Below are some of the smaller items which made news in the National Lacrosse League in January 2002, including trades, rumors, odd facts and injury updates.

28 January 2002:
      The Tavares era is over in western New York. No, not that Tavares. The Buffalo Bandits today released Peter Tavares, younger brother of John Tavares. Peter Tavares has never appeared in an NLL game.
      The Montreal Express today named John Lovell as an assistant coach. Lovell, who also serves as the varsity men's hockey assistant coach at the University of Guelph in Ontario, fills the spot vacated by Lindsay Sanderson, who left brother Terry's staff to become the head coach of the Ottawa Rebel.
      Late last week, the New Jersey Storm traded forward Clayton Barnes to the Ottawa Rebel for a fourth-round pick in the August 2002 entry draft. Barnes had appeared in five games with the Storm, scoring three goals and assisting on three others; he joined Ottawa in time to play in both games this weekend against the Montreal Express, assisting on two Rebel goals.
      Is the Rochester Knighthawks' Derek Malawsky about to get off the hook? The word on the street is that Grant Spies, the referee who was the target of Malawsky's angered shove during Saturday's game at Toronto, believes he leaned into the push and thus, the offense doesn't qualify as abuse of officials. As reported in this column a day ago, had Malawsky been ruled to have deliberately made contact with Spies, he would face a five-game suspension.

 

27 January 2002:
      Have a nice vacation, Derek Malawsky. Unless the NLL suddenly goes softer on crime than Michael Dukakis, the Rochester Knighthawks star will be sitting out a while because of his actions during Saturday's 14-9 loss at Toronto. Malawsky pushed a referee. That's physical abuse of the referees, and in case you missed the cases of Tom Naglieri earlier this season and Pat Coyle years ago, that's a no-no. While Malawsky did not intend injury upon the ref (which would have sent him out of the league the rest of the season and forced him to argue his way back in for next season), he did make deliberate contact, and that is an automatic five-game suspension (NLL Rule 93, section A).

 

26 January 2002:
      Although he tried to continue playing after suffering a knee injury late in the first quarter of Saturday's game against Vancouver, the Buffalo Bandits' Andy Ogilvie may have a serious injury and could be on the way out for good. Ogilvie told Outsider's Guide assistant editor Deb McAllister after the game that if surgery is required (which would be the third operation on that knee), he might retire instead. No decision will be made until an MRI is taken, however.
      The dark-toned web site of the Toronto Rock is dead, replaced by a cleaner, more spaced-out, more colorful version. Alas, it's pretty much the same collection of features as before. The site can be found at www.torontorock.com.

 

25 January 2002:
      When Ottawa Rebel coach Lindsay Sanderson brought his troops into Quebec, it wasn't just a homecoming for the former Montreal Express assistant coach. It was also the first time in league history that brothers coached against each other in a game. The Sandersons are no strangers to coaching -- Lindsay now stands two games into his head coaching career, Terry is in his third season at the helm of an NLL team (Montreal this year, Albany two seasons before that), and Shane (now an assistant in New York) coached the Detroit Turbos in 1993 and 1994. Another brother combination: Bob and Norm Engelke have taken turns coaching the New York Saints (Bob from 1987-1992, Norm for part of the 1998 season), where they served for years as assistant coaches (positions they left after last season).

 

24 January 2002:
      The NLL has been busy handing out fines for recent incidents. Four fines come from an incident immediately after Friday's game between the New York Saints (forward Rusty Kruger and defenseman John Rosa) and the Philadelphia Wings (defenseman Tommy Ryan and assistant coach Chris Flynn). Calgary Roughnecks defenseman Jesse Phillips was cited for an offense that same night, against the Buffalo Bandits. Drew Candy of the Toronto Rock was also hit with a fine, for an above-the-shoulders cross check during a 12 January game at Calgary. The size of each fine was not disclosed.
      If Ron Roy's Columbus Landsharks appear a bit short-staffed during Friday's night home match with Vancouver, it won't be an illusion. "We've all got the flu," Roy reported during yesterday's weekly conference call between coaches and reporters. At least one, and possibly as many as four could sit this one out (understandably, Roy's not saying who the known flu scratch will be).
      The Rochester Knighthawks have activated forward Chris Schiller from injured reserve. Goaltender Ryan Phillips was released in the related roster move.

 

22 January 2002:
      Joining in the Eagles Fever which has taken the city by storm, the Philadelphia Wings will hold a pep rally for the NFL team during halftime of Friday night's game against Buffalo. An win Sunday at St. Louis sends the Eagles to their first Super Bowl in 21 years. The featured guests of the pep rally -- Swoop, the Eagles' mascot, and Bill Bergey, former linebacker for the Eagles and father of the Wings' Jake Bergey. Any fan who wears an Eagles jersey, sweatshirt or T-shirt to the game can purchase a ticket for just $10. "The entire City of Philadelphia is excited about the Eagles and their playoff chances," Wings general manager Marty O'Neill said. "The Wings want an opportunity to show our support for the Eagles and get our fans primed for a great day of football on Sunday."
      The Toronto Rock is anticipating a sellout crowd in excess of 19,000 fans for its Saturday matinee duel with the Rochester Knighthawks. Five days before the game, the Rock have sold 16,000 tickets, and with the usual level of walkups, 18,000 is a very reachable target. Selling out Air Canada Centre would reflect well on the Ontario lacrosse community, since the game is being televised live, 3:30 PM Eastern, in Canada on Rogers Sportsnet (and, for that matter, in the States on CNN/SI).
      The Vancouver Ravens have signed free agent forward Cam Sedgwick, another of head coach Paul Dal Monte's Burnaby Jr. Laker products. Last summer with the senior Lakers (WLA), Sedgwick recorded 17 goals and 20 assists in 12 games after rebounding from ACL surgery. The signing is well-timed -- the Washington Power reportedly were also interested in Sedgwick's services. Interesting thing, though, is that Sedgwick won't be reporting to the Ravens until his collegiate hockey season is over -- possibly as late as mid-March.

 

21 January 2002:
      When Philadelphia Wings veteran Kevin Finneran scored early in the fourth quarter of Friday night's game against New York, it not only helped stave off the Saints' second-half rally, it was the 15,000th goal in the fifteen-year NLL history, regular season and playoffs combined. Finneran's goal also meant a lot to Christine Butcher, who won an official NLL ball autographed by Finneran in Lacrosse-Network.com's Pick the Scorer contest. The winning entry was one of eight naming Finneran, but Christine must've had a feeling about Finneran, because she sent in three of those eight herself. Many readers were picking members of the Wings, especially as the odds of the milestone goal occuring in the Saints-Wings game improved dramatically. Of the 182 entries received, 49 named one of three Wings -- Jake Bergey (18), Jeff Ratcliffe (18), or Tom Marchek (13). The most popular player from another team? Kaleb Toth, whose Calgary Roughnecks also played Friday night, with twelve entries. Thanks to everyone who participated, and congratulations to Kevin Finneran and Christine Butcher!

 

19 January 2002:
      Derek Collins' time in the land of oil has expired. The Calgary Roughnecks released the veteran goaltender Friday, after two poor appearances early in the season cost him the starting job. Collins had allowed 24 goals on 57 shots this season. The well-travelled netminder has appeared for five teams in his seven-year career, including the Rochester Knighthawks, Baltimore Thunder, Syracuse Smash/Ottawa Rebel, Buffalo Bandits, and Roughnecks.
      The New Jersey Storm has released Joe Finstad. In four games this season, Finstad had scored three goals, including a shorthanded tally. In affiliated transactions, the Storm signed forward Gordon Purdie, a ten-year veteran (all with the New York Saints), and placed Dallas Squire on injured reserve.

 

17 January 2002:
      The Vancouver Ravens are reporting ticket sales of over 10,000 for Saturday's game against the Washington Power. The allure -- the first professional game Gary and Paul Gait have ever played in their home province, British Columbia. For Paul, it's also the last time he'll play professionally in Vancouver, since he's retiring at season's end. If not for the Philadelphia Wings' home opener, this game would almost certainly be the best-attended of the weekend... but imagine what a crowd like this -- or even half of this -- would do for the Gaits' Washington Power, which teeters on the brink of extinction due to abysmal attendance at Capital Centre.

 

16 January 2002:
      Blaming poor attendance so far this season on the early start to the season, NLL commissioner Jim Jennings is now talking about moving opening night back to around Christmas. The shift was meant to avoid scheduling conflicts with the NHL and NBA; all three leagues had been launching their postseasons at roughly the same time, which nearly disrupted the NLL's playoff schedule a season ago.
      The dismantling of Marty Cooper's Ottawa Rebel has begun, and new coach/GM Lindsay Sanderson has made Craig Gelsvik the first departure. Gelsvik, a defensive specialist, was traded today to the Buffalo Bandits, a team in desperate need of some defense. In exchange for Gelsvik and a third-round pick in next summer's draft (acquired from Columbus), the Rebel receives a first-round pick in that draft (Montreal's selection, stemming from the preseason trade of Ted Dowling to the Express) and the rights to Brad Self. So far this season, Gelsvik has an assist, 10 penalty minutes, and 33 loose balls in five games. The Bandits' first pick in August's entry draft (2nd round, 18th overall), Self has not played this season.

 

14 January 2002:
      Several members of the Philadelphia Wings, including goaltenders Dallas Eliuk and Nick Schroeder and forward Tom Phair, will be visiting Beeber Middle School in Philadelphia tomorrow afternoon to introduce lacrosse to students, first with a brief demonstration, then by teaching the students some basic skills. The visit is part of the Inner City Sports Program, which exposes students in the Philadelphia School District to a variety of sports.
      The Vancouver Ravens have teamed up with their hockey counterparts, the NHL's Vancouver Canucks, to offer a discount combo package for the Canucks' game on 28 January vs. Nashville and the Ravens' 2 February tilt with Ottawa (a 12:30 PM Pacific start time). Prices start at C$47 per person. Call Ticketmaster at 604.280.4400 or 800.663.9311 and ask for the Canucks/Ravens package.

 

13 January 2002:
      Maybe the All Star Game isn't off the table for 2002, after all. Inside Lacrosse is reporting that the exhibition, originally slated for late February in Orlando and subsequently called off after the attacks on 11 September, will be held after all, at the Mohegan Sun resort and casino (the same place which is trying to buy and relocate the Washington Power) in Uncasville, Connecticut on Sunday, 21 April. An official announcement is expected within a couple weeks.
      The New Jersey Storm, undisputed world champions of finding unusual ways to promote itself, has done it again. Don't worry, this one's for a good cause. The Storm is teaming up with the Sharing Network, a fifteen-year-old New Jersey organization which procures organs and tissues for those awaiting transplant. Representatives from the Sharing Network will be at three Storm home games later this season (20 January, vs. Philadelphia; 15 February, vs. Washington; and 16 March, vs. Ottawa), promoting organ donation.
      In other New Jersey Storm news, the team will be giving away Thunderstick noisemakers to the first 4,000 fans at next Sunday's game against the Philadelphia Wings. Today's burning question: How many of those noisemakers will end up in the hands of Wings fans making the short road trip to north Jersey and how much will Storm executives regret giving the noisemakers to the league's craziest fans?

 

11 January 2002:
      New Ottawa Rebel GM/coach Lindsay Sanderson has named two fellow OLA Junior A coaches as his assistants -- Cam Devine of Orillia and Greg MacDonald of Orangeville. In a related note, Sanderson is vowing to push a run-and-gun style of play with the Rebel, something which could be both fun to watch (which the Rebel has not been lately) and successful (which the Rebel also has not been lately).

 

9 January 2002:
      Several NLL executives, including Jim Jennings, are planning to attend the annual US Lacrosse convention this weekend in Philadelphia, where they will represent and promote the league, including the Scoop 'n Shoot competition NLL is running in conjunction with US Lacrosse. The league also announced the dates for each team's local Scoop 'n Shoot competition: Albany, 24 March; Buffalo, 9 February; Calgary, 17 March; Columbus, 9 March; Montreal, 15 March; New Jersey, 15 February; New York, all remaining home games; Ottawa, 16 February; Philadelphia, 9 March; Rochester, 16 March; Toronto, 23 February; Vancouver, 16 March. Hold the phones on two of those dates, though -- Calgary and Philadelphia do not play at home on the dates listed.
      Topping Wednesday's player transactions, the Philadelphia Wings have activated forward Peter Jacobs from injured reserve, moving the ailing club another step closer to full strength. Meanwhile, the Montreal Express signed forward Eric Pacey to the active roster and former Syracuse Smash goaltender Jim Rankin to the practice squad, and placed forward Jason Henhawk on the holdout list. Elsewhere, the Ottawa Rebel signed forward Ryan Donnelly and released goaltender Mike Thompson and the Toronto Rock signed J.J. Dickie to the practice squad while releasing forward Charles Doxtater.
      Proving once again that there exists no marketing ploy New Jersey Storm owner Jayson Williams won't try, it was announced yesterday that the Storm will be sponsoring a U.S. Ski Team member. Not the team itself, mind you -- just one skier. Luke Westerlund, the reigning "Nor Am Moguls King," will be sporting Storm paraphernalia during this winter's national and international skiing competitions. Williams and the 24-year-old Westerlund, rehabbing after a serious knee injury two years, have been workout partners for quite some time now.
      The Ottawa Rebel is now offering a "Kids get in free" deal -- an adult who purchases a lower-bowl ticket ($25 or $20, depending on location) can secure a free youth ticket for the game. Got more kids than adults? Extra youth tickets are marked down to $15. For more information, contact the Rebel at 613.599.0208.

 

8 January 2002:
      Only 179 goals separate the National Lacrosse League from its 15,000th goal. With five games this weekend, it's unlikely -- but certainly not impossible, with scoring as it this season -- that it will come this weekend, but for those of you participating the Pick the Scorer, you may be better off safe than sorry, so keep sending in your picks. Don't know what Pick the Scorer is? Follow this link, and remember, you can send in a new entry every day until the milestone goal is scored.
      As first reported in this column a day ago, the Philadelphia Wings have traded Jason Clark to the Buffalo Bandits for a first-round pick in the 2002 entry draft. Signed as a free agent by the Wings in 2000, Clark recorded 38 goals and 48 assists in 27 regular-season games. "[Clark] brings a wealth of offensive talent to the team," Bandits general manager Kurt Silcott said, "and will certainly help John Tavares out on that side of our offense. He is a top notch, proven player in this league with a history of winning. Players like that are not easy to find." Bryan Sanchez will be released to make room on the roster for Clark.
      The Ottawa Rebel is now Fay-less. Days after releasing John Fay, the Rebel today released his brother, Ed, who was recovering from a torn Achilles heel suffered last season. Forward Rob Henhawk was also let go. Neither Fay has played this season, nor has Henhawk.
      In other transactions, the Columbus Landsharks have released forward Jared Billich and the New York Saints have done likewise with forward Kevin Lunnie. Meanwhile, Rob Williams returns from injured reserve for the Vancouver Ravens, with Scott Whitley going on the disabled list to make room. Whitley has made three appearances for the Ravens this year; none of the other three have yet played.

 

7 January 2002:
      The Jason Clark trade rumors are heating up again, with the latest hot stove talk sending the Philadelphia Wings' young Ontario native to the Buffalo Bandits for a first-round pick in next summer's entry draft. So why a trade? Some speculate that Clark has long wanted to play closer to home, a claim backed up by the fact that Clark trade rumors date all the way back to the summer.

 

4 January 2002:
      The Albany Attack has released forward Troy Cordingley. The tenth-year veteran had not appeared in any of the Attack's five games this season.
      Two members of the Mike Gongas and Charlie Russo lacrosse family have been activated from their respective teams' holdout lists: Kyle Arbuckle by the Columbus Landsharks and Brad Dairon by the New York Saints (both teams are owned by Gongas and Russo). Although not announced until today, neither move is particularly new. Both forwards played last week in New York's win at Columbus (Dairon had two goals and an assist, Arbuckle an assist).
      The Ottawa Rebel has signed goaltender Mike Thompson, presumably as insurance for injured starting netminder Matt Disher. Thompson was one of four goalies used by the Rebel a year ago, posting a goals-against average of 32.50 in 38:46 of game time. In a complementary roster move, forward John Fay was released.
      The injury-hampered Philadelphia Wings took one of their stars off Injured Reserve, activating forward Mark Millon, the team's number-four scorer last season (23 goals and 37 assists for 60 points). Greg Traynor, who scored a goal in his only appearance this season, was shifted to the holdout list.

3 January 2002:
      The NLL has rescheduled the snowed out game between the Philadelphia Wings and Buffalo Bandits for Friday, 22 February at 7:00 PM Eastern time. The game, originally slated for 29 December, was wiped off the Week Seven slate when Buffalo was hammered with over eighty inches of snow that week.
      Three other games were given new starting times today by the league, all to accomodate Canadian television network Sportsnet. The 16 February game between New York and Vancouver has moved from a 10:30 PM (Eastern) start to 3:30 PM, and both matchups in the late-season series between Calgary and Vancouver were rescheduled. The game at Vancouver (16 March) switches from 3:30 PM to 10:30 PM, while the one at Calgary (23 March) goes from 3:30 PM to 2:30 PM.
      Jim Hinkson is mad as hell that he was fired as coach of the New Jersey Storm after just four games, and recently told that to Brian McNair of the Durham Press in no uncertain terms. "I believe in loyalty and I didn't get it," says the jilted ex-coach. "There's more backstabbing going on there... Everybody wants to be head coach there and that includes Jimmy [Brady, interim head coach], Jim Rogers [general manager] and probably even Jayson Williams [team owner]." Brady, who won the power struggle with Hinkson, replies, "I don't know what more Jimmy could have done to make this team win. I don't think the ability is there to win on a consistent basis." Nice confidence in your players, Brady -- especially since, as director of player personnel, you're as responsible for the Storm's roster as anyone else.
      As they did in the preseason, injuries are again chiseling away at the Toronto Rock. Mike Murray, the surprising rookie standout, is day-to-day with back spasms, and Rodd Squire has ligament damage in his ankle which has prompted the Rock medical staff to advise Squire to sit out Saturday night's game at Washington. In their place come first-round draft pick Sandy Chapman and recently-acquired Ian Rubel (brought over from Vancouver in the Chris Gill trade). "We really like the way that these two young players play. Chapman is a scrappy player that is comparable to the likes of Rodd Squire. Rubel is a very strong and athletic defender that will match up nicely with Washington’s high powered offense," Rock head coach Les Bartley said.