1998 NLL season
Encyclopedia
Before the 1998 season, the Major Indoor Lacrosse League was renamed to be the National Lacrosse League
, in the process increasing the length of the regular season from ten to twelve games. The first season as the NLL began on January 3, 1998 and concluded with the second championship game on April 28. The championship was decided by a best-two-of-three series, with the Philadelphia Wings
defeating the Baltimore Thunder
16-12 in the first game and 17-12 in the second.
, while the Ontario Raiders
and Syracuse Smash
began play.
National Lacrosse League
The National Lacrosse League is a men's professional indoor lacrosse league in North America. It currently has nine teams; three in Canada and six in the United States. Unlike other lacrosse leagues which play in the summer, the NLL plays its games in the winter and spring. Each year, the playoff...
, in the process increasing the length of the regular season from ten to twelve games. The first season as the NLL began on January 3, 1998 and concluded with the second championship game on April 28. The championship was decided by a best-two-of-three series, with the Philadelphia Wings
Philadelphia Wings
The Philadelphia Wings are a member of the National Lacrosse League, a professional box lacrosse league in North America. They play at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania....
defeating the Baltimore Thunder
Baltimore Thunder
The Baltimore Thunder were a member of the National Lacrosse League from 1987 until 1999. They were based in Baltimore, Maryland, and won the first Eagle Pro Box Lacrosse League championship in 1987...
16-12 in the first game and 17-12 in the second.
Team Movement
The 1998 season featured the debut of two new teams, and the removal of one. The Boston Blazers folded after nine seasons in Boston and New EnglandNew England Blazers
The New England Blazers were a member of the Major Indoor Lacrosse League from 1989 to 1991. They were based in Worcester, Massachusetts, playing at the Worcester Centrum. After the 1991 season, they moved to Boston, Massachusetts, becoming the Boston Blazers.-All time Record:-Playoff Results:...
, while the Ontario Raiders
Ontario Raiders
The Ontario Raiders were a member of the National Lacrosse League during the 1998 NLL season. The Raiders played at Copps Coliseum in Hamilton, Ontario. After only one season in Hamilton, the franchise was moved to Toronto, becoming the Toronto Rock....
and Syracuse Smash
Syracuse Smash
The Syracuse Smash were a member of the National Lacrosse League from 1998 to 2000. They were based in Syracuse, New York. The team finished last in the standings each of their three seasons, before moving to Ottawa, Ontario to become the Ottawa Rebel. In their three seasons in the NLL, the Smash...
began play.
Regular season
W = Wins, L = Losses, GB = Games Behind Leader, PCT = Winning Percentage, Home = Home record, Road = Road record, GF = Goals For, GA = Goals Against| Qualified for playoffs |
| Team | W | L | GB | PCT | Home | Road | GF | GA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Philadelphia Wings Philadelphia Wings The Philadelphia Wings are a member of the National Lacrosse League, a professional box lacrosse league in North America. They play at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.... |
9 | 3 | ||||||
| .750 | 3-3 | 6-0 | 166 | 148 | ||||
| Baltimore Thunder Baltimore Thunder The Baltimore Thunder were a member of the National Lacrosse League from 1987 until 1999. They were based in Baltimore, Maryland, and won the first Eagle Pro Box Lacrosse League championship in 1987... |
8 | 4 | 1 | .667 | 4-2 | 4-2 | 184 | 160 |
| Rochester Knighthawks Rochester Knighthawks The Rochester Knighthawks are a professional lacrosse team in the National Lacrosse League. They play in Rochester, New York at the Blue Cross Arena at the War Memorial. The Knighthawks were previously members of the Major Indoor Lacrosse League from 1995 to 1997... |
6 | 6 | 3 | .500 | 3-3 | 3-3 | 168 | 159 |
| Buffalo Bandits Buffalo Bandits The Buffalo Bandits are a team in the National Lacrosse League . They play at the First Niagara Center in Buffalo, New York. The Bandits played in the Major Indoor Lacrosse League from 1992 to 1997, until the MILL turned into the NLL in 1998.... |
6 | 6 | 3 | .500 | 4-2 | 2-4 | 166 | 171 |
| Ontario Raiders Ontario Raiders The Ontario Raiders were a member of the National Lacrosse League during the 1998 NLL season. The Raiders played at Copps Coliseum in Hamilton, Ontario. After only one season in Hamilton, the franchise was moved to Toronto, becoming the Toronto Rock.... |
6 | 6 | 3 | .500 | 4-2 | 2-4 | 165 | 157 |
| New York Saints New York Saints The New York Saints are a former member of the National Lacrosse League. They played at the Nassau Coliseum in Uniondale, New York from 1989 to 2003. They became an inactive team after the 2002-03 season and were officially defunct in 2006.... |
5 | 7 | 4 | .416 | 3-3 | 2-4 | 167 | 165 |
| Syracuse Smash Syracuse Smash The Syracuse Smash were a member of the National Lacrosse League from 1998 to 2000. They were based in Syracuse, New York. The team finished last in the standings each of their three seasons, before moving to Ottawa, Ontario to become the Ottawa Rebel. In their three seasons in the NLL, the Smash... |
2 | 10 | 7 | .167 | 2-4 | 0-6 | 163 | 219 |
Playoffs
- Game 1: Baltimore 12 @ Philadelphia 16
Game 2: Philadelphia 17 @ Baltimore 12
Awards
| Award | Winner | Team |
|---|---|---|
| MVP Award National Lacrosse League MVP Award The Reebok National Lacrosse League Most Valuable Player Award is given annually to the NLL player who is considered to have contributed most to his team's success... |
Gary Gait Gary Gait Gary Charles Gait is widely regarded as the best lacrosse player of all time, just above his twin brother Paul. He has starred at the NCAA level at Syracuse University, at the professional level in the National Lacrosse League and Major League Lacrosse, and at the international level for the... |
Baltimore |
| Rookie of the Year Award | Colin Doyle Colin Doyle (lacrosse) Colin "Popeye" Doyle is a lacrosse player an captain for the Toronto Rock of the National Lacrosse League and the Toronto Nationals of Major League Lacrosse.-NLL career:... |
Ontario |
| Championship Game MVP (Series) | Dallas Eliuk Dallas Eliuk Dallas Eliuk is a former goaltender and assistant coach in the National Lacrosse League. Prior to starting his coaching career for the Portland LumberJax in the 2009 season, Eliuk played 15 seasons for the Philadelphia Wings before being traded to the LumberJax, where he played for three seasons... |
Philadelphia |
| Championship Game MVP (Game 1) | Dallas Eliuk | Philadelphia |
| Championship Game MVP (Game 2) | Bill Miller | Philadelphia |
Weekly Awards
Each week, a player is awarded "Player of the Week" honours.| Week | Player of the Week |
|---|---|
| 1 | Gary Gait Gary Gait Gary Charles Gait is widely regarded as the best lacrosse player of all time, just above his twin brother Paul. He has starred at the NCAA level at Syracuse University, at the professional level in the National Lacrosse League and Major League Lacrosse, and at the international level for the... |
| 2 | Andy Piazza |
| 3 | Derek Collins |
| 4 | Chris Gill |
| 5 | Eric Seremet |
| 6 | Tom Marechek Tom Marechek Tom "Hollywood" Marechek is a retired professional lacrosse player. He currently coaches the Friends School of Baltimore's boys' varsity lacrosse team in Baltimore, Maryland... |
| 7 | Gary Gait |
| 8 | Darris Kilgour Darris Kilgour Darris Kilgour is the head coach and general manager of the Buffalo Bandits of the National Lacrosse League. Kilgour also played for the Bandits for 8 seasons, before finishing his playing career with the Rochester Knighthawks and Albany Attack. He won three championships with the Bandits, and is... |
| 9 | Derek General |
| 10 | Russ Heard |
| 11 | Colin Doyle Colin Doyle (lacrosse) Colin "Popeye" Doyle is a lacrosse player an captain for the Toronto Rock of the National Lacrosse League and the Toronto Nationals of Major League Lacrosse.-NLL career:... |
| 12 | Steve Sombrotto |
| 13 | Mark Millon Mark Millon Mark Millon is an American lacrosse player currently playing for the Long Island Lizards of Major League Lacrosse.Millon was a college player at the University of Massachusetts, where he gained honors as a 3 time All American , leading UMass to three births in the NCAA tournament... |
| 14 | John Tavares John Tavares (lacrosse player) John Tavares is a professional box lacrosse player in the National Lacrosse League and mathematics teacher at Philip Pocock Catholic Secondary School in Mississauga Ontario, Canada. He attended D'Youville College in Buffalo, NY.Tavares has played his entire career with the Buffalo Bandits since... |
| 15 | Bob Watson Bob Watson (lacrosse) Bob "Whipper" Watson is a former goaltender for the Toronto Rock in the National Lacrosse League and is regarded as one of the best goaltenders ever to play indoor lacrosse Watson won six NLL Championships with the Rock, and was named Championship Game MVP in both 2003 and 2011. Watson was named... |
Monthly Awards
Awards are also given out monthly for the best overall player and best rookie. The 1998 season was the first season that the Rookie of the Month award was given out.| Month | Overall | Rookie |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | Gary Gait | Curt Malawsky Curt Malawsky Curt Malawsky is a former box lacrosse player and currently the Assistant General Manager and Assistant Coach of the Calgary Roughnecks of the National Lacrosse League... |
| Feb | Darris Kilgour | Jake Bergey Jake Bergey Jake Bergey is a retired lacrosse player. Bergey played ten seasons for the Philadelphia Wings in the National Lacrosse League. Bergey is the son of former NFL star Bill Bergey, and brother of fellow lacrosse player Josh Bergey.-NLL:Bergey joined the Philadelphia Wings in 1998... |
| Mar | Mark Millon | Colin Doyle |
Statistics Leaders
Bold numbers indicate new single-season records. Italics indicate tied single-season records.| Stat | Player | Team | Number |
|---|---|---|---|
| Goals | Gail Gait | Baltimore | 57 |
| Assists | Jim Veltman | Ontario | 40 |
| Points | Gary Gait | Baltimore | 85 |
| Penalty Minutes | Pat Coyle | Ontario | 48 |
| Shots on Goal | Gary Gait | Baltimore | 156 |
| Loose Balls | Jim Veltman | Ontario | 194 |
| Save Pct | Steve Dietrich | Rochester | 77.9 |