2008 NLL season explained

League:National Lacrosse League
Sport:Indoor lacrosse
Pixels:100px
No Of Teams:12
No Of Games:16
Duration:December 29, 2007 – May 17, 2008
Season:Regular season
Mvp:Athan Iannucci (Philadelphia)
Mvp Link:National Lacrosse League MVP Award
Top Scorer:Athan Iannucci (Philadelphia)
Top Scorer Link:2008 NLL season
Playoffs:Playoffs
Conf1:Eastern
Conf1 Champ:Buffalo Bandits
Conf1 Runner-Up:Minnesota Swarm
Conf2:Western
Conf2 Champ:San Jose Stealth
Conf2 Runner-Up:Colorado Mammoth
Finals:Champion's Cup
Finals Link:Champion's Cup
Finals Champ:Buffalo Bandits
Finals Runner-Up:Portland LumberJax
Finals Mvp:Mark Steenhuis (Buffalo)
Finals Mvp Link:Champion's Cup#Most Valuable Players
Seasonslistnames:NLL
Prevseason Link:2007 NLL season
Prevseason Year:2007 season
Nextseason Link:2009 NLL season
Nextseason Year:2009 season

The 2008 National Lacrosse League season, the 22nd in the history of the NLL, began on December 29, 2007, and concluded with the Buffalo Bandits winning the championship game over the Portland LumberJax on May 17, 2008.

In an odd coincidence, all four eastern division teams that made the playoffs finished with identical 10–6 records. Due to tiebreakers, the Buffalo Bandits clinched first place overall, followed by the Minnesota Swarm, New York Titans in their playoff debut, and the Philadelphia Wings in their return to the playoffs after a five-year absence.

There was also a tie atop the west division standings, as the San Jose Stealth and Colorado Mammoth both finished with 9–7 records. The Stealth won that tiebreaker and clinched their first western division title. The Calgary Roughnecks and Portland LumberJax finished out the playoff teams in the west despite having losing records.

History was made in 2008 as neither the Rochester Knighthawks nor the Toronto Rock made the playoffs, for the first time in the history of either team (though the Toronto franchise, then the Ontario Raiders, missed the playoffs in their inaugural season in 1998). The Knighthawks broke a 13-year streak of making the playoffs, the Rock streak was stopped at 9 years.[1]

Philadelphia Wings second-year stars Athan Iannucci and Geoff Snider set a number of new league records in 2008. Iannucci eclipsed Gary Gait's record of 61 goals by scoring 71, and Snider set or tied marks in loose balls (244), face offs won (318, tied with Peter Jacobs in 2005), and penalty minutes (103).[2]

The 2008 season almost never happened. On October 16, 2007, the league released a statement officially cancelling the season, after no agreement could be reached on a new collective bargaining agreement.[3] However, negotiations continued, and on October 25, the league announced that a new CBA has been agreed on, and that the season would proceed.[4] The new revised schedule was released on November 2, 2007, but only included 12 of the expected 14 teams. The expansion Boston Blazers and 2007 Western division champion Arizona Sting had decided for "a number of business reasons"[5] to opt out of the 2008 season and return in 2009. Due to the short time frame between the agreement on a new CBA and the start of the season, the New York Titans were unable to secure 8 home dates for the revised schedule, and thus both the Toronto Rock and Buffalo Bandits hosted a Titans home game in their own arena.

Team movement

An expansion franchise for Boston, Massachusetts was announced on May 9, 2007. It was expected that the team would play at the TD Banknorth Garden, which is also home to the NBA's Boston Celtics and the NHL's Boston Bruins.[6] On October 3, 2007, the Boston franchise was officially named the Boston Blazers.[7]

When the revised schedule was released on November 2, 2007, it was announced that both the Arizona Sting and Boston Blazers were suspending operations for the 2008 season, returning in 2009.

Work stoppage

In the off-season between the 2007 and 2008 seasons the Collective Bargaining Agreement between the National Lacrosse League and the Professional Lacrosse Players' Association expired. The owners announced that if there no deal was in place before midnight, October 15, 2007 the 2008 season would be cancelled.[8] On the morning of October 16, the league announced that no agreement had been reached, and that the season was cancelled. The next day, commissioner Jim Jennings even said that the league would not change its mind about the cancellation, saying:

However, the negotiations continued, and on October 25, the league announced that a new seven-year agreement had been reached, and that the season would be played.

Before the initial cancellation of the season, the Versus network announced that it would not carry a game of the week, as they had in 2007, even if an agreement was reached before the deadline.[9]

Teams

2008 National Lacrosse League
Division Team City Arena Capacity
EastBuffalo BanditsBuffalo, New YorkHSBC Arena18,690
Chicago ShamroxHoffman Estates, IllinoisSears Centre Arena9,500
Minnesota SwarmSaint Paul, MinnesotaXCEL Energy Center18,064
New York TitansNew York, New YorkMadison Square Garden18,200
Philadelphia WingsPhiladelphia, PennsylvaniaWachovia Center19,523
Rochester KnighthawksRochester, New YorkBlue Cross Arena10,662
Toronto RockToronto, OntarioAir Canada Centre18,800
WestCalgary RoughnecksCalgary, AlbertaPengrowth Saddledome19,289
Colorado MammothDenver, ColoradoPepsi Center18,007
Edmonton RushEdmonton, AlbertaRexall Place16,839
Portland LumberjaxPortland, OregonRose Garden18,280
San Jose StealthSan Jose, CaliforniaHP Pavilion17,496

Final standings

Playoffs

Milestones and events

Pre-season

Regular season

Glenn Clark suspension

On January 11, the Minnesota Swarm defeated the Toronto Rock 17–16 in overtime, in a game which saw three Swarm players and one Rock player given game misconducts. After the game, Rock head coach Glenn Clark was involved in an altercation with Minnesota forward Sean Pollock outside the Rock dressing room.[31] Clark was later charged with assault by Toronto Police and suspended indefinitely by the NLL.[32] The Rock announced that assistant coach Terry Bullen would serve as the interim head coach[33] and Bullen led the Rock to a 2–2 record.

On February 6, the charges against Clark were dropped by Toronto Police,[34] and the NLL lifted the suspension on February 13.[35]

All-Star game

The 2008 All-Star Game was held at Rexall Place in Edmonton on March 16, 2008. The East division All-Stars defeated the West division 17–16 in overtime, as Shawn Williams scored the winner 31 seconds into OT. Philadelphia Wings' transition player Geoff Snider was named MVP.[36]

All-Star teams

Eastern Division starters Western Division starters
Athan Iannucci, PhiladelphiaJeff Zywicki, San Jose
John Tavares, BuffaloDan Carey, Colorado
John Grant, Jr., RochesterGavin Prout, Colorado
Mark Steenhuis, BuffaloBrodie Merrill, Portland
Ryan Cousins, MinnesotaEric Martin, San Jose
Nick Patterson, Minnesota (goalie)Gee Nash, Colorado (goalie)
Eastern Division reservesWestern Division reserves
Scott Evans, RochesterMike Accursi, Edmonton
Casey Powell, New York *Dan Dawson, Arizona
Andy Secore, Minnesota *Colin Doyle, San Jose
Geoff Snider, PhiladelphiaRyan Powell, Portland *
Steve Toll, RochesterLewis Ratcliff, Calgary
Jim Veltman, TorontoJeff Shattler, Calgary
Peter Lough, TorontoJosh Sims, Colorado *
Jarett Park, New YorkJimmy Quinlan, Edmonton
Scott Self, ChicagoAndrew McBride, Calgary
Chris White, BuffaloChris McElroy, Edmonton
Taylor Wray, PhiladelphiaBruce Murray, Colorado
Bob Watson, Toronto (goalie)Anthony Cosmo, San Jose (goalie)
Ryan Ward, Minnesota (replacing C. Powell)Dan Stroup, Edmonton (replacing R. Powell)
Shawn Williams, Rochester (replacing Secore)Nick Carlson, Colorado (replacing Sims)

* Unable to play due to injury

Awards

Annual

AwardWinnerTeam
Reebok Most Valuable PlayerAthan Iannucci[37] Philadelphia
US Navy Goaltender of the YearBob Watson[38] Toronto
Edge Defensive Player of the YearRyan Cousins[39] Minnesota
Transition Player of the YearMark Steenhuis[40] Buffalo
Rookie of the YearCraig Point[41] Minnesota
Sportsmanship AwardDan Carey[42] Colorado
GM of the YearMarty O'Neill[43] Minnesota
Les Bartley AwardAdam Mueller[44] New York
Executive of the Year AwardTom GarrityMinnesota
Tom Borrelli AwardPaul Tutka[45]  

All-Pro teams

First Team

Second Team

All-Rookie team

Weekly awards

The NLL gives out awards weekly for the best overall player, best offensive player, best transition player, best defensive player, and best rookie.

Month Week Overall Offensive Defensive Transition Rookie
December 1Jason Wulder Jason Wulder Dane Dobbie
January 2Blaine Manning Rob Marshall Bobby McBride Bobby McBride
3Jeff Zywicki Craig Point
4John Tavares Merrick Thomson
5Sean Pollock Sean Pollock Jordan Hall
February 6Jeff Zywicki Jeff Zywicki Craig Point
7Pat O'Toole Craig Point
8John Grant, Jr. Bob Watson Jordan Hall
9Casey Powell Daniel Sams Daniel Sams
10Shawn Evans Shawn Evans Mark Steenhuis Steve Hutchins
March 11Ken Montour Luke WilesKen Montour Mark Steenhuis Frank Resetarits
12John Orson Craig Point
13Bob WatsonBob WatsonMitch BelisleSean Morris
14Cody Jacobs Cody Jacobs Rory Glaves Chris McKay Matt MacLeod
April 15Jeff Zywicki Scott Self Mark Steenhuis Bobby McBride
16Athan Iannucci Athan Iannucci Pat O'Toole Tom Johnson
17Pat Maddalena Pat Maddalena Matt Vinc Mark Steenhuis Jordan Hall
18John Tavares Greg Peyser Brad Self Peter Jacobs

Monthly awards

Awards are also given out monthly for the best overall player and best rookie.

Month Overall Rookie
JanuaryAthan IannucciMerrick Thomson
FebruaryAthan Iannucci Craig Point
MarchCurtis PalidworJordan Hall
AprilAthan Iannucci Peter Jacobs

Statistics leaders

Bold numbers indicate new single-season records. Italics indicate tied single-season records.

StatPlayerTeamNumber
GoalsAthan IannucciPhiladelphia71
AssistsGavin ProutColorado67
PointsAthan IannucciPhiladelphia100
Penalty MinutesGeoff SniderPhiladelphia103
Shots on GoalAthan IannucciPhiladelphia253
Loose BallsGeoff SniderPhiladelphia244
Save PctKen MontourBuffalo.808
GAAChris LevisColorado10.04

Attendance

Regular Season

Home Team Home Games Average Attendance Total Attendance[46]
Colorado Mammoth 817,464139,719
Buffalo Bandits 915,013135,120
Toronto Rock914,572131,149
Calgary Roughnecks 8 11,60597,690
Philadelphia Wings811,60592,846
Minnesota Swarm811,40591,247
Rochester Knighthawks89,90279,217
Edmonton Rush88,82070,564
Portland LumberJax88,10464,837
New York Titans66,50939,055
Chicago Shamrox 8 4,96439,712
San Jose Stealth 83,05924,477
League9610,4751,005,633

Playoffs

Home Team Home Games Average Attendance Total Attendance[47]
Colorado Mammoth 115,55415,554
Buffalo Bandits313,01539,046
Minnesota Swarm111,08811,088
Calgary Roughnecks19,3279,327
San Jose Stealth12,6972,697
League711,10177,712

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: 2008 Season Was Down To The Wire. NLL.com. April 27, 2008. 2008-05-21. https://web.archive.org/web/20080510104229/http://www.nll.com/article.php?id=3457. 10 May 2008 . dead.
  2. Web site: Snider Breaks Loose Ball Record. NLL.com. April 29, 2008. 2008-05-21. https://web.archive.org/web/20080510104234/http://www.nll.com/article.php?id=3458. 10 May 2008 . dead.
  3. Web site: 2008 Season Cancelled. 2007-10-16 . 2007-10-16 . NLL.com. https://web.archive.org/web/20071017094708/http://nll.com/article.php?id=3127. 17 October 2007 . dead.
  4. Web site: NLL, PLPA reach seven-year deal. NLL.com. October 25, 2007. 2007-10-25. https://web.archive.org/web/20071026153006/http://www.nll.com/article.php?id=3132. 26 October 2007 . dead.
  5. Web site: League Releases New 2008 Schedule. NLL.com. November 2, 2007. 2007-11-02. https://web.archive.org/web/20071106023459/http://www.nll.com/article.php?id=3141. 6 November 2007 . dead.
  6. Web site: Expansion Team Awarded to Boston for 2008. NLL.com. May 9, 2007. 2007-05-09. https://web.archive.org/web/20070512194146/http://www.nll.com/article.php?id=2944. 12 May 2007 . dead.
  7. Web site: Boston Team Name: Blazers. NLL.com. October 3, 2007. 2007-03-10.
  8. Web site: NLL Season could be cancelled. https://archive.today/20070623032604/http://calsun.canoe.ca/Sports/OtherSports/2007/10/12/4569900-sun.html. usurped. June 23, 2007. Calgary Sun. October 12, 2007. 2007-10-14.
  9. Web site: NLL: Saturday night Game of the Week on VERSUS a no-go . 2007-10-12 . Johnson, Craig . October 11, 2007 . InsideLacrosse.com . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20071214032920/http://www.insidelacrosse.com/page.cfm?pagerid=2 . December 14, 2007 .
  10. Web site: Gait Steps Down as Mammoth Coach. NLL.com. August 22, 2007. 2007-08-22. https://web.archive.org/web/20070824202401/http://www.nll.com/article.php?id=3056. 24 August 2007 . dead.
  11. Web site: Bob McMahon named Colorado Head Coach. NLL.com. September 26, 2007. 2007-09-26. https://web.archive.org/web/20071004213228/http://www.nll.com/article.php?id=3100. 4 October 2007 . dead.
  12. Web site: Three Team Blockbuster Trade Announced. NLL.com. July 24, 2007. 2007-07-24.
  13. Web site: Draft day trade frenzy. NLL.com. September 2, 2007. 2007-09-28. https://web.archive.org/web/20070906103442/http://www.nll.com/article.php?id=3072. 6 September 2007 . dead.
  14. Web site: Dawson selected first overall by Portland. NLL.com. November 5, 2007. 2007-11-07. https://web.archive.org/web/20071107010051/http://www.nll.com/article.php?id=3142. 7 November 2007 . dead.
  15. Web site: NLL Announces Hall of Fame Class of 2008. NLL.com. January 9, 2008. 2008-02-05. https://web.archive.org/web/20080115055340/http://www.nll.com/article.php?id=3227. 15 January 2008 . dead.
  16. Web site: Bandits end K-Hawks Streak with 14-9 Win. NLL.com. January 12, 2008. 2008-01-13. https://web.archive.org/web/20080115053856/http://www.nll.com/article.php?id=3236. 15 January 2008 . dead.
  17. Web site: K-Hawks Top Bandits in Friday's Opener, 12-9. NLL.com. January 11, 2008. 2008-01-13. https://web.archive.org/web/20080113004707/http://www.nll.com/article.php?id=3230. 13 January 2008 . dead.
  18. Web site: Casey Powell Show Returns To Sirius. January 17, 2008. 2008-02-05. NLL.com. https://web.archive.org/web/20080119015743/http://www.nll.com/article.php?id=3242. 19 January 2008 . dead.
  19. Web site: Tavares Breaks Goal Scoring Record. NLL.com. January 19, 2008. 2008-01-20. https://web.archive.org/web/20080119131952/http://www.nll.com/article.php?id=3246. 19 January 2008 . dead.
  20. Web site: Rush Deals Seller to Roughnecks. NLL.com. January 30, 2008. 2008-02-05. https://web.archive.org/web/20080202140926/http://www.nll.com/article.php?id=3271. 2 February 2008 . dead.
  21. Web site: Chicago Deals Lazore to Buffalo. NLL.com. February 5, 2008. 2008-02-05. https://web.archive.org/web/20080207154332/http://www.nll.com/article.php?id=3275. 7 February 2008 . dead.
  22. Web site: Minnesota routs New York, 16-9. NLL.com. February 8, 2008. 2008-02-14. https://web.archive.org/web/20080210143410/http://www.nll.com/article.php?id=3277. 10 February 2008 . dead.
  23. Web site: Bob Hamley hiring made official . 2008-02-21 . Tutka, Paul . February 21, 2008 . NLLInsider.com . https://web.archive.org/web/20080306031354/http://www.nllinsider.com/2008/02/21/bob-hamley-hiring-made-official/#more-654 . 6 March 2008 . dead . dmy-all .
  24. Web site: Trade Frenzy: six players dealt. NLL.com. March 5, 2008. 2008-03-05.
  25. Web site: Weekend Recap, News, & Quotes. NLL.com. March 24, 2008. 2008-03-24. https://web.archive.org/web/20080328230155/http://www.nll.com/article.php?id=3388. 28 March 2008 . dead.
  26. Web site: Rush set up bright NLL future. nllinsider.com. Chavez, Bob. March 26, 2008. 2008-04-09. https://web.archive.org/web/20080328000216/http://www.nllinsider.com/2008/03/26/rush-set-up-bright-nll-future/. 28 March 2008. dead.
  27. Web site: Iannucci Breaks Single-Season Goals Record. NLL.com. April 12, 2008. 2008-04-12. https://web.archive.org/web/20080413093800/http://www.nll.com/article.php?id=3425. 13 April 2008 . dead.
  28. Web site: Philadelphia-Minnesota Boxscore. Pointstreak. April 12, 2008. 2008-04-12.
  29. Web site: Jim Veltman: One More Time . 2008-05-22 . Shanahan, Brian . 2008-04-30 . NLLInsider.com . https://web.archive.org/web/20080629161547/http://www.nllinsider.com/2008/04/30/jim-veltman-one-more-time/ . 29 June 2008 . dead .
  30. Web site: 'Scoop' Says Goodbye, For Now . 2008-05-22 . Borrelli, Tom . 2008-04-30 . LaxMagazine.com . https://archive.today/20120711135704/http://laxmagazine.cstv.com/sports/m-nll/spec-rel/043008aab.html . 2012-07-11 . dead .
  31. Web site: Rock coach charged after dustup with player. Toronto Star. January 14, 2008. 2008-01-16. Ryan, Allan. https://web.archive.org/web/20080117140827/http://www.thestar.com/Sports/article/293853. 17 January 2008 . live.
  32. Web site: League Suspends Clark Indefinitely. NLL.com. January 17, 2008. 2008-01-18. https://web.archive.org/web/20080119015748/http://www.nll.com/article.php?id=3243. 19 January 2008 . dead.
  33. Web site: Bullen Named Rock Interim Head Coach. January 17, 2008. 2008-02-05. NLL.com.
  34. Web site: Charges against Rock coach dropped. Toronto Star. February 6, 2008. 2008-02-06. https://web.archive.org/web/20080209145214/http://www.thestar.com/Sports/article/300825. 9 February 2008 . live.
  35. Web site: League Lifts Clark Suspension. NLL.com. February 13, 2008. 2008-02-13. https://web.archive.org/web/20080215105755/http://www.nll.com/article.php?id=3294. 15 February 2008 . dead.
  36. Web site: East All-Stars Win In Overtime, 17-16. NLL.com. March 16, 2008. 2008-03-16. https://web.archive.org/web/20080319021922/http://www.nll.com/article.php?id=3373. 19 March 2008 . dead.
  37. Web site: Athan Iannucci Wins Reebok MVP Award. NLL.com. May 15, 2008. 2008-05-15. https://web.archive.org/web/20080517220851/http://www.nll.com/article.php?id=3488. 17 May 2008 . dead.
  38. Web site: Watson Named US Navy Goalie of the Year. NLL.com. May 7, 2008. 2008-05-07. https://web.archive.org/web/20080510185121/http://www.nll.com/article.php?id=3471. 10 May 2008 . dead.
  39. Web site: Cousins Named Edge Defensive Player of the Year. NLL.com. May 12, 2008. 2008-05-12.
  40. Web site: Steenhuis Named Top Transition Player. NLL.com. May 12, 2008. 2008-05-12.
  41. Web site: Point Named Rookie of the Year. NLL.com. May 13, 2008. 2008-05-13. https://web.archive.org/web/20080517220825/http://www.nll.com/article.php?id=3482. 17 May 2008 . dead.
  42. Web site: Dan Carey and Chris McElroy Recognized. NLL.com. May 5, 2008. 2009-05-06.
  43. Web site: Marty O'Neill Named GM of the Year. NLL.com. May 8, 2008. 2008-05-08. https://web.archive.org/web/20080510185131/http://www.nll.com/article.php?id=3474. 10 May 2008 . dead.
  44. Web site: Adam Mueller Wins Les Bartley Award. NLL.com. May 8, 2008. 2008-05-08. https://web.archive.org/web/20080510185136/http://www.nll.com/article.php?id=3475. 10 May 2008 . dead.
  45. Web site: Tom Garrity Named Executive of the Year. NLL.com. May 6, 2008. 2008-05-06. https://web.archive.org/web/20080510184928/http://www.nll.com/article.php?id=3469. 10 May 2008 . dead.
  46. Web site: National Lacrosse League - attendance | Pointstreak Sports Technologies.
  47. Web site: National Lacrosse League - attendance | Pointstreak Sports Technologies.