1998 NLL season

Last updated
1998 NLL season
League National Lacrosse League
Sport Indoor lacrosse
DurationJanuary 3, 1998 - April 28, 1998
Number of games12
Number of teams7
Regular season
League champions Philadelphia Wings
  Runners-up Baltimore Thunder
Season MVP Gary Gait (Baltimore Thunder)
Top scorer Gary Gait (Baltimore Thunder)
Champion's Cup
Champions Philadelphia Wings (5th title)
  Runners-up Baltimore Thunder
Finals MVP Dallas Eliuk (Philadelphia)
MILL/NLL seasons

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 and the 12th season overall, 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.

Contents

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 England, while the Ontario Raiders and Syracuse Smash began play.

Teams

Black pog.svg National Lacrosse League Teams
1998 National Lacrosse League
TeamCityArenaCapacity
Baltimore Thunder Baltimore, Maryland Baltimore Arena 10,582
Buffalo Bandits Buffalo, New York Marine Midland Arena 18,595
New York Saints Uniondale, New York Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum 16,297
Ontario Raiders Hamilton, Ontario Copps Coliseum 17,383
Philadelphia Wings Philadelphia, Pennsylvania CoreStates Center 19,511
Rochester Knighthawks Rochester, New York Rochester Community War Memorial 10,662
Syracuse Smash Syracuse, New York Onondaga County War Memorial 5,800

Regular season

Reference: [1]

PTeamGPWLPCTGBHomeRoadGFGADiffGF/GPGA/GP

1 Philadelphia Wings –xyz1293.7500.03–36–0166148+1813.8312.33
2 Baltimore Thunder –x1284.6671.04–24–2184160+2415.3313.33
3 Rochester Knighthawks –x1266.5003.03–33–3168159+914.0013.25
4 Buffalo Bandits –x1266.5003.04–22–4166171−513.8314.25
5 Ontario Raiders 1266.5003.04–22–4165157+813.7513.08
6 New York Saints 1257.4174.03–32–4167165+213.9213.75
7 Syracuse Smash 12210.1677.02–40–6163219−5613.5818.25

x: Clinched playoff berth; c: Clinched playoff berth by crossing over to another division; y: Clinched division; z: Clinched best regular season record; GP: Games Played
W: Wins; L: Losses; GB:  Games back; PCT: Win percentage; Home: Record at Home; Road: Record on the Road; GF: Goals scored; GA: Goals allowed
Differential: Difference between goals scored and allowed; GF/GP: Average number of goals scored per game; GA/GP: Average number of goals allowed per game

All Star Game

No All-Star Game was played in 1998.

Playoffs

Semifinals Championship (best-of-3)
      
4 Buffalo 12
1 Philadelphia17
2 Baltimore 0
1 Philadelphia2
3 Rochester 14
2 Baltimore15

Awards

AwardWinnerTeam
MVP Award Gary Gait Baltimore
Rookie of the Year Award Colin Doyle Ontario
Championship Game MVP (Series) Dallas Eliuk Philadelphia
Championship Game MVP (Game 1)Dallas EliukPhiladelphia
Championship Game MVP (Game 2)Bill MillerPhiladelphia

Weekly awards

Each week, a player is awarded "Player of the Week" honours.

WeekPlayer of the Week
1 Gary Gait
2Andy Piazza
3Derek Collins
4Chris Gill
5Eric Seremet
6 Tom Marechek
7Gary Gait
8 Darris Kilgour
9Derek General
10Russ Heard
11 Colin Doyle
12Steve Sombrotto
13 Mark Millon
14 John Tavares
15 Bob Watson

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.

MonthOverallRookie
JanGary Gait Curt Malawsky
FebDarris Kilgour Jake Bergey
MarMark MillonColin Doyle

Statistics leaders

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

StatPlayerTeamNumber
GoalsGary GaitBaltimore57
AssistsJim VeltmanOntario40
PointsGary GaitBaltimore85
Penalty MinutesPat CoyleOntario48
Shots on GoalGary GaitBaltimore156
Loose BallsJim VeltmanOntario194
Save PctSteve DietrichRochester77.9

Attendance

Regular Season

Home TeamHome GamesAverage AttendanceTotal Attendance [2]
Philadelphia Wings614,19785,182
Buffalo Bandits612,25673,534
New York Saints66,72540,349
Rochester Knighthawks66,70640,234
Baltimore Thunder65,37832,269
Ontario Thunder64,81028,862
Syracuse Smash64,23025,378
League427,757325,808

Playoffs

Home TeamHome GamesAverage AttendanceTotal Attendance [2]
Philadelphia Wings29,28819,655
Baltimore Thunder23,2826,564
League46,55526,219

See also

References

  1. ↑ "National Lacrosse League - 1998 Regular Season - Standings". NLL.com. Retrieved May 3, 2012.
  2. 1 2 "1998 Season". nllstats.com. Retrieved 16 June 2023.
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