct a scouting combine, giving unsigned players a chance to demonstrate their skills to the NLL's coaches and general managers. Those interested in attending the combine will be disappointed to learn that it is closed to the general public; members of the media, however, are welcome.
      The Rochester Knighthawks are searching for a play-by-play man. Dan Carpenter, who has worked the microphone in recent years, has decided to give up his radio duties, although he will remain with the team's marketing department. Interested game-callers can contact Steve Rossi at 716.454.5425.
      The Toronto Rock recently bolstered its scouting operations, naming Paul Rowbotham and former Rock player Russ Heard as Directors of Western Scouting, and Sean Ferris as Director of Eastern Scouting. Their responsibilities are standard for scouts, centering on the evaluation of available talent. The task is complicated by the Rock's extensive losses during June's expansion draft (Chris Langdale, Jamie Taylor, Craig Gelsvik, and Ryan O'Connor all were taken in the first two rounds) and the presence of two new teams in western Canada, where the Rock once had a near-monopoly on the talent pool.

 

9 August 2001:
      The Montreal Express today signed forward Kelly Sullivan. In twenty regular-season games for the OLA's Brooklin Redmen this summer, Sullivan recorded fourteen goals and twelve assists. He has no NLL experience.
      The New Jersey Storm continued its buildup via free agency today, adding Cam Bomberry and Doug Lawrence to the fold. Bomberry had 43 points (15 + 28) this summer for the Six Nations Chiefs and Lawrence had 17 points (7 + 10) and 40 penalty minutes for the St. Catharines Athletics (both OLA). In 34 career MILL/NLL games (Rochester, 1996-1999), Bomberry has scored 23 goals and had 45 assists; Lawrence has never played professionally.
      Jeff Klodzen, a nine-year veteran of MILL/NLL, has signed with the Philadelphia Wings, adding experienced defense to a team trying to retool after the Expansion Draft losses of Jamie Hanford and Michael Busza. In 88 career games with the Pittsburgh Bulls (1991-1992), Baltimore Thunder (1994-1998), and Syracuse Smash (1999-2000), Klodzen has tallied 86 goals and 116 assists. He did not play in NLL this past season.
      On a busy day for free agent signings, the Vancouver Ravens are never left out of the fun. Today, the expansion team signed forwards Jack Beestra and Darren Reisig. Beetstra, 37, had a goal and an assist this summer for the WLA's New Westminster Salmonbellies, while Reisig, 33, scored fifteen goals and assisted on 24 others for the undefeated Victoria Shamrocks. Reisig was the first player the Ravens ever signed, inked to a tryout contract in May; that has now been converted to a standard player contract. The Ravens now have 27 players on their roster, enough to start training camp right now and several more than they can carry into the season.
      In other Vancouver Ravens news, the team has filled its coaching staff, naming Daren Fridge and Rod Jensen today, and Rod Banister yesterday, as assistant coaches. Fridge, a former MILL Rookie of the Year, is an eleven-year veteran of the WLA, having just completed a season with the Maple Ridge Burrards. Jensen played nine years with the Burrards, retiring in 1992 with 190 career goals and 270 career assists. Banister was a legendary goaltender with New Westminster, leading the Salmobellies to seven WLA championships. The trio joins head coach Paul Dal Monte, who joined the Ravens in May, and assistant coach Eric Cowieson, hired last month.

 

8 August 2001:
      The Ottawa Rebel today muscled its way into the freshly-tapped British Columbia talent pool, hiring Dave Pirog as head scout for western Canada. Pirog joins the Rebel, NLL's worst team in 2001, after assistant coaching positions with the WLA's Victoria Shamrocks and New Westminster Salmonbellies and a thirteen-year playing career with the OLA's Brampton Excelsiors and Brooklin Redmen.
      The Rebel's managing partner, Brad Watters, has hurdled the first obstacle in his push to return professional football to Ottawa (first reported in this column several days ago). Watters met yesterday with Canadian Football League commissioner Michael Lysko, and received Lysko's support in the bid to resurrect the Ottawa Rough Riders franchise, which ended operations five years ago. In an expansion approval system similar to the gauntlet Watters went through in leading his latest set of NLL investors to the Montreal Express franchise, Lysko's approval is the first step in a progression which culminates with the league's other owners voting on the bid. Approval is likely to come in the next couple of weeks. For Watters, it's yet another sports team to run -- the reborn Rough Riders will join three NLL teams (the Rebel, Express, and Toronto Rock) in Watters' stable.

 

7 August 2001:
      Think you have what it takes to play professional indoor lacrosse? Show scouts from around the league at the NLL's first annual scouting combine, held the afternoon of the 25 August entry draft at Buffalo's HSBC Arena. The combine begins at 1:00 PM (the draft itself is at 6:00), with registration at the arena, beginning at 11:00 AM at the security entrance on Illinois Street. Scrimmages, drills, and strength and speed tests are scheduled. Players must be 20 years of age or older with no current NLL affiliation and no remaining college eligibility; must provide their own equipment; and must sign a liability release form. All participants will receive two tickets to the draft. For further information, contact Barry Powless at 201.939.3100.
      Speaking of draft tickets, they are free of charge and available through the league office. For tickets, call Doug Fritts at the phone number above.

 

6 August 2001:
      After a week of quiet on the free agency front, two expansion teams got players to sign on the dotted line today. The Vancouver Ravens, seemingly mentioned every time there are signings to report, added forwards Craig Stevenson and Aaron Zader. Meanwhile, the New Jersey Storm -- which, aside from stealing Steve Sombrotto from the New York Saints, had been reasonably quiet -- inked Ryan Grey, Joel Johnson, Adam LeFeuvre, Bill LeFeuvre, Cory Leigh and Marty O'Brien. Of the eight players, only Stevenson has NLL experience (Buffalo, 1999 and 2000; Ottawa, 2001).
      Just when you thought the Watters family had filled all of Ontario's sporting vacancies, along comes a new hole to plug. Between Bill and his son, Brad, the front offices of the NLL's Toronto Rock and Ottawa Rebel and the NHL's Toronto Maple Leafs have become "Watters-logged." Throw in an NLL expansion franchise in Montreal, and they've surely got enough on their plate, right? Nope, now Brad wants to resurrect the Ottawa Rough Riders, a Canadian Football League franchise that folded five years ago. Brad reportedly believes he can get the team up and running for the 2002 CFL season, but the league expects that it will take until 2003. Whether or not the bid succeeds should be known in a few days.