The
National Lacrosse League (NLL) is the league of men's
indoor lacrosseBox lacrosse, also known as indoor lacrosse and sometimes shortened to boxla or simply box, is an indoor version of lacrosse played mostly in North America. The game originated in Canada, where it is the most popular version of the game played, from the traditional field lacrosse game...
in
North AmericaNorth America is the northern continent of the Americas, situated in the Earth's northern hemisphere and in the western hemisphere. It is bordered on the north by the Arctic Ocean, on the east by the North Atlantic Ocean, on the southeast by the Caribbean Sea, and on the west by the North Pacific...
. It currently has 11 teams; three in
CanadaCanada is a country occupying most of northern North America, extending from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
and eight in the
United StatesThe United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. Unlike other
lacrosseLacrosse is a team sport of Native American origin that is played using a small solid rubber ball and a long-handled racquet called a crosse or lacrosse stick. The head of the lacrosse stick is strung with loose netting that is designed to hold the lacrosse ball...
leagues which play in the summer, the NLL plays its games in the winter. Each year, the playoff teams battle for the
Champion's CupThe Champion's Cup is the trophy awarded to the playoff winners in the National Lacrosse League.-Winners:-Most Valuable Players:-Champion's Cup appearances:Only currently active teams are listed.-All-time Champion's Cup wins:...
.
Although there are specific areas where lacrosse is popular such as
CanadaCanada is a country occupying most of northern North America, extending from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
(mainly in
Southern OntarioSouthern Ontario is the portion of the Canadian province of Ontario lying south of the French River and Algonquin Park. Depending on the inclusion of the Parry Sound and Muskoka districts, its surface area would cover between 14-15% of the province. It is the southernmost region of Canada.Southern...
and
British ColumbiaBritish Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is famed for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . In 1871, it became the sixth province of Canada.The capital of British Columbia is Victoria, the 15th largest metropolitan region in Canada...
),
New EnglandNew England is a region of the United States. It is located at the northeastern corner of the US, bordered by the Atlantic Ocean, Canada and the state of New York, consisting of the modern U.S...
,
New YorkNew York is a state in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern regions of the United States and is the nation's third most populous. The state is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
,
MarylandMaryland is a state located in the Mid Atlantic region of the United States, bordering Virginia, West Virginia and the District of Columbia to the south and west, Pennsylvania to the north, and Delaware to the east. It is comparable in size to the European country of Belgium. According to the U.S...
,
and all
Northeastern United StatesThe Northeastern United States is a region of the United States. According to the definition used by the United States Census Bureau, the Northeast region consists of nine states: the New England states of Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island and Connecticut; and the...
primarily for historic reasons or due to high profile college programs, it is still considered a marginal sport in most of North America. Consequently, franchise foldings and relocations have been common in the NLL.
Game
The version of lacrosse played in the NLL is indoor lacrosse. This is slightly different from box lacrosse, which is played on a hard floor, usually in the summer, and has 3 periods instead of four. The NLL plays four quarters of fifteen minutes each, with two-minute breaks between the first and second quarters and between the third and fourth quarters, and a twelve-minute break between the second and third (called
half-timeIn some team sports such as association football and rugby, matches are played in two halves. Half-time is the name given to the interval between the two halves of the match. Typically, after half-time teams swap ends of the field of play, in order to reduce any advantage that may be gained from...
). The clock does not run when play is stopped.
The team that has scored the most goals at the end of regulation time is declared the winner. If the game is tied after four quarters have been played, the teams begin sudden death overtime; the team that scores first wins the game. Overtime period are fifteen minutes long, with two-minute breaks between overtime periods. Prior to the
2005 NLL seasonThe 2005 National Lacrosse League season began on January 1, 2005 and concluded with the championship game on May 14. The Toronto Rock won their fifth NLL championship, defeating the Arizona Sting 19-13 in Toronto....
, overtime periods were 5 minutes each.
Each team dresses eighteen players, of whom two are
goaltenderThis article is about the goaltender in ice hockey. For the similar position in other sports, see goalkeeper. For the basketball foul, see goaltending....
s; the remaining sixteen are called
runners, and may be either
forwardsIn sports, offense or offence , also known as attack, is the action of attacking or engaging an opposing team with the objective of scoring points or goals...
or defensemen. There are also players, frequently defensemen, who specialize in the
transition from defense to offense.
The team in possession of the ball has ten seconds to move the ball over the center line, and thirty seconds to take a shot on net. If either of these time periods expires, the whistle is blown, and the opposing team is given possession. In the NLL, the shot clock runs while a team that is killing a penalty has possession of the ball; this is not the case in all box lacrosse leagues (eg.
Major Series LacrosseMajor Series Lacrosse is a Senior A box lacrosse league based out of Ontario, Canada sanctioned by the Ontario Lacrosse Association. Most of the players in the league play or have played in the National Lacrosse League. Each year, the playoff teams battle for the right to compete against the...
,
Western Lacrosse AssociationThe Western Lacrosse Association is an amateur league of men's Senior A box lacrosse sanctioned by the Canadian Lacrosse Association. It consists of seven teams, based in cities throughout southwestern British Columbia. Each year, the playoff teams battle for the right to compete against the...
).
Season and playoffs
Each team in the NLL plays sixteen games during the regular season, eight at home and eight away. The teams are divided into two divisions, the Eastern division and the Western division. Each team plays at least twelve of its sixteen regular season games against division opponents.
The regular season begins in late December and ends in April. At the end the regular season, the top four teams in each division make the
playoffThe playoffs, postseason, or finals of a sports league are a series of games played after the regular season by the top competitors, to determine the league champion or a similar accolade. The term and concept are most widespread in North America.In the U.S...
s, which consist of three single-game elimination rounds. In the first round (the
Division Semi-finals), each division winner hosts the fourth-place team in its division, and the second-place team hosts the third-place team. In the second round (the
Division Finals), the two remaining teams in each division play; the higher-seeded team hosts the game. Two weeks after the Division Finals, the division winners face off for the
Champion's CupThe Champion's Cup is the trophy awarded to the playoff winners in the National Lacrosse League.-Winners:-Most Valuable Players:-Champion's Cup appearances:Only currently active teams are listed.-All-time Champion's Cup wins:...
.
All NLL games are played on weekends, save for the occasional Thursday night game. Most NLL players have full-time jobs off the floor; notable examples include Toronto's
Dan LadouceurDan "Big Dog" Ladouceur is a former lacrosse player. Ladouceur played ten seasons for the Toronto Rock in the National Lacrosse League, winning five championships, before retiring during the 2009 season.-NLL:...
, a
Durham RegionThe Regional Municipality of Durham, informally referred to as Durham Region, is a regional municipality located in Southern Ontario east of Toronto, Ontario. It has an area of approximately 2,500 square kilometres...
police officerA police officer is a warranted employee of a police force. Police officers are generally responsible for apprehending criminals, maintaining public order, and preventing and detecting crimes...
, and Buffalo's John Tavares, a high school
teacherIn education, a teacher is a person who educates others. A teacher who educates an individual student may also be described as a personal tutor....
in
Mississauga, OntarioMississauga , incorporated in 1974, is a city in Southern Ontario located in the Regional Municipality of Peel, and part of the Greater Toronto Area. With a population of 668,549 as of the 2006 census, it is Canada's sixth-most populous municipality, and has almost doubled in population in each...
.
History
The rebirth of major professional box lacrosse in the United States came on March 13, 1986, with the formation of the
Eagle Pro Box Lacrosse League (EPBLL), which was incorporated by
Russ Cline Russ Cline was a co-founder of the Eagle Pro Box Lacrosse League on March 13, 1986. Russ is President/Owner of the Philadelphia Wings organization....
and
Chris FritzChris Fritz was a co-founder of the Eagle Pro Box Lacrosse League on May 13, 1987.Fritz was the league's first President. In June 2005, it was announced that Chris would be inducted into the National Lacrosse League Hall of Fame along with Russ Cline, Paul Gait, Gary Gait and Les Bartley...
. As background, in 1985 box lacrosse sponsored an event played at the Spectrum in Philadelphia. The USA/Canada Superseries was an eight-game series, seen as a pre-cursor to the Major Indoor Lacrosse League. The league began play for the
1987 season1987 was the inaugural season of the Eagle Pro Box Lacrosse League. The season began on January 10, 1987 and concluded with the championship game on March 21.-Regular Season:...
, opening with two games on January 10, 1987: the
Philadelphia WingsThe Philadelphia Wings are a member of the National Lacrosse League, a professional box lacrosse league in North America. They play at the Wachovia Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania....
at the
New Jersey SaintsThe New Jersey Saints were one of the founding teams in the Eagle Pro Box Lacrosse League . They played at the Brendan Byrne Arena in East Rutherford, New Jersey. The Saints won the 1988 Eagle Pro championship...
and the
Washington WaveThe Washington Wave was an American lacrosse team. They were a member of the Eagle Pro Box Lacrosse League and the Major Indoor Lacrosse League from 1987 to 1989. They were based in Washington, D.C. and played in the Capital Centre in Landover, Maryland. The team's first coach, Bud Beardmore, was...
hosting the
Baltimore ThunderThe 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...
. Those four teams contested a six-game regular season before a postseason which saw all four teams qualify for a single knockout tournament, which ended with the Baltimore Thunder crowned the EPBLL's first champion.
Those same four teams played in the
second seasonThe 1988 Eagle Pro Box Lacrosse League season began on January 3, 1988 and concluded with the championship game on March 20. On May 15, 1988 the league was renamed Major Indoor Lacrosse League , a name the league would keep for the next ten years....
of the EPBLL. The teams expanded to an eight-game schedule, and set up a three-team playoff with the regular season winner claiming a bye to the title game. The league rebranded itself as the
Major Indoor Lacrosse League (MILL) immediately after the season, and announced that the
Detroit TurbosThe Detroit Turbos were a member of the Major Indoor Lacrosse League from 1989 to 1994. They were based in Detroit, Michigan. The Turbos won the 1991 MILL Championship.-Awards & honors:1A) All Time Roster-All time Record:-Playoff Results:...
and
New England BlazersThe 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:...
(based in
Worcester, MassachusettsWorcester is a city in the state of Massachusetts in the United States of America. Having a population of 172,648 in the 2000 census, Worcester is ranked the second or third largest city in New England. It is the county seat of Worcester County....
) would begin play for the
1989 season-Team Movement:1989 saw the MILL expand by two teams: the New England Blazers and the Detroit Turbos. The New Jersey Saints also moved to Long Island, New York, becoming the New York Saints.-Regular Season:...
. Meanwhile, the New Jersey Saints moved to Long Island and were renamed the
New York SaintsThe 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....
.
Like many young professional leagues, the MILL had its share of franchise instability. After the 1989 season, the Washington Wave folded and the MILL granted the expansion
Pittsburgh BullsThe Pittsburgh Bulls were a member of the Major Indoor Lacrosse League from 1990 to 1993.They were based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.-All time Record:
...
a franchise to remain at 6 teams for the
1990 season-Team Movement:The Pittsburgh Bulls made their MILL debut in 1990, while the Washington Wave ceased operations.-Regular Season:W = Wins, L = Losses, GB = Games Behind Leader, PCT = Winning Percentage, GF = Goals For, GA = Goals Against
...
.
1991The 1991 season began on December 29, 1990 and concluded with the championship game on April 6, 1991.-Team Movement:No teams were added, removed, or relocated in the 1991 season...
saw no franchise changes, but the league expanded the schedule again to 10 games, and introduced two divisions. The American Division consisted of the Baltimore Thunder, Philadelphia Wings, and New York Saints, while the National Division was to be contested between the Detroit Turbos, Pittsburgh Bulls, and New England Blazers. The 1991 postseason consisted solely of a championship game, between the winners of the two divisions.
| National Lacrosse League Progression |
| Year |
Teams |
Games Played |
| 1987 |
4 teams |
6 games |
| 1988 |
8 games |
| 1989 |
6 teams |
| 1990 |
| 1991 |
10 games |
| 1992 |
7 teams |
8 games |
| 1993 |
| 1994 |
6 teams |
| 1995 |
| 1996 |
7 teams |
10 games |
| 1997 |
6 teams |
| 1998 |
7 teams |
12 games |
| 1999 |
| 2000 |
8 teams |
| 2001 |
9 teams |
14 games |
| 2002 |
13 teams |
16 games |
| 2003 |
12 teams |
| 2004 |
10 teams |
| 2005 |
| 2006 |
11 teams |
| 2007 |
13 teams |
| 2008 |
12 teams |
| 2009 |
| 2010 |
11 teams |
1992The 1992 season began on December 27, 1991 and concluded with the championship game on April 11, 1992.-Team Movement:1992 saw the debut of the Buffalo Bandits, and also saw the New England Blazers move to Boston.-Regular Season:...
brought another franchise move, as New England relocated to
BostonBoston is the capital and largest city of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is considered the economic and cultural center of the region and is sometimes regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England"...
and became the Boston Blazers (1992-1997). In what would ultimately prove to be the first of the successful expansions, the
Buffalo BanditsThe Buffalo Bandits are a team in the National Lacrosse League . They play at the HSBC Arena 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....
joined the American division. The Bandits dropped their first three games of the season, but then went on a record 22 game winning streak to claim both the 1992 and
1993The 1993 Major Indoor Lacrosse League season began on January 9, 1993 and concluded with the championship game on April 10. 1993 saw the only undefeated season in the history of the MILL/NLL; the Buffalo Bandits won all eight of their regular season games, then defeated Boston in the Divisional...
titles. The 1992 and 1993 seasons ended the 10 game schedule, shrinking it back to 8 games, while expanding the playoffs so that 6 of the 7 teams would qualify.
1994The 1994 season began on January 8, 1994 and concluded with the championship game on April 16.-Team Movement:The only change in teams from the 1993 MILL season to 1994 was the loss of the Pittsburgh Bulls.-Regular Season:...
would mark the first time the league would contract, as the Pittsburgh Bulls folded while no new teams were added. The league remained with the 2 division format with just 6 teams, but would abandon that for a single division in
1995The 1995 Major Indoor Lacrosse League season began on January 7, 1995 and concluded with the championship game on April 8, 1995.-Team Movement:1995 featured the debut of the Rochester Knighthawks to the MILL, replacing the Detroit Turbos.-Regular Season:...
, which also saw the folding of the Detroit Turbos and the introduction of the
Rochester KnighthawksThe 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...
. The Knighthawks had immediate success as an expansion team, going all the way to the championship game before falling to the Philadelphia Wings in overtime. 1996 brought the ill-fated
Charlotte CobrasThe Charlotte Cobras were a member of the Major Indoor Lacrosse League. They were based in Charlotte, North Carolina, and only played during the 1996 season. The franchise folded without ever winning a single game.-All time Record:
...
to the league to expand back to seven. The team from
North CarolinaNorth Carolina is a state located on the Atlantic Seaboard in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties...
(GM Coleman Hynes) went 0-10, and quickly folded camp after the season. At the same time, the league went back to a 10 game season.
The
1997 seasonThe 1997 season, the last as the MILL, began on January 4, 1997 and concluded with the championship game on April 12. The league was renamed to the National Lacrosse League after this season.-Team Movement:...
went back to the same 6 franchises as the 1995 season had seen, but any sort of stability was only an illusion. After the 1997 season, a rival league named the
National Lacrosse League was formed, which was to be based on the franchise model traditional in major American sports leagues, instead of the MILL "single entity ownership" model. After a short battle between the two competitors, the two leagues merged and the 6 MILL franchises joined two NLL franchises, the
Syracuse SmashThe 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...
and the
Ontario RaidersThe 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....
(based in
Hamilton, OntarioHamilton is a port city in the Canadian province of Ontario. Conceived by George Hamilton when he purchased the Durand farm shortly after the War of 1812, Hamilton has become the centre of a densely populated and industrialized region at the west end of Lake Ontario known as the Golden Horseshoe...
), under the NLL umbrella and league structure. The league suffered a setback quickly, as the Boston Blazers suspended operations for one year for the
1998 seasonBefore the 1998 season, the Major Indoor Lacrosse League was renamed to be the National Lacrosse League. The first season as the NLL began on January 3, 1998 and concluded with the second championship game on April 28...
, but never returned to play. The NLL went to a double round robin schedule for the 1998 season, so the 7 teams played a 12 game season.
The franchise turmoil didn't change with the new league structure, as the Ontario Raiders packed up and moved to Toronto after one season, becoming the
Toronto RockThe Toronto Rock are a lacrosse team in the National Lacrosse League . They play at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto, Ontario. The Rock of the late 1990s / early 2000s has been called a dynasty, having won five NLL championships in seven years. From 1999 to 2003, the Rock appeared in an NLL-record...
. The Rock quickly became a major success both on the field and in the box office, selling out
Maple Leaf GardensMaple Leaf Gardens is an indoor arena in Toronto, on the northwest corner of Carlton Street and Church Street in Toronto's Garden District. It still stands, as of 2009, but has seen little use in the past decade....
and claiming the
1999The 1999 National Lacrosse League season began on December 26, 1998 and concluded with the championship game on April 23, 1999. The Toronto Rock celebrated their first season in Toronto by winning the championship, defeating the Rochester Knighthawks 13-10 at Maple Leaf Gardens.The playoffs...
and
2000The 2000 National Lacrosse League season began on January 7, 2000 and concluded with the championship game on May 6, 2000. The Toronto Rock defeated the Rochester Knighthawks 14-13, in what has been described as the "greatest indoor lacrosse game ever played"...
NLL titles. 2000 saw one of the original four teams move, as the Baltimore Thunder went to Pittsburgh to become the
Pittsburgh CrosseFireThe Pittsburgh CrosseFire were a member of the National Lacrosse League during the 2000 NLL season. They were based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The franchise started out as the Baltimore Thunder before moving to Pittsburgh. After a single season, they moved again to Washington, becoming the...
. The NLL also expanded to 8 teams, introducing the
Albany AttackThe Albany Attack was the name of a franchise which played in the National Lacrosse League from the 2000 season through the 2003 season. The Attack played in the former Pepsi Arena in Albany, New York...
to play in New York's capital.
In
2001The 2001 National Lacrosse League season began on December 21, 2000 and concluded with the championship game on April 27, 2001. The Philadelphia Wings won their 6th NLL championship, defeating the Toronto Rock 9-8 in Toronto. Philadelphia had now won twice as many championships as any other team in...
, the league continued to grow to 14 games and introduced its 9th team, the
Columbus LandsharksThe Columbus Landsharks were a member of the National Lacrosse League from 2001 until 2003. They were based in Columbus, Ohio. After the 2003 season, the franchise moved to Phoenix, Arizona, becoming the Arizona Sting. This move was based on poor attendance....
. Meanwhile, the Pittsburgh Crossefire continued to search for a place to call home, as they moved to the US capital to become the
Washington PowerThe Washington Power were a member of the National Lacrosse League during the 2001 and 2002 seasons. After the inaugural championship in 1987 in Baltimore through 1999 and an unsuccessful stint in Pittsburgh , the franchise moved to Washington, D.C. in 2001...
. The Syracuse Smash became the second team to play north of the border, as they moved to become the
Ottawa RebelThe Ottawa Rebel was a team in the National Lacrosse League based in Ottawa, Ontario from 2001 until 2003. They played at the Corel Centre in nearby Kanata originally, but then part-way through the 2002 season, the Rebel moved to the Ottawa Civic Centre, which is a smaller arena, but more...
.
Despite all the turmoil, the league continued to expand to new markets, and
2002The 2002 National Lacrosse League season began on November 16, 2001 and concluded with the championship game on April 13, 2002. The Toronto Rock defeated the Albany Attack 13-12 to win their third championship in four seasons...
was a major part of their nationwide expansion aspirations. For the first time, the league moved out of the Eastern time zone, adding the
Vancouver RavensThe Vancouver Ravens were a member of the National Lacrosse League , from 2002 to 2004. They played their three seasons at GM Place in Vancouver, British Columbia. After the three year lease at GM Place expired, they were unable to secure a lease with either GM Place or the Pacific Coliseum, but...
and
Calgary RoughnecksThe Calgary Roughnecks are a member of the National Lacrosse League based in Calgary, Alberta. The name refers to the roughnecks who work the drilling rigs in Alberta's oil and gas industry...
, as well as adding the
Montreal ExpressThe Montreal Express was a member of the National Lacrosse League during the 2002 season. They played at the Bell Centre in Montreal, Quebec. They were inactive during the 2003 and 2004 seasons. The team remained inactive and the franchise was returned to the NLL after the 2004 season...
and
New Jersey StormThe New Jersey Storm were a member of the National Lacrosse League, based in East Rutherford, New Jersey. They played from 2002 to 2003. After the 2003, due to low attendance in New Jersey, the team relocated to Anaheim, California, becoming the Anaheim Storm. After the 2005 season, the Anaheim...
. The expansion to 13 teams necessitated dividing the league up into divisions for the first time since 1994, as the Central, Eastern, and Northern Divisions were born. The league also expanded the schedule to 16 games, where it still stands today. While the 2002 expansion ultimately proved unsuccessful (3 of the 4 teams have since folded), it did set the stage for the league to grow to a national scope. It also marked the only time the higher seeded team did not host an NLL playoff game, as the Washington Power surrendered the quarterfinal game against Philadelphia to the Wings for financial reasons.
2003The 2003 National Lacrosse League season began on December 27, 2002 and concluded with the championship game on May 3, 2003.In 2003, the NLL became the first major men's sports league in North America to feature a woman playing in a regular-season game. Ginny Capicchioni, a stand-out goaltender at...
saw the Montreal franchise suspend operations, becoming the second team in league history to be in existence for only one season. The Power, who had struggled to draw fans in Washington, made their 3rd move in 4 season to
DenverThe City and County of Denver is the capital and the most populous city of the state of Colorado, in the United States. Denver is a consolidated city-county located in the South Platte River Valley on the High Plains just east of the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains...
to become the
Colorado MammothThe Colorado Mammoth are a member of the National Lacrosse League. They have played at Pepsi Center in Denver, Colorado, since the 2003 season....
. This move was finally successful, as the Mammoth have become one of the flagship franchises in the league.
In
2004The 2004 National Lacrosse League season began on December 26, 2003 and concluded with the championship game on May 7, 2004. Over 19,000 fans, the second largest crowd ever at an NLL game, packed the Pengrowth Saddledome to watch the Calgary Roughnecks defeat the Buffalo Bandits 14-11...
, for the first time since 1990, the league lost one of the original franchises as the New York Saints went dark. Contraction from the 2002 high of 13 teams continued, as the Storm moved across the country to
AnaheimAnaheim is a city in Orange County, California. As of January 1, 2009, the city population was about 348,467, making it the 10th most-populated city in California and ranked 54th in the United States. The city anticipates that the population will surpass 400,000 by 2014 due to rapid development...
, becoming the
Anaheim StormThe Anaheim Storm was a member of the National Lacrosse League. They played at the Arrowhead Pond in Anaheim, California. They were the New Jersey Storm from the 2002 season to 2003. Starting for the 2004 season the team relocated to Anaheim, California...
, while the Ottawa Rebel folded. The Albany Attack and Columbus Landsharks followed the Storm westward, settling in as the
San Jose StealthThe San Jose Stealth were a member of the National Lacrosse League, the professional box lacrosse league of North America from 2004 until 2009. They played at the HP Pavilion at San Jose, which is also the home of the NHL's San Jose Sharks and the AFL's San Jose SaberCats. They relocated to San...
and
Arizona StingThe Arizona Sting was a member of the National Lacrosse League from 2004 to 2007. They played at Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio, from 2001 to 2003 as the Columbus Landsharks. On August 28, 2003, it was announced that the team was relocating to Glendale, Arizona...
respectively. The league consolidated into a 4 team Eastern Division (Philadelphia, Buffalo, Rochester, and Toronto) and a 6 team Western Division (Colorado, Arizona, San Jose, Vancouver, Calgary, and Anaheim).
2005The 2005 National Lacrosse League season began on January 1, 2005 and concluded with the championship game on May 14. The Toronto Rock won their fifth NLL championship, defeating the Arizona Sting 19-13 in Toronto....
then saw the Vancouver Ravens folded due to lease and ownership issues, while the Montreal franchise rights were bought by the NHL's
Minnesota WildThe Minnesota Wild are a professional ice hockey team based in St. Paul, Minnesota, United States. They are members of the Northwest Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League ....
to create the
Minnesota SwarmMinnesota Swarm are a box lacrosse team in the National Lacrosse League. The team plays at the Xcel Energy Center in Saint Paul, MinnesotaThe teams previous owners who also own the NHL's Minnesota Wild purchased the rights to the inactive Montreal Express team on August 10, 2004...
in the Eastern Division. This type of transaction, where an expansion franchise is formed using the rights of a team that had suspended operations, would be used again in the NLL for the next few years, as a glut of teams that were suspended would make those franchise rights more affordable than the league expansion fee of several million dollars.
2006The 2006 National Lacrosse League season was the 20th season in the history of the league, which began as the Eagle Pro Box Lacrosse League in 1987. The season began on December 30, 2005 and concluded with the championship game on May 13, 2006....
saw the Anaheim Storm suspend operations, while an ownership group led by
Angela BatinovichAngela Batinovich is an American businesswoman. She is the majority shareholder and managing partner of the Portland LumberJax of the National Lacrosse League; the creator of "Bat's Daughter", a successful line of women's clothing; and the founder of AMBLA, INC., a company that invests in small...
bought an expansion franchise called the
Portland LumberJaxThe Portland LumberJax were a professional lacrosse team in the National Lacrosse League , which started playing in the 2006 season and ended operations after the 2009 season. Announced by the NLL on May 11, 2005, the LumberJax played their home games at the Rose Garden Arena in Portland, Oregon...
, and Bruce Urban bought the rights to the suspended Ottawa franchise to form a team in
EdmontonEdmonton is the capital of the Canadian province of Alberta. The city is located on the North Saskatchewan River in the central region of the province, an area with some of the most fertile farmland on the prairies...
named the
RushThe Edmonton Rush is a professional lacrosse team in the National Lacrosse League that started playing in the 2006 NLL season.The NLL announced that Edmonton, Alberta, Canada would receive an NLL franchise on May 5, 2005. They play their home games at Rexall Place...
.
2007The 2007 National Lacrosse League season, the 21st in the history of the NLL began on December 30, 2006 and concluded with the championship game on May 12, 2007....
saw the league finally get back to its 2002 size of thirteen teams, with the addition of the New York Titans and the
Chicago ShamroxThe Chicago Shamrox were a professional lacrosse team that played in the National Lacrosse League in the 2007 and 2008 NLL seasons. Home matches were played at the Sears Centre in northwest suburban Hoffman Estates, Illinois. The team's ownership group was headed by Kevin Loughery Jr., the son of...
, while all of the 11 teams from 2006 stayed in place, a first since the 2002 expansion.
The
2008 seasonThe 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....
was scheduled to see yet another expansion team, as the NLL was scheduled to return to
BostonBoston is the capital and largest city of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is considered the economic and cultural center of the region and is sometimes regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England"...
. However, things took a turn in October 2007, more than two months before the scheduled start of the 2008 season, that would delay the NLL's return to Boston. On October 16, 2007, the Associated Press reported that Commissioner Jim Jennings sent an email to players announcing the cancellation of the
2008 NLL seasonThe 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....
, after the NLL and The
Professional Lacrosse Players' AssociationThe Professional Lacrosse Players' Association is the trade union of players in indoor lacrosse's National Lacrosse League....
failed to reach a new collective bargaining agreement. The previous deal expired on July 31, 2007. Later that day the league made its official announcement to cancel the season. 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. A new schedule was announced on November 2, 2007, but only included 12 of the expected 14 teams. According to the news release, "the
ArizonaThe Arizona Sting was a member of the National Lacrosse League from 2004 to 2007. They played at Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio, from 2001 to 2003 as the Columbus Landsharks. On August 28, 2003, it was announced that the team was relocating to Glendale, Arizona...
and
BostonThe Boston Blazers were a member of the Major Indoor Lacrosse League from 1989 to 1997. They were called the New England Blazers from 1989 to 1991 while based in Worcester, Massachusetts, and were renamed the Boston Blazers in 1992 when they moved to Boston. While in Worcester, the Blazers played...
franchises have opted not to play in the 2008 due to a number of business issues. Both franchises will resume operations in 2009."
The
2009 seasonThe 2009 National Lacrosse League season, the 23rd in the history of the NLL, began January 3, 2009 in Buffalo, Portland, and Sunrise, Florida, and concluded with the Calgary Roughnecks defeating the New York Titans 12—10 in the Champion's Cup on May 15, 2009....
would have seen the league return to fourteen teams. But while the Boston Blazers joined the league as expected, the
Arizona StingThe Arizona Sting was a member of the National Lacrosse League from 2004 to 2007. They played at Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio, from 2001 to 2003 as the Columbus Landsharks. On August 28, 2003, it was announced that the team was relocating to Glendale, Arizona...
instead ceased operations and its players were dispersed in a draft. A few weeks before the season started, the
Chicago ShamroxThe Chicago Shamrox were a professional lacrosse team that played in the National Lacrosse League in the 2007 and 2008 NLL seasons. Home matches were played at the Sears Centre in northwest suburban Hoffman Estates, Illinois. The team's ownership group was headed by Kevin Loughery Jr., the son of...
announced that they were also suspending operations, and yet another dispersal draft was held. On May 4, 2009, two days after losing in the playoffs, the Portland Lumberjax ceased operations, citing the poor economic climate in which the team, among other things, saw a $300,000 decrease in corporate sponsorship. A dispersal draft was held July 7, 2009 for the former Lumberjax players. The end of the season resulted in two major moves: in mid-July, the San Jose Stealth moves to Everett, WA to become the
Washington StealthThe Washington Stealth are a member of the National Lacrosse League, the professional box lacrosse league of North America. Based in Everett , the Stealth are set to begin play for the 2010 NLL season, with home games to be played at the 8,513-seat Comcast Arena at Everett.The team was previously...
; in August 2009, the New York Titans announced their move to
Orlando, FloridaOrlando is a major city in the central region of the U.S. state of Florida. It is the county seat of Orange County and the center of the Greater Orlando metropolitan region...
to become the
Orlando TitansThe Orlando Titans are a professional lacrosse team in the National Lacrosse League that will begin playing in the 2010 season. The Titans began as the New York Titans, and played for three seasons in New York before announcing the move to Orlando on August 10, 2009....
.
Championship history
| Team |
Championships |
| Philadelphia Wings |
6 |
| Toronto Rock |
5 |
| Buffalo Bandits |
4 |
| Calgary Roughnecks |
2 |
| Rochester Knighthawks |
2 |
| Baltimore Thunder |
1 |
| Colorado Mammoth |
1 |
| Detroit Turbos |
1 |
| New Jersey Saints |
1 |
- 1987
1987 was the inaugural season of the Eagle Pro Box Lacrosse League. The season began on January 10, 1987 and concluded with the championship game on March 21.-Regular Season:...
Baltimore ThunderThe 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...
11 — 10 Washington WaveThe Washington Wave was an American lacrosse team. They were a member of the Eagle Pro Box Lacrosse League and the Major Indoor Lacrosse League from 1987 to 1989. They were based in Washington, D.C. and played in the Capital Centre in Landover, Maryland. The team's first coach, Bud Beardmore, was...
- 1988
The 1988 Eagle Pro Box Lacrosse League season began on January 3, 1988 and concluded with the championship game on March 20. On May 15, 1988 the league was renamed Major Indoor Lacrosse League , a name the league would keep for the next ten years....
New Jersey SaintsThe 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....
17 — 16 Washington Wave
- 1989
-Team Movement:1989 saw the MILL expand by two teams: the New England Blazers and the Detroit Turbos. The New Jersey Saints also moved to Long Island, New York, becoming the New York Saints.-Regular Season:...
Philadelphia WingsThe Philadelphia Wings are a member of the National Lacrosse League, a professional box lacrosse league in North America. They play at the Wachovia Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania....
11 — 10 New York SaintsThe 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....
- 1990
-Team Movement:The Pittsburgh Bulls made their MILL debut in 1990, while the Washington Wave ceased operations.-Regular Season:W = Wins, L = Losses, GB = Games Behind Leader, PCT = Winning Percentage, GF = Goals For, GA = Goals Against
...
Philadelphia Wings 17 — 7 New England BlazersThe 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:...
- 1991
The 1991 season began on December 29, 1990 and concluded with the championship game on April 6, 1991.-Team Movement:No teams were added, removed, or relocated in the 1991 season...
Detroit TurbosThe Detroit Turbos were a member of the Major Indoor Lacrosse League from 1989 to 1994. They were based in Detroit, Michigan. The Turbos won the 1991 MILL Championship.-Awards & honors:1A) All Time Roster-All time Record:-Playoff Results:...
14 — 12 Baltimore Thunder
- 1992
The 1992 season began on December 27, 1991 and concluded with the championship game on April 11, 1992.-Team Movement:1992 saw the debut of the Buffalo Bandits, and also saw the New England Blazers move to Boston.-Regular Season:...
Buffalo BanditsThe Buffalo Bandits are a team in the National Lacrosse League . They play at the HSBC Arena 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....
11 — 10 Philadelphia Wings (OT)
- 1993
The 1993 Major Indoor Lacrosse League season began on January 9, 1993 and concluded with the championship game on April 10. 1993 saw the only undefeated season in the history of the MILL/NLL; the Buffalo Bandits won all eight of their regular season games, then defeated Boston in the Divisional...
Buffalo Bandits 13 — 12 Philadelphia Wings
- 1994
The 1994 season began on January 8, 1994 and concluded with the championship game on April 16.-Team Movement:The only change in teams from the 1993 MILL season to 1994 was the loss of the Pittsburgh Bulls.-Regular Season:...
Philadelphia Wings 26 — 15 Buffalo Bandits
- 1995
The 1995 Major Indoor Lacrosse League season began on January 7, 1995 and concluded with the championship game on April 8, 1995.-Team Movement:1995 featured the debut of the Rochester Knighthawks to the MILL, replacing the Detroit Turbos.-Regular Season:...
Philadelphia Wings 15 — 14 Rochester KnighthawksThe 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...
(OT)
- 1996
The 1996 season began on December 30, 1995 and concluded with the championship game on April 12, 1996.-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-Playoffs:-Awards:-Weekly...
Buffalo Bandits 15 — 10 Philadelphia Wings
- 1997
The 1997 season, the last as the MILL, began on January 4, 1997 and concluded with the championship game on April 12. The league was renamed to the National Lacrosse League after this season.-Team Movement:...
Rochester Knighthawks 15 — 12 Buffalo Bandits
- 1998
Before the 1998 season, the Major Indoor Lacrosse League was renamed to be the National Lacrosse League. The first season as the NLL began on January 3, 1998 and concluded with the second championship game on April 28...
Philadelphia Wings 2 — 0 Baltimore Thunder (Best of 3 Games Series)
- 1999
The 1999 National Lacrosse League season began on December 26, 1998 and concluded with the championship game on April 23, 1999. The Toronto Rock celebrated their first season in Toronto by winning the championship, defeating the Rochester Knighthawks 13-10 at Maple Leaf Gardens.The playoffs...
Toronto RockThe Toronto Rock are a lacrosse team in the National Lacrosse League . They play at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto, Ontario. The Rock of the late 1990s / early 2000s has been called a dynasty, having won five NLL championships in seven years. From 1999 to 2003, the Rock appeared in an NLL-record...
13 — 10 Rochester Knighthawks
- 2000
The 2000 National Lacrosse League season began on January 7, 2000 and concluded with the championship game on May 6, 2000. The Toronto Rock defeated the Rochester Knighthawks 14-13, in what has been described as the "greatest indoor lacrosse game ever played"...
Toronto Rock 14 — 13 Rochester Knighthawks
- 2001
The 2001 National Lacrosse League season began on December 21, 2000 and concluded with the championship game on April 27, 2001. The Philadelphia Wings won their 6th NLL championship, defeating the Toronto Rock 9-8 in Toronto. Philadelphia had now won twice as many championships as any other team in...
Philadelphia Wings 9 — 8 Toronto Rock
- 2002
The 2002 National Lacrosse League season began on November 16, 2001 and concluded with the championship game on April 13, 2002. The Toronto Rock defeated the Albany Attack 13-12 to win their third championship in four seasons...
Toronto Rock 13 — 12 Albany AttackThe Albany Attack was the name of a franchise which played in the National Lacrosse League from the 2000 season through the 2003 season. The Attack played in the former Pepsi Arena in Albany, New York...
- 2003
The 2003 National Lacrosse League season began on December 27, 2002 and concluded with the championship game on May 3, 2003.In 2003, the NLL became the first major men's sports league in North America to feature a woman playing in a regular-season game. Ginny Capicchioni, a stand-out goaltender at...
Toronto Rock 8 — 6 Rochester Knighthawks
- 2004
The 2004 National Lacrosse League season began on December 26, 2003 and concluded with the championship game on May 7, 2004. Over 19,000 fans, the second largest crowd ever at an NLL game, packed the Pengrowth Saddledome to watch the Calgary Roughnecks defeat the Buffalo Bandits 14-11...
Calgary RoughnecksThe Calgary Roughnecks are a member of the National Lacrosse League based in Calgary, Alberta. The name refers to the roughnecks who work the drilling rigs in Alberta's oil and gas industry...
14 — 11 Buffalo Bandits
- 2005
The 2005 National Lacrosse League season began on January 1, 2005 and concluded with the championship game on May 14. The Toronto Rock won their fifth NLL championship, defeating the Arizona Sting 19-13 in Toronto....
Toronto Rock 19 — 13 Arizona StingThe Arizona Sting was a member of the National Lacrosse League from 2004 to 2007. They played at Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio, from 2001 to 2003 as the Columbus Landsharks. On August 28, 2003, it was announced that the team was relocating to Glendale, Arizona...
- 2006
The 2006 National Lacrosse League season was the 20th season in the history of the league, which began as the Eagle Pro Box Lacrosse League in 1987. The season began on December 30, 2005 and concluded with the championship game on May 13, 2006....
Colorado MammothThe Colorado Mammoth are a member of the National Lacrosse League. They have played at Pepsi Center in Denver, Colorado, since the 2003 season....
16 — 9 Buffalo Bandits
- 2007
The 2007 National Lacrosse League season, the 21st in the history of the NLL began on December 30, 2006 and concluded with the championship game on May 12, 2007....
Rochester Knighthawks 13 — 11 Arizona Sting
- 2008
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....
Buffalo Bandits 14 — 13 Portland LumberJaxThe Portland LumberJax were a professional lacrosse team in the National Lacrosse League , which started playing in the 2006 season and ended operations after the 2009 season. Announced by the NLL on May 11, 2005, the LumberJax played their home games at the Rose Garden Arena in Portland, Oregon...
- 2009
The 2009 National Lacrosse League season, the 23rd in the history of the NLL, began January 3, 2009 in Buffalo, Portland, and Sunrise, Florida, and concluded with the Calgary Roughnecks defeating the New York Titans 12—10 in the Champion's Cup on May 15, 2009....
Calgary Roughnecks 12 — 10 New York Titans
Commissioners
| Commissioner |
Years |
| Darrel Russell |
1987-1997 |
| John Livsey Jr |
1997-2000 |
| Jim Jennings |
2000-2009 |
| George Daniel |
2009-present |
Current league structure
The National Lacrosse League currently plays a 16 game regular season, with 4 teams from each division qualifying for postseason play. The 1st and 4th seed in each division meet in a divisional semifinal game, while the 2nd and 3rd seeds meet in the other. The next round are the Eastern Division and Western Division champions. The divisional champions then meet in the Champions Cup final for the league title.
Each year, the league holds a mid-season
All Star GameNational Lacrosse League All Star Game is a lacrosse game played each year between two teams representing the two divisions of the National Lacrosse League .-1991 :...
between two teams representing the Eastern and Western divisions.
Current teams
| Division |
Team |
City/Area |
Arena |
Founded |
Joined |
Head Coach |
| Eastern |
Boston Blazers The Boston Blazers were a member of the Major Indoor Lacrosse League from 1989 to 1997. They were called the New England Blazers from 1989 to 1991 while based in Worcester, Massachusetts, and were renamed the Boston Blazers in 1992 when they moved to Boston. While in Worcester, the Blazers played...
|
Boston Boston is the capital and largest city of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is considered the economic and cultural center of the region and is sometimes regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England"...
, MAThe Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. Most of its population of...
|
TD Garden |
2007 |
2009 |
Tom Ryan -Playing career:Ryan played his High School ball at Canton Central in NY.Ryan attended Bowdoin College where he was an All-American attackman. He amassed 97-points in his senior year to become the leading scorer in school history....
|
Buffalo BanditsThe Buffalo Bandits are a team in the National Lacrosse League . They play at the HSBC Arena 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....
|
BuffaloBuffalo is the second most populous city in the state of New York, second only to New York City. Located in Western New York on the eastern shores of Lake Erie and at the head of the Niagara River, Buffalo is the principal city of the Buffalo-Niagara Falls metropolitan area and the seat of Erie...
, NYNew York is a state in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern regions of the United States and is the nation's third most populous. The state is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
|
HSBC Arena |
1991 |
1992 |
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...
|
| Orlando Titans The Orlando Titans are a professional lacrosse team in the National Lacrosse League that will begin playing in the 2010 season. The Titans began as the New York Titans, and played for three seasons in New York before announcing the move to Orlando on August 10, 2009....
|
OrlandoOrlando is a major city in the central region of the U.S. state of Florida. It is the county seat of Orange County and the center of the Greater Orlando metropolitan region...
, FLFlorida is a state located in the southeastern region of the United States, bordering Alabama to the northwest and Georgia to the north. It was the 27th state admitted to the United States...
|
Amway Arena
|
2006 |
2007 |
Ed Comeau Ed Comeau is the current head coach of the Orlando Titans of the National Lacrosse League.Comeau began his NLL coaching career with the Toronto Rock, as an assistant coach under the legendary Les Bartley...
|
| 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 Wachovia Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania....
|
Philadelphia, PAThe Commonwealth of Pennsylvania , often colloquially referred to as PA by natives and Northeasterners, is a state located in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States...
|
Wachovia CenterThe Wachovia Center, formerly known as the Spectrum II , CoreStates Center, and the First Union Center, is an indoor arena located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in the United States...
|
1986 |
1987 |
David Huntley Dave Huntley is a former Canadian lacrosse player and current head coach and general manager with the Philadelphia Wings of the National Lacrosse League and the Toronto Nationals of Major League Lacrosse. Huntley played collegiate lacrosse at Johns Hopkins University where he helped his team win...
|
| 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...
|
RochesterRochester is a city in Monroe County, New York, south of Lake Ontario in the United States. The Rochester metropolitan area is the second largest economy in New York State, behind the New York City metropolitan area. Known as The World's Image Centre, it was also once known as The Flour City, and...
, NYNew York is a state in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern regions of the United States and is the nation's third most populous. The state is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
|
Blue Cross ArenaThe Blue Cross Arena at the War Memorial is a multi-purpose indoor arena located in Rochester, New York...
|
1995 |
1998 |
Paul Gait Paul Gait is the current head coach of the Rochester Knighthawks of the National Lacrosse League, and is a former player. Paul and his twin brother Gary have both played for the in the National Lacrosse League, the Western Lacrosse Association, and Major League Lacrosse...
|
Toronto RockThe Toronto Rock are a lacrosse team in the National Lacrosse League . They play at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto, Ontario. The Rock of the late 1990s / early 2000s has been called a dynasty, having won five NLL championships in seven years. From 1999 to 2003, the Rock appeared in an NLL-record...
|
TorontoToronto is the most populous city in Canada and the provincial capital of Ontario. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. With over 2.5 million residents, it is the fifth most populous municipality in North America...
, ONOntario is a province located in east-central Canada, the largest by population and second largest, after Quebec, in total area. Ontario is bordered by the Canadian provinces of Manitoba to the west and Quebec to the east, and 5 U.S...
|
Air Canada CentreThe Air Canada Centre is a multi-purpose arena located on Bay Street in downtown Toronto, Ontario. It is the home of the Toronto Maple Leafs of the National Hockey League, the Toronto Raptors of the National Basketball Association and the Toronto Rock of the National Lacrosse League...
|
1998 |
Jamie Batley Jamie Batley is the lacrosse coach who has coached several teams in the National Lacrosse League. Batley is also a former player, who played with the Buffalo Bandits, Syracuse Smash, and Pittsburgh CrosseFire....
|
| Western |
Calgary RoughnecksThe Calgary Roughnecks are a member of the National Lacrosse League based in Calgary, Alberta. The name refers to the roughnecks who work the drilling rigs in Alberta's oil and gas industry...
|
CalgaryCalgary is the largest city in the Province of Alberta, Canada.The Calgary census metropolitan area is the third most diverse in Canada in terms of visible minorities after Toronto and Vancouver when considering only CMAs with population greater than 200,000...
, ABAlberta is one of Canada's prairie provinces. It became a province on September 1, 1905.Alberta is located in western Canada, bounded by the provinces of British Columbia to the west and Saskatchewan to the east, the Northwest Territories to the north, and the U.S. state of Montana to the south....
|
Pengrowth SaddledomeThe Pengrowth Saddledome is the main indoor arena facility in Calgary, Alberta, Canada and is situated on the east end of the Calgary Exhibition and Stampede grounds in downtown Calgary. It is often referred to simply as the Saddledome or even the 'Dome...
|
2001 |
Troy Cordingley |
Colorado MammothThe Colorado Mammoth are a member of the National Lacrosse League. They have played at Pepsi Center in Denver, Colorado, since the 2003 season....
|
Denver, COColorado is a U.S. state located in the Rocky Mountain region of the United States of America. It may also be considered to be part of the Western and Southwestern regions of the United States. Colorado entered statehood in 1876 and was nicknamed the “Centennial State”...
|
Pepsi CenterPepsi Center is a multi-purpose arena in Denver, Colorado, United States. The building is home to the Colorado Avalanche of the National Hockey League, the Denver Nuggets of the National Basketball Association, and the Colorado Mammoth of the National Lacrosse League...
|
2003 |
2004 |
Bob McMahonBob McMahon is the current head coach of the Colorado Mammoth of the National Lacrosse League.Bob McMahon began his professional lacrosse coaching career as an assistant coach with the Detroit Turbos in 1992 and 1993...
|
| Edmonton Rush The Edmonton Rush is a professional lacrosse team in the National Lacrosse League that started playing in the 2006 NLL season.The NLL announced that Edmonton, Alberta, Canada would receive an NLL franchise on May 5, 2005. They play their home games at Rexall Place...
|
EdmontonEdmonton is the capital of the Canadian province of Alberta. The city is located on the North Saskatchewan River in the central region of the province, an area with some of the most fertile farmland on the prairies...
, ABAlberta is one of Canada's prairie provinces. It became a province on September 1, 1905.Alberta is located in western Canada, bounded by the provinces of British Columbia to the west and Saskatchewan to the east, the Northwest Territories to the north, and the U.S. state of Montana to the south....
|
Rexall Place Rexall Place is an indoor arena in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada situated on the north side of Northlands Park. It is home to the Edmonton Oilers of the National Hockey League, the Edmonton Rush of the National Lacrosse League and the Edmonton Oil Kings of the WHL...
|
2005 |
2006 |
Bob Hamley Bob Hamley is the former head coach and General Manager of the Edmonton Rush of the National Lacrosse League, and is also a former NLL player.Hamley played four seasons with the Buffalo Bandits, winning two Championships. Following his playing career, he became head coach and GM of the...
|
Minnesota SwarmMinnesota Swarm are a box lacrosse team in the National Lacrosse League. The team plays at the Xcel Energy Center in Saint Paul, MinnesotaThe teams previous owners who also own the NHL's Minnesota Wild purchased the rights to the inactive Montreal Express team on August 10, 2004...
|
St. PaulSaint Paul is the capital and second-most populous city in the U.S. state of Minnesota. The city lies mostly on the north bank of the Mississippi River, downstream of the river's confluence with the Minnesota River, and adjoins Minneapolis, the state's largest city...
, MNMinnesota is a state in the Midwestern region of the United States. The twelfth largest state by area in the U.S., it is the twenty-first most populous, with 5.2 million residents. Minnesota was carved out of the eastern half of the Minnesota Territory and admitted to the Union as the...
|
Xcel Energy CenterXcel Energy Center is a multi-purpose arena located in Saint Paul, Minnesota, sponsored by Xcel Energy. It is home of the Minnesota Wild of the National Hockey League and the Minnesota Swarm of the National Lacrosse League. It is owned by the city of Saint Paul and operated by Minnesota Sports &...
|
2004 |
2005 |
Duane Jacobs |
| Washington Stealth The Washington Stealth are a member of the National Lacrosse League, the professional box lacrosse league of North America. Based in Everett , the Stealth are set to begin play for the 2010 NLL season, with home games to be played at the 8,513-seat Comcast Arena at Everett.The team was previously...
|
EverettEverett is the county seat of and the largest city in Snohomish County, Washington, United States. Named for Everett Colby, son of founder Charles L. Colby, it lies north of Seattle. The city had a total population of 91,488 at the 2000 census, making it the 6th largest in the state and...
, WAWashington is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. Washington was carved out of the western part of Washington Territory which had been ceded by Britain in 1846 by the Oregon Treaty as settlement of the Oregon Boundary Dispute. It was admitted to the Union as the...
|
Comcast Arena at EverettComcast Arena at Everett, formerly known as the Everett Events Center , is a $71.5 million dollar muti-purpose complex in Everett, Washington, designed and developed by the City of Everett Public Facilities District. The arena opened in September 2003.The 10,000-seat venue has hosted a variety of...
|
2000 |
2010 |
Chris Hall Dr C. B. Hall is a British politician from Colchester in Essex.Hall is a Liberal Democrat councillor for the Castle ward of Colchester Borough Council, which he has represented since 1987.Hall served as Mayor of Colchester from 2003 to 2004....
|
Expansion and Relocation
NLL commissioner Jim Jennings' ambitious plan for expansion includes 24 teams and possibly a 20-game schedule by 2011. He says that
MontrealThe Montreal Express was a member of the National Lacrosse League during the 2002 season. They played at the Bell Centre in Montreal, Quebec. They were inactive during the 2003 and 2004 seasons. The team remained inactive and the franchise was returned to the NLL after the 2004 season...
,
VancouverThe Vancouver Ravens were a member of the National Lacrosse League , from 2002 to 2004. They played their three seasons at GM Place in Vancouver, British Columbia. After the three year lease at GM Place expired, they were unable to secure a lease with either GM Place or the Pacific Coliseum, but...
and
WinnipegWinnipeg is the capital and largest city of Manitoba, Canada. It is located near the longitudinal centre of North America, in south central Canada, near the eastern edge of the Canadian Prairies, at the confluence of the Red and Assiniboine Rivers...
"are the front-runners for expansion in Canada."
In July 2007, the
Vancouver RavensThe Vancouver Ravens were a member of the National Lacrosse League , from 2002 to 2004. They played their three seasons at GM Place in Vancouver, British Columbia. After the three year lease at GM Place expired, they were unable to secure a lease with either GM Place or the Pacific Coliseum, but...
were conditionally approved for a 2008 return; the conditions included selling at least 2,500 season tickets and finding a suitable arena lease by July 19, 2007. On July 16, 2007, the
Vancouver RavensThe Vancouver Ravens were a member of the National Lacrosse League , from 2002 to 2004. They played their three seasons at GM Place in Vancouver, British Columbia. After the three year lease at GM Place expired, they were unable to secure a lease with either GM Place or the Pacific Coliseum, but...
announced an agreement with Orca Bay Sports and Entertainment to make
General Motors PlaceGeneral Motors Place, commonly known as GM Place and nicknamed The Garage, is an indoor sports arena, located at 800 Griffiths Way in Downtown Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. The arena is home to the Vancouver Canucks of the National Hockey League. The arena is sponsored by General Motors Canada...
the home venue of the Ravens, if they are able to meet the season ticket sales requirement. However, just a few days later, the NLL announced that the Ravens would not play in the
2008 seasonThe 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....
.
A number of cities and potential ownership groups have expressed interest in expansion franchises:
- After high attendance of over 20,000 fans at the 2007 World Indoor Lacrosse Championship
The inaugural World Indoor Lacrosse Championship was held in Hamilton, Kitchener, Mississauga, and Oshawa, Ontario, Canada in May 2003. National teams from Australia, Canada, the Czech Republic, the Iroquois Nation, Scotland and the United States participated. Canada defeated the Iroquois Nation...
in Halifax, Nova ScotiaNova Scotia is a Canadian province located on Canada's southeastern coast. It is the most populous province in Atlantic Canada. Its capital, Halifax, is a major economic centre of the region. Nova Scotia is the second-smallest province in Canada with an area of...
, Jennings says that the league will "definitely consider expanding to Halifax, for sure."
- Ownership groups from St. Louis
St. Louis is an independent city in the U.S. state of Missouri. With an estimated population of 354,361 in 2008, it is the principal municipality of Greater St. Louis, population 2,866,517, the largest urban area in Missouri and sixteenth largest in the United States...
, ClevelandCleveland is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Cuyahoga County, the most populous county in the state. The municipality is located in northeastern Ohio on the southern shore of Lake Erie, approximately 60 miles west of the Pennsylvania border...
, DallasDallas , with a population of 1,279,910, is the third-largest city in Texas and the 8th-largest in the United States. The city is the main economic center of the 12-county Dallas–Fort Worth–Arlington metropolitan area that according to the March 2009 U.S. Census Bureau release, had a population of...
the Southern CaliforniaSouthern California, or SoCal, is defined as the southern portion of the U.S. state of California. Its population centers around three major metropolitan areas, each of which have over 3 million people; the Los Angeles Metropolitan Area with over 12 million inhabitants, the San Bernardino-Riverside...
area and FloridaFlorida is a state located in the southeastern region of the United States, bordering Alabama to the northwest and Georgia to the north. It was the 27th state admitted to the United States...
have also expressed interest in an expansion team.
- The league has also considered possibly expanding into Oklahoma City
Oklahoma City is the capital and largest city of the U.S. state of Oklahoma. The county seat of Oklahoma County, the city ranks 31st among United States cities in population. The city's estimated population as of 2008 was 551,789, with an estimated metro-area population of 1,206,142...
's Ford CenterFord Center is a multipurpose indoor sports/concert arena located in downtown Oklahoma City. It is the home of the NBA's Oklahoma City Thunder, and the af2 Arena Football team, the Oklahoma City Yard Dawgz...
, Salt Lake CitySalt Lake City is the capital and the most populous city of the U.S. state of Utah. The name of the city is often shortened to Salt Lake or SLC. Salt Lake City has a population of 181,698 as of July 1, 2008, making it the 125th largest city in the United States...
and BaltimoreBaltimore is an independent city and the largest city in the state of Maryland. The city is located in central Maryland along the tidal portion of the Patapsco River, an arm of the Chesapeake Bay. Baltimore is sometimes referred to as Baltimore City in order to distinguish it from surrounding...
in future years.
On June 17, 2009, the
San Jose StealthThe San Jose Stealth were a member of the National Lacrosse League, the professional box lacrosse league of North America from 2004 until 2009. They played at the HP Pavilion at San Jose, which is also the home of the NHL's San Jose Sharks and the AFL's San Jose SaberCats. They relocated to San...
announced they were moving to
Everett, WashingtonEverett is the county seat of and the largest city in Snohomish County, Washington, United States. Named for Everett Colby, son of founder Charles L. Colby, it lies north of Seattle. The city had a total population of 91,488 at the 2000 census, making it the 6th largest in the state and...
for the
2010 seasonThe 2010 National Lacrosse League season, the 24th in the history of the NLL, is scheduled to begin in January 2010.-Team movement:After five seasons in San Jose, the Stealth announced shortly after the 2009 season ended that they would be relocating to Everett, Washington, approximately 30 miles...
, where the newly-renamed
Washington StealthThe Washington Stealth are a member of the National Lacrosse League, the professional box lacrosse league of North America. Based in Everett , the Stealth are set to begin play for the 2010 NLL season, with home games to be played at the 8,513-seat Comcast Arena at Everett.The team was previously...
would play their home games at the
Comcast Arena at EverettComcast Arena at Everett, formerly known as the Everett Events Center , is a $71.5 million dollar muti-purpose complex in Everett, Washington, designed and developed by the City of Everett Public Facilities District. The arena opened in September 2003.The 10,000-seat venue has hosted a variety of...
.
The New York Titans announced the teams move to Orlando on August 10, 2009 to become the
Orlando TitansThe Orlando Titans are a professional lacrosse team in the National Lacrosse League that will begin playing in the 2010 season. The Titans began as the New York Titans, and played for three seasons in New York before announcing the move to Orlando on August 10, 2009....
.
Media coverage
In 2007, the NLL had a regularly scheduled "Game of the Week" on
VersusVersus is a sports-oriented cable television network in the United States. It is owned by Comcast.It was previously known as OLN until a name change on September 25, 2006. Formerly, OLN stood for Outdoor Life Network, and the name was licensed from Outdoor Life magazine...
, the network formerly known as OLN and home of the IRL Indycar Series, NHL,
Tour de FranceThe Tour de France is an annual bicycle race that covers approximately throughout France and bordering countries. The race lasts three weeks and attracts cyclists from around the world. The race is broken into day-long segments, called stages. Individual times to finish each stage are totalled to...
, and
PBRProfessional Bull Riders, Inc. is an international professional bull riding organization based in Pueblo, Colorado, USA. PBR events are televised on Versus, FOX, and NBC...
. For the
2008 seasonThe 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....
, due to dispute between the
Professional Lacrosse Players' AssociationThe Professional Lacrosse Players' Association is the trade union of players in indoor lacrosse's National Lacrosse League....
and the NLL owners in completing the collective bargaining agreement, the "Game of the Week" on
VersusVersus is a sports-oriented cable television network in the United States. It is owned by Comcast.It was previously known as OLN until a name change on September 25, 2006. Formerly, OLN stood for Outdoor Life Network, and the name was licensed from Outdoor Life magazine...
was cancelled. Previously, the NLL has had its All-Star Games and Championship games on National TV, with
NBCThe National Broadcasting Company is an American television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices in Burbank,California...
in 2005 and
ESPN2ESPN2 is a American sports cable television network owned by ESPN. The channel debuted on October 1, 1993.Originally nicknamed "the deuce," ESPN2 was initially branded as a network for a younger generation of sports fans featuring edgier graphics as well as extreme sports like motocross,...
in 2006. In the early 2000s,
CNN Sports IllustratedCNN Sports Illustrated was a 24-hour sports news channel. It was created by Time Warner, bringing together its CNN and Sports Illustrated brands and related resources...
aired NLL games regularly.
Also in 2007, the NLL signed an agreement with
Sirius Satellite RadioSirius Satellite Radio is a satellite radio service operating in the United States and Canada, owned by Sirius XM Radio. Headquartered in New York City, with smaller studios in Los Angeles and Memphis, Sirius was officially launched on July 1, 2002 and currently provides 69 streams of music and...
, who has been named "Official Satellite Radio Partner". The pact includes a "Game of the Week" as well as weekly highlight show.
For the 2009 season, the NLL streamed every game live on the league and team websites for free.
Video games
In May 2001,
Blast LacrosseBlast Lacrosse is an indoor lacrosse video game released in May 2001 for Sony's PlayStation. It is officially licensed by and based on the National Lacrosse League and includes all nine teams of their 15th season, including mascots. It is also licensed by the Professional Lacrosse Players'...
, a video game based on the NLL, was released. It was the first lacrosse video game ever and included all nine teams of their
15th seasonThe 2001 National Lacrosse League season began on December 21, 2000 and concluded with the championship game on April 27, 2001. The Philadelphia Wings won their 6th NLL championship, defeating the Toronto Rock 9-8 in Toronto. Philadelphia had now won twice as many championships as any other team in...
, including mascots.
On February 15, 2005, the NLL announced that
ActivisionActivision, Inc. is an American video game developer and publisher, majority owned by French conglomerate Vivendi SA. It was founded on October 1, 1979 and was the first independent developer and distributor of video games for gaming consoles. Its first products were cartridges for the Atari 2600...
would produce a new video game. The game was slated to be released for the 2007 season. In an online chat held on NLL.com with commissioner Jim Jennings, it was noted that the game will be out in 2009.
Player origin
Although 8 of the league's 11 teams are American, over 70% of the players are
CanadianCanada is a country occupying most of northern North America, extending from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. The rest are either
AmericanThe United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
or
IroquoisThe Iroquois , also known as the Haudenosaunee or the "People of the Longhouse", are an indigenous people of North America. In the 16th century or earlier, the Iroquois came together in an association known as the Iroquois League, or the "League of Peace and Power"...
, with a select few
EuropeEurope is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally divided from Asia to its east by the water divide of the Ural Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian Sea, the Caucasus Mountains , and the Black Sea to the southeast...
ans and
AustraliaAustralia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the continental mainland , the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans...
ns.
Awards
- National Lacrosse League Weekly Awards
In the 1994 season, the National Lacrosse League began naming a Player of the Week. The first recipient was Buffalo Bandits legend John Tavares....
- National Lacrosse League Monthly Awards
In the 1994 season, the National Lacrosse League began naming a Player of the Month. The award is determined by a vote of the general managers and head coaches of the NLL teams....
- 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...
- Rookie of the Year Award
- Les Bartley Award
The Les Bartley Award is given annually to the National Lacrosse League head coach of the year. The award was simply called the Head Coach of the Year award until 2004, when the award was renamed in honour of Les Bartley, the winningest coach in NLL history....
(coach of the year)
- GM of the Year Award
The General Manager of the Year Award is given annually to the National Lacrosse League general manager who has done the best job of ensuring his team's success.-Past winners:...
- Executive of the Year Award
The Executive of the Year Award is given annually to the National Lacrosse League executive who is chosen as having the most positive impact on his or her team.-Past winners:...
- Defensive Player of the Year Award
- Transition Player of the Year Award
The Transition Player of the Year Award is given annually to the National Lacrosse League player who is chosen as the best transition player. This award debuted after the 2007 NLL season.-Past winners:...
- Goaltender of the Year Award
The National Lacrosse League Goaltender of the Year Award is given annually to the best NLL goaltender of the year.In the 2008 season, the award was sponsored by the US Navy and was known as the "US Navy Goaltender of the Year award". In the 2007 season, it was the "Progressive National Lacrosse...
- Sportsmanship Award
The National Lacrosse League Sportsmanship Award is given annually to a NLL player. It "honors the combination of character and performance" shown by a player.-Past winners:...
- Tom Borrelli Award
The Tom Borrelli Award is presented by the National Lacrosse League to "the league's most outstanding newspaper writer or columnist". The award is named for Tom Borrelli , a writer for The Buffalo News who covered the Buffalo Bandits from the team's inception in 1992 to his death in 2008...
(writer of the year)
See also
- Major League Lacrosse
Major League Lacrosse is a professional men's field lacrosse league that is made up of five teams in the United States and one team in Canada. The league currently has all six teams in one conference.- History :...
, the professional men's field lacrosseField lacrosse, sometimes called the "fastest sport on two feet," is a full contact outdoor men's sport played with ten players on each team. The sport originated among the indigenous peoples of the Americas, and the modern rules of field lacrosse were initially codified by Canadian Dr. William...
league in North America
- List of professional sports teams in the United States and Canada
External links