Below are some of the smaller items which made news in the National Lacrosse League between March 2003 and May 2003, including trades, rumors, odd facts and injury updates.

29 May 2003:
      Canadian lacrosse is mourning the loss of Ross Powless, patriarch of the famous family of Six Nations lacrosse standouts. Powless, 76, died Monday in Paris, Ontario, after a long battle with cancer and diabetes; his funeral was this afternoon. Powless won three Mann Cups in the early 1950s with the Peterborough Timbermen, twice won the Tom Longboat Award as Canada's premier Native athlete, and was inducted into the Canadian Lacrosse Hall of Fame in 1969. Powless coached six of his sons -- including the equally-legendary Gaylord (who died two years ago) -- to the 1974 All Indian Nations Championship Cup. "He was very highly regarded as a man who had distinguished himself as a lacrosse player and as someone who had served his community in other ways," Six Nations Band Council Chief Councillor Robert Jamieson told the Turtle Island News. "He was also a wonderful story-teller who was always willing to share his thoughts and experiences with others."

 

28 May 2003:
      Bruce Crawford, the NLL's longest-tenure referee, is retiring, the league announced today. Donning number five (for those readers who care not to know the referees by name), Crawford officiated almost 200 MILL and NLL games since 1988. "It was great to work with a group of top flight officials for so many years," Crawford said. "The National Lacrosse League game is as fast paced and exciting as it has ever been, and I will continue to follow the league as a devoted fan." Roy Condon, who also joined the league's officiating staff in 1988, now leads all active NLL referees in longevity.

 

27 May 2003:
      After dodging the executioner two summers ago and somehow managing to stay in business since then, it looks like the end is near for the Columbus Landsharks. The latest buzz on relocation is that St. Paul is about to get an NLL franchise and that the Landsharks lead the race to be that team. Adding the Twin Cities to the league would be just one of a handful of relocations which would increase the NHL's involvement in NLL. The Albany Attack's sale to the San Jose Sharks and assorted other investors is all but official, rumors have linked the Phoenix Coyotes and New Jersey Storm, and the New York Saints desperately continue to look for a buyer. Don't expect any quick announcements, though -- even if the league somehow sticks to its 1 June deadline for teams to declare their intentions, there's still too much to be settled before anything can turn official and go public.

 

26 May 2003:
      For the second straight year, the Turtle Island News has named Rochester Knighthawks forward Cory Bomberry as its National Lacrosse League Native American Most Valuable Player. Bomberry led all Native players in scoring with 65 points (22 goals, 43 assists), posted a 53.8 faceoff percentage, and helped the Knighthawks to a 12-4 record and a Champion's Cup Final appearance. Although it did not factor into selecting him as the award recipient, Bomberry participated at the recent World Indoor Lacrosse Championship, where he led the Iroquois Nationals with 28 assists and placed second on the team with 43 points. "I am honored to have been selected for the award for the second time," Bomberry said. "Just being nominated is an honor. I would like to thank all the people who voted for me." Turtle Island News is an aboriginal newspaper based at the Grand River Territory of the Six Nations reserve in Ontario.

 

20 May 2003:
      The Czech Republic delegation might not win a single game at this year's World Indoor Lacrosse Championship, but it might land the biggest win of the tournament. The buzz around southern Ontario is that the Czechs will be selected to host the next go-around, in 2007. The hope is that if the WILC is held in Europe, many of the continent's developing lacrosse nations would come, increasing participation to as many as twelve teams. "I think [the Czech Republic hosting the tournament] would be best for the growth of lacrosse around the world," Czech assistant coach Pavel Semerak said recently in the Toronto Sun. "A lot of countries that play hockey like Slovakia and Germany would come to a [lacrosse] tournament in the Czech Republic."

 

16 May 2003:
      In what might have been his final Western Lacrosse Association game, North Shore Thunder (and Vancouver Ravens) goaltender Dwight Maetche scored his first career Senior A goal last Saturday. Maetche, who scored on an empty net late in the Thunder's 16-12 loss to Coquitlam, has played 271 games over 21 WLA seasons. Maetche was using the game to get ready for the World Box Games and is unsure if he'll continue with the Thunder when the tournament is over. "Pretty cool, huh?" Maetche said. "To score a goal in your last [WLA] game, that would be a unique way to do it." Don't worry, Ravens fans -- regardless of what he does in WLA, the 42-year-old Maetche plans to return to his net at GM Place next season.

 

13 May 2003:
      If Jayson Williams can avoid making license plates for the next few decades, he might go into the car wash business. Williams, owner of the New Jersey Storm, plans to renovate the former Delux Car Wash in North Plainfield, NJ; rename it "T. Jaye's Auto Spa"; and run the place himself, his spokeswoman, Judy Smith, told a local newspaper last week. Williams also plans to conduct sports clinics for children.
      It's hardly a surprise, since the sale happened two years ago, but the Philadelphia Wings' home arena will have yet another name by next season. Known as Spectrum II when it was first discussed and CoreStates Center when it opened, the First Union Center will become the Wachovia Center during the last week of July. First Union Bank purchased Wachovia Bank in 2001, and opted to assume the latter name. "We're not happy with the number of name changes we've had," Peter Luukko, president of Comcast-Spectacor Ventures, said in today's Philadelphia Inquirer. "But people still know where we are ... Maybe we should put up our signs with Velcro."

 

12 May 2003:
      The debut edition of the The Lacrosse Journal, an all-forms-of-lacrosse newsmagazine launched by long-time writer (and friend of the Outsider's Guide) Andrew McKay, hits the web tomorrow, at thelacrossejournal.com, with an impressive lineup of articles. Billed by McKay as "the Esquire of lacrosse," the site's first issue contains such wide-ranging topics as Cornell University golatender Kyle Miller's battle to beat cancer, the rise of Junior A lacrosse in Alberta, and thoughts on how Major League Lacrosse can heal itself. Although new content generally will appear only weekly, McKay plans daily updates during the World Box Games, beginning with a tournament preview on Thursday.

 

11 May 2003:
      When the St. Catharines Athletics senior team plays host to Team Scotland in an exhibition game tomorrow night, John Marr will start in goal for the visitors. Marr is no ordinary netminder, though -- he's one of a handful of players who came over from Scotland for the World Box Games (the rest of the team will be Canadians of Scottish descent), and he's 63 years old. Derek Collins will be Scotland's top goaltender for the upcoming tournament, but coach Paul Suggate wants to reward Marr for making the cross-Atlantic trip. "I want to see the guys who have come over from Scotland get the most out of this experience," Suggate said. Marr pops up quadrennially as Scotland's goaltender at the World Lacrosse Championship, field lacrosse's preeminent tournament.
      Speaking of the World Box Games, Team USA still hasn't announced its roster, even though the competition is just days away. Major League Lacrosse is taking the biggest toll on Team USA's ranks -- players such as Mike Regan, Jamie Hanford, Roy Colsey, and Erik Miller are unavailable due to the field league. Who gets the call instead? Unless you're a member of the team, your guess is probably just as good as ours. "No question, we're coming in with a totally different team," forward Kevin Finneran said. "We'll only have two or three guys who played in the Heritage Cup... The guys we're bringing won't have as much confidence as that other group. We have a few exhibitions to play to gel as a team, but it'll be a much harder challenge than last year."

 

10 May 2003:
      An open letter from the Rochester Knighthawks' Curt Malawsky: "I really need some help here from the fans. After our championship game, I had my stick taken from the hallway of the Blue Cross Arena. I have had this stick for six years. It has great value to me and I would hope I could locate its whereabouts. As my teammates and fans know, this stick would be useless to anyone else, as it could pass for a women's field lacrosse stick. If anyone could locate it, there would be no questions asked and I would replace the stick with a brand new Warrior head, mess kit and titanium shaft. I assume this person who has my stick took it solely as a souvenir and hopefully, they won't mind exchanging it. Your help would be greatly appreciated, as the World Games are starting in less than a week.Thank you all for the support as fans and I hope I can find my baby. Heres my email address: cmalawsky11@hotmail.com. Thanks, Curt Malawsky."

 

9 May 2003:
      This weekend, Nickelodeon and a sister cable station will begin airing thirty-second recaps of this year's Scoop n' Shoot national finals, held at halftime of the 12 April game between New Jersey and New York. The bit will air twice Sunday on Nickelodeon (11:14 AM and 5:26 PM Eastern and Pacific; the network has separate east and west feeds), and about two dozen times between Sunday and Tuesday on Nick GAS (Games and Sports). In Scoop n' Shoot, NLL's answer to the NFL Punt, Pass, and Kick competition, youth participants (ages 9-14) scoop balls off the turf and shoot on goal -- the fastest to pot six goals is the winner.

 

8 May 2003:
      Member of Parliament James Moore (Canadian Alliance, representing Port Moody-Coquitlam-Port Coquitlam, BC), recognized the NLL champion Toronto Rock in a member's statement earlier this week. Moore attended Saturday's 8-6 win at Rochester, writing on Monday, "I am pleased to report to the House [of Commons] that for the fourth time in five years the Toronto Rock has won the National Lacrosse League Championship. The Rock held the Knighthawks scoreless for nearly 23 minutes in the second half and fought off a late rally to win the Champion's Cup. Bob Watson was named Championship Game MVP racking up 40 saves including many key saves down the stretch. With six different players scoring the Rock's eight goals their victory was truly a team effort." He then congratulated the players and coaches on their championship, on behalf of his party and the Canadian Parliament. The MP's complete statement is available on his web site.

 

7 May 2003:
      Last week, in a Toronto Sun article previewing the NLL Champion's Cup final, Rochester Knighthawks forward John Grant discussed his status as the Ernie Banks of indoor lacrosse. "[A championship] is what makes you a good player," Grant said. "I don't think you can be considered a good player until you win a championship... That [non-champion] has kind of been my nickname." Grant's now been on the losing end of two NLL championship games (2000 and 2003), never won an NCAA title at Delaware or a Minto Cup in Junior lacrosse, has yet to win a Mann Cup, and played for silver-medalist Canada in last year's World Games. That losing streak could come to an end soon, though. Grant is expected to play for Canada in the World Indoor Lacrosse Championship later this month in Ontario, and has signed on for summer ball with the WLA's Coquitlam Adanacs.
      The Toronto Rock announced today that it has reached a new lease agreement with Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment, keeping the four-time champion at the Air Canada Centre at least through the 2006 season. "On top of great performance on the turf, we also have the best fans in the league, so it only makes sense that the best building in the league should be home to the Toronto Rock," team president Brad Watters said.

 

3 May 2003:
      Don't hold your breath, but Sports Illustrated's Most Influential Minority in Sports recently offered a expansion/relocation thought NLL fans should keep in the back of their minds. Robert Johnson, founder of Black Entertainment Television and the first black to own a Big Four team (the NBA's Charlotte expansion franchise), said in the current issue of SI, "Owning an asset like this (the NBA franchise) creates the potential for opportunities beyond the business itself. There are opportunities to develop relationships with other team owners... There may be other things I can do with Mark Cuban or Stan Kroenke." The latter owns the wildly successful Colorado Mammoth, and the former has long been a fan favorite to buy into the league. An NLL team in Charlotte doesn't seem likely -- we all remember how well the Cobras drew -- but it's possible Johnson could become interested in owning a franchise somewhere.

 

1 May 2003:
      Rochester Democrat & Chronicle columnist Bob Matthews noted today that ESPN is interested in televising National Lacrosse League playoff games next season. The last NLL game aired by the self-appointed Worldwide Leader in Sports was the 1999 Champion's Cup final, in which the Toronto Rock won its first league championship.
      The Toronto Rock still has seats remaining for its bus trip to Rochester for Saturday night's championship game. The buses leave Air Canada Centre at 2:00 PM Saturday afternoon, arriving in time for the 8:00 PM date with the Knighthawks. The cost is $100 (Canadian) per person, and includes transportation, a ticket to the game, and snacks during the bus ride. All riders will need to bring along a passport or both a birth certificate and a photo ID, and those under the age of 18 must have a letter of permission from their parents. For more information, contact the Rock at 416.596.3075.

 

27 April 2003:
      The Albany Attack's sale and rumored move to San Jose could be confirmed within a week, the Albany Times-Union reported today. "We have had an offer from [San Jose] and we are considering it," team owner Herb Chorbajian said, refusing to get into specifics about the offer or whether the Bay Area group is battling with other suitors. The problem, as it usually is in cases like this, comes down to attendance; Albany has never produced great crowds and averaged under 3700 fans per game this season, ahead of only Columbus (another possible relocation case). "I just love this sport and I really enjoy the games, but we're just not producing the attendance that I have to produce," Chorbajian said. "It's like throwing a party and nobody shows up." Chorbajian has until 1 June to decide whether to sell or stay for another year in Albany, but he said he might declare his plans before the Champion's Cup final on Saturday.

 

25 April 2003:
      The Toronto Rock is facing a new foe in its home semifinal tomorrow afternoon -- Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome. "We'll have 14 or 15,000 in the building," team president Brad Watters said. "SARS has some effect. If you have the option of driving in from Orillia or someplace else outside the city or watching it on TV ... There's got to be a reason why we don't see the typical sales we usually see for a semifinal game." Watters can sure that one group in particular will show up: the opposition. "We're making sure our players are taking the necessary precautions," Colorado Mammoth general manager Steve Govett said. "But it's a game for us; we have to go in and play ... We're basically a self-contained unit anyway ... We bus, lodge and eat together. But we're telling the players to keep to themselves."

 

24 April 2003:
      The NLL today released a schedule of announcements for its end-of-season awards, voted on by head coaches, general managers, and team executives. The Rookie of the Year and All-Rookie team will be revealed Monday, followed by the winners of the Defensive Player of the Year, Goaltender of the Year and Sportsmanship awards on Tuesday. The league's top coach, executive and general manager will be honored on Wednesday, with the big ones -- the Most Valuable Player and All-Pro awards -- coming on Thursday. In related news, the Outsider's Guide Fan Choice Awards results will be announced next Friday, a day after the league's MVP announcement.

 

23 April 2003:
      The Rochester Knighthawks are looking for ways to fit a possible NLL championship game into the Blue Cross Arena schedule without interfering with the home opener of the popular Raging Rhinos soccer team. The K'Hawks and the NLL would like the game to be held the evening of Saturday, 3 May, to best fit Rogers Sportsnet's schedule. However, the arena is already booked, for an Brigade arena football game. Friday night is a possibility, but the Rhinos will be playing at nearby Frontier Field that night; Sunday is out, due to a concert. The Knighthawks have approached the Brigade about playing either Friday night or Saturday afternoon. The issue is moot, of course, if the Knighthawks can't beat Buffalo in their Saturday night semifinal.
      Vancouver Ravens owner Paul Mayenknecht says he is "bullish" about keeping the team in British Columbia. "I believe that a long-term business plan, applied to the Vancouver franchise, can make this franchise one of the top in the NLL, both on and off the floor," Mayenknecht told the Vancouver Province. "I'm very bullish about the prospects of this franchise and I'm very bullish for a variety of reasons," including the support of the local lacrosse community, the late-season increase in attendance, and the talented lineup the Ravens will return for the 2004 season. Two groups, however, have made offers that would move the Ravens to another city. Mayenknecht must declare his intentions by 1 June, but the NLL has often relaxed that deadline.
      As if it wasn't already clear why last weekend's Vancouver-Colorado quarterfinal game was permitted to be held the same day and at the same arena as an NHL playoff game hours before, wonder no more. After their team defeated the host Avalanche, 3-2, on Saturday, Minnesota Wild executives hung around for the lacrosse game, and liked what they saw. "It's a great product, great fan support, non-stop action," Wild vice president Steve Griggs said. "We're working with the league, doing our due diligence, doing market research to see if it's a viable product and a fit in our market and business plan." Relocation rumors often link struggling NLL teams to the Wild and the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul.

 

19 April 2003:
      The league announced yesterday that regular season average attendance increased eleven percent this season over last year, going from 7,731 per game to 8,658. All of that improvement (and then some) came from the Colorado Mammoth, which drew almost 132,000 fans to Pepsi Center over eight home dates. The Mammoth played last season as the Washington Power, drawing announced crowds of less than two thousand, meaning that the attendance news isn't actually so good. Throw out the Power/Mammoth, and average attendance this season actually went down, from 8,117 to 7,946.
      The Calgary Roughnecks have arranged for their game tonight at Buffalo to be shown at Dutton's in the Pengrowth Saddledome, making the Riggers' home arena the only place in Alberta where fans can watch the game live. "[Rogers Sportsnet] wasn't going to show the game at all because of a basketball conflict," Roughnecks vice president Bill Cragg said. "What we did was get the feed from Buffalo. It's going from Buffalo to Toronto and we're paying for the line into the Saddledome." The special showing is open to fans of all ages, and no admision will be charged. For those who'd rather watch from home, Sportsnet will show the game on tape delay at midnight Mountain time.
      Colorado Mammoth forward Gary Gait, who broke his own single-season scoring record (57, set with the Baltimore Thunder in 1998) this year, will honored for his accomplishment prior to tonight's quarterfinal game against Vancouver. Gait broke the record earlier this month in Calgary, then extended the new mark to 61 with a hat trick Sunday afternoon at Toronto.

 

11 April 2003:
      A league arbitrator today overturned the one-game suspensions of Colorado Mammoth forwards Ted Dowling and Brian Langtry, handed down a week ago following a bench-clearing brawl between the Mammoth and the Albany Attack late last month. Brian Reese, though, had his one-game ban upheld, and Tom Still, Bryan Cole and Rory Graham all dropped their appeals. The arbitrator also upheld the one-game suspensions of Albany's Ryan Sanderson and Brian Kazarian; they'll sit out this week's game against Vancouver. Chris White, Nick Trudeau, Rusty Kruger and Brandon Miller served their time last week against Philadelphia.

 

8 April 2003:
      The Ottawa Rebel has changed the start time of Saturday's home game against Columbus. Originally slated to begin at 7:00 PM at the Civic Centre, the match will now face off at 4:00 PM. The new starting time was set so that the Landsharks-Rebel game would not overlap with an Ottawa Senators hockey game being played that night.
      Vancouver Ravens forward Cam Sedgwick was the victim of an odd robbery last weekend. A thief broke into Sedgwick's pickup truck, but left his compact discs and his stereo, going instead for an autographed Ravens jersey that Sedgwick was planning to donate to a minor lacrosse association. Hopefully, the jersey can be replaced; we'll keep you posted.

 

4 April 2003:
      Nine of the twelve players suspended yesterday for their part in a brawl last weekend have opted to appeal. All six Colorado Mammoth fighters -- Brian Langtry, Rory Graham, Ted Dowling, Bryan Cole, Tom Still, and Brian Reese -- will take their case to a hearing a week from today, as will Albany Attack players Chris White, Bryan Kazarian, and Brandon Miller. Rusty Kruger, Nick Trudeau, and Ryan Sanderson will not appeal, and will miss Albany's game tonight against Philadelphia.

 

31 March 2003:
      Following his team's 26-16 loss yesterday at Calgary, Ottawa Rebel head coach Terry Sanderson let loose with the league's best tirades of all time. "I'm just furious with this team, I've never ever been as upset about a game as this one," Sanderson said. "I've been in seventh-game losses and have not been put through the torture of this and I take this very personal... It wasn't just our goaltending, we were just [expletive] horrible, we were a [expletive] Junior C lacrosse team playing the Calgary Roughnecks and those guys in there should be ashamed... You'll have to ask them why they just quit as I'd love to hear some of their answers."

 

29 March 2003:
      With three goals tonight against Buffalo, John Grant will break the Rochester Knighthawks' career goal-scoring record. Duane Jacobs, an original Knighthawk who was traded to the Bandits last fall, scored 169 goal in eight seasons for the Teal Warriors. Grant, who smashed Jacobs' points record last week (355 to Dewey's 354), has struck 167 times in his four-year career.
      The Toronto Rock will open its annual skills competition to the public, the first time the team has ever done so. The competition will be held at 7:30 PM on Thursday, 3 April, at Copps Coliseum in Hamilton, and will include hardest shot, most accurate shot, and fastest player contests. Admission is free, but fans are asked to bring a non-perishable food item to be donated to a local food bank. Seating is limited, so come early.

 

27 March 2003:
      Things are starting to come together for the group of investors looking to bring NLL lacrosse to San Jose. Tomorrow night's Albany-Colorado game will be shown on Fox Sports Bay Area, at 2:00 PM Pacific (5:00 PM Eastern) Saturday afternoon. The game will also air live (9:00 PM Eastern) on Fox Sports Rocky Mountain. In other San Jose news, the domain name sanjoselacrosse.com was registered recently, and the administrative contact is the Director of Internet Services for the NHL's San Jose Sharks.
      Team Canada has added forwards Chris Driscoll (Guelph, ON) and Blaine Manning (Calgary, AB), both of whom play for the Toronto Rock, for the World Indoor Lacrosse Championship, to be held in May. Driscoll has three assists in two games since being dealt to Toronto from New York earlier this month (he has 30 goals and 49 assists overall). Manning has 38 goals and 35 assists this season.

 

26 March 2003:
      Colorado Mammoth forwards Gary Gait and Brian Langtry will appear on The Best Damn Sports Show Period, a nightly sports talk program airing on Fox Sports Net, this Friday night. Gait and Langtry will be interviewed, via satellite, from the Pepsi Center, where they will be facing Albany at 9:00 PM Eastern.
      In other Colorado Mammoth news, that game against the Attack will be offered online in streaming video format. Although there has been some experimentation with online video feeds in Canadian summer lacrosse, this will be the first time since 2000 that an NLL team has tried it (ironically, it was this same franchise, as the Pittsburgh CrosseFire). Check out coloradomammoth.com for more details.
      The Vancouver Ravens will celebrate "Fan Night" when they hosts Ottawa this Friday night in their regular-season home finale. Lucky fans in attendance will win autographed authentic Ravens jerseys, someone will walk home with a 50" Toshiba television, another person will win a Beachcomber hot tub (valued at over $7,000 Canadian), and everyone gets a free meal at the Old Spaghetti Factory if the Ravens beat the Rebel. The Ravens are also offering a cut rate for groups of ten or more -- just $10 per ticket. Call 604.899.5300 for more information.

 

21 March 2003:
      The NLL trade dealine passed quietly today at 5:00 PM, with no deals made. The expected trade bait (Calgary's Matt Green, New Jersey's Cam Bomberry, etc.) reportedly was dangled this afternoon, but no one was biting. A couple teams tweaked their rosters slightly, we've heard; when the particulars of those moves are known, we'll pass them along.

 

20 March 2003:
      Team Canada has added Buffalo Bandits defenseman Andy Ogilvie and Albany Attack defenseman Jim Moss to its roster for the upcoming World Indoor Lacrosse Championship. It's a clear indication that GM Johnny Mouradian meant business when he said that he would drastically improve the Canadian defense after being torched by the United States in last fall's Heritage Cup, 21-16. Moss played for Team Canada in that game, but Ogilvie did not. Space remains on the Canadian roster for eight more runners and two goaltenders.
      The Philadelphia Wings promotions department -- the same people who brought you toilet seating this season and who are hyping Saturday's home game as "Mullet Night" -- has signed up "Jungle John" LaMedica for a world record attempt before the game against Calgary, by trying to stuff seven three-inch-long cockroaches in his mouth at one time (he already holds the record, with six). LaMedica uses stunts like this to promote his business showing reptiles and insects in schools and at other educational presentations.
      Aaron Wilson, the Toronto Rock forward who was the odds-on favorite to win the Rookie of the Year award, is out for the rest of the season due to a torn anterior cruciate ligament, suffered in last week's loss at Rochester. Wilson finishes the season with 21 goals and sixteen assists in fourteen games, three Rookie of the Week awards, and a Rookie of the Month award. Wilson was drafted by Albany in 2000 but sat out two years and signed with the Rock as an unrestricted free agent prior to this season.
      Rod Jensen, recently sacked as head coach in Colorado, has resurfaced as a consultant with the Vancouver Ravens, where his first assignment was to give the players tips on how to beat the Mammoth. It must've worked -- without Jensen's help, Colorado beat the Ravens a few weeks ago, 18-12; with him, the Ravens romped to victory, 14-9, on Sunday. Jensen is no stranger to the Ravens, having served last season as an assistant to head coach Paul Dal Monte.

 

14 March 2003:
      The Vancouver Ravens are promoting Sunday's home game against Colorado as "3G Family Day." In honor of lacrosse legend and local product Gary Gait, it's GaryMania; anyone named Gary will be admitted free. To celebrate St. Patrick's Day, a Go Green promotion; those wearing green will be eleigible to win prizes. Also, since the season to Give never ends, all fans who donate canned or dry food products at the game will receive either a pair of complimentary general admission tickets to next Friday's game against Albany or a two-for-one ticket voucher for an upcoming Ravens game.

 

13 March 2003:
      Mike Koreen offers up a pair of juicy Toronto Rock scoops in today's Toronto Sun. First, the Sun's ace lacrosse scribe reports that forward Kim Squire, who has missed the whole season so far while recovering from a bout with flesh-eating disease, will suit up for tomorrow night's game at Rochester. Squire, who participated in warmups last weekend, was rumored to be looking at a 21 March return date (vs. Philadelphia). Koreen also reports that the Rock is close to trading for reigning Player of the Month Chris Driscoll. Don't look for New York to get any significant players off Toronto's roster, though -- the Saints will probably walk away with just draft picks and practice squad players.

 

9 March 2003:
      As part of their "American Pride Night" promotion for Friday's game against Toronto, the Rochester Knighthawks are offering a discount for all military personnel in attendance. All tickets are $5.00 (US) off with the presentation of a military identification card. For more information, call the Knighthawks at 585.454.5335.

 

7 March 2003:
      The NLL announced today that the upcoming game between the Rochester Knighthawks and Columbus Landsharks, scheduled for Sunday, 16 March at Nationwide Arena, has been rescheduled for Sunday, 23 March at 6:00 PM. Ironically, that was the original date for the game before it was moved prior to the season. No reason for the change was given.
      Vancouver Ravens forward Peter Morgan will miss the remainder of the season due to a lower back injury. Morgan's back had been ailing him the past few months, and after an intensive rehabilitation program failed to produce the desired effect, team doctors advised him to rest his back. In six games this season, Morgan scored twelve goals and dished out nine assists. In other Raven transactions, Morgan's brother Richard, a former pro basketball player in Greece, was signed to the practice squad, defenseman Rob Williams was promoted from the practice squad to the active roster, and forward Rob Colville was released.

 

6 March 2003:
      "NLL Lacrosse, Presented by Labatt Blue," the NLL's new radio program on the Sports Byline USA network, quietly launched last weekend with host Larry Krueger interviewing NLL director of public relations Doug Fritts and commissioner Jim Jennings. Scheduled to appear on this week's show, which taped tonight and will air Saturday evening at 9:00 PM (Eastern), are Columbus forward Pat Maddalena and Buffalo television/netcast play-by-play voice Mike Hancock. Those who miss the show can catch it on demand at Sports Byline's archives page.

 

5 March 2003:
      Kroenke Sports, owner of the Colorado Mammoth and several other Denver teams, has begun exploring the possibility of laucnhing its own sports network. It's probably just a negotiating ploy with Fox Sports Rocky Mountain, whose seven-year contract to distribute Mammoth, Colorado Avalanche, and Denver Nuggets games ends in one year. "Fox has been a great partner for us," Kroenke Sports president Don Elliman said. "I think they've done well by us, and I think we've done well by them. But we have to explore alternatives, and it's nothing more than that." The new network, if it comes to fruition, would look much like the YES Network, started a year ago by baseball's New York Yankees.
      The Rochester Knighthawks raised close to ten thousand dollars over the weekend by wearing special Mardi Gras jerseys (see News and Notes, 25 February 2003). The team auctioned off twenty-five of the purple jerseys after Friday night's game against Ottawa, bringing in $9,467 (US) for the Mary Cariola Children’s Center of Rochester. The most expensive jersey was that of Regy Thorpe, who was playing his one-hundredth game that night; it went for a cool $1000. Defenseman Marshall Abrams' jersey went for $775, while goaltender Pat O'Toole's shirt fetched $751.

 

4 March 2003:
      The Calgary Roughnecks might be forced out of the Pengrowth Saddledome next year, the Calgary Sun reports. With as much as $1 million (Canadian) in losses this season and a soon-to-expire lease with the Calgary Flames, who run the Saddledome, Roughnecks owner Brad Banister is considering a move to the 7,500-seat Stampede Corral. "It's a viable possibility," Banister tells the Sun's Ty Pilson. "But right now, we're still in this lease. I signed it, my fault... But now I'm learning more and more and I learned I probably didn't do a good deal." The article does not explain how the Roughnecks would be permitted to play at the Corral, which falls 2,500 seats short of NLL arena capacity requirements.
      Philadelphia Wings goaltender Dallas Eliuk and forward Tony Henderson will attempt tomorrow morning to toss balls across the Schuylkill River using their lacrosse sticks. The stunt will air live on radio station Y100 at 8:30 AM. There is no recognized record for distance throwing a lacrosse ball, but the unofficial best seems to be about 300 feet. If either player makes it across the river (its width is estimated by Wings PR at 450 feet), he'd demolish that mark.
      NLL deputy commissioner George Daniel visited British Columbia yesterday as part of a west coast trip, giving the troubled Vancouver Ravens a vote of confidence. "It's been a very rewarding day," Daniel said. "Vancouver is a very important market to us. It's a very important television market for us and it's very important lacrosse market for us, because many of our players come from this area. We're going to try to do everything we can to keep it here." Vancouver is vital to the NLL's plans for western expansion, with San Jose expected to join the league next season and investors in Seattle, Daniel's next destination, showing interest.
      In related Vancouver Ravens news, owner Tom Mayenknecht says that the search for new ownership is down to five groups, from twelve. Three groups appear to have the inside track -- no names were given -- and Mayenknecht is looking to continue moving forward quickly. "Prior to the next home game [against the Colorado Mammoth, on 16 March]," he said, "I hope to have a much clearer idea of which way we're going to go." Mayenknecht, who helped found the Ravens in 2001, regained control of the team last month when new owner Paul Reinhart walked away, citing heavy losses.

 

2 March 2003:
      Philadelphia Wings diehards, you might want to sit down for this one. Jamie Batley's term as head coach of the Colorado Mammoth appears to be reaching its end at a perfect 1-0, with a more experienced NLL coach ready to step in. Sources around the league report that Colorado GM Steve Govett is close to an agreement with Tony Resch to come west and skipper the Mammoth. Resch, who compiled a 61-29 record and won three titles as head coach of the Wings from 1995 to 2001, would have a lighter-than-usual load with the Mammoth because the team only practices the night before games. Resch, who retired after the Wings' most recent championship season to become athletic director at La Salle High School in Philadelphia, would join fellow Wings alumni Govett, Gary Gait, Matt Oglesby, Fred Jenner, Tom Phair, Jamie Hanford, Dave Stilley, and Erik Miller in Denver.

 

1 March 2003:
      Team Canada has named Toronto Rock forward Jim Veltman as its captain for the World Indoor Lacrosse Championships, to be held this May in southern Ontario. Veltman also served as captain for the Heritage Cup, a 21-16 loss to the Americans in early October. Don't expect the same scorer-dominant lineup from the Canadians, though. "We picked an all-star team for the Heritage Cup and we knew we were heavy on the offensive side," Team Canada GM Johnny Mouradian said. "Now we're looking to build a team that is going to be solid defensively, good on transition, and with goal-scoring capability." There is indeed more balance this time around, with Toronto's Glenn Clark, Pat Coyle, and Steve Toll; Calgary's Tracey Kelusky and Kaleb Toth; Buffalo's John Tavares; Rochester's John Grant; and Albany's Cam Woods already selected for duty with the Maple Leafs.
      In other World Box Games news, at least four of the six head coaches have been selected. Canada will again have Toronto Rock skipper Les Bartley at the helm, assisted by Ed Comeau (Toronto assistant), Paul Dal Monte (Vancouver head coach) and Bob McMahon (Albany head coach). The Australians will be coached by Ron McNeil, a Canadian Lacrosse Hall of Famer, with Vancouver assistant Dave Pirog serving as his assistant. Paul Suggate, a box lacrosse legend who starred in the 1970s-era NLL, will coach Scotland, while Buffalo Bandits head coach Darris Kilgour will skipper the Iroquois Nationals. No official word yet from the Americans or the Czechs.