2002 NLL season

Last updated

2002 NLL season
League National Lacrosse League
Sport Indoor lacrosse
DurationNovember 16, 2001 – April 13, 2002
Number of games16
Number of teams13
TV partner(s) CNN Sports Illustrated (United States)
Rogers Sportsnet (Canada)
Regular season
Season MVP Paul Gait (Washington Power)
Top scorer Paul Gait (Washington Power)
Playoffs
Eastern champions Washington Power
  Eastern runners-up Philadelphia Wings
Central champions Albany Attack
  Central runners-up Rochester Knighthawks
Northern champions Toronto Rock
  Northern runners-up Vancouver Ravens
Champion's Cup
Champions Toronto Rock
  Runners-up Albany Attack
Finals MVP Colin Doyle (Toronto)
NLL seasons

The 2002 National Lacrosse League season is the 16th season in the NLL. The season began on November 16, 2001 and concluded with the championship game on April 13, 2002, so, during that season, it was known as the 2001-2002 season as can be seen in the Albany Attack's 2001-2002 Central Division Championship banner.

Contents

The Toronto Rock defeated the Albany Attack 13–12 to win their third championship in four seasons. Colin Doyle was named championship game MVP for the second time.

Only one year after the season was lengthened to 14 games, 2002 saw it extended again, this time to 16 games.

Team movement

2002 was a year of expansion for the NLL, particularly north of the border. No less than four teams were added, three of them Canadian: the New Jersey Storm, Montreal Express, Vancouver Ravens, and Calgary Roughnecks all made their NLL debuts. The expansion caused the NLL to return to a divisional format for the first time since 1994. The teams were split into the Eastern, Central, and Northern divisions; the winners of each division would make the playoffs, as well as the top three ranked non-division-winners. The Eastern division consisted of Washington, Philadelphia, New York, and New Jersey, the Central division had Albany, Rochester, Montreal, Buffalo, and Columbus, while the remaining Canadian teams (Toronto, Ottawa, Vancouver, and Calgary) were in the Northern division.

Early in the morning of February 14, limousine driver Costas Christofi was found shot to death at the home of New Jersey Storm owner Jayson Williams. [1] Williams was later arrested and charged with manslaughter. [2] Williams was acquitted of most charges, [3] but was to be retried for reckless manslaughter. However, the case was delayed several times. On Monday, January 11, 2010, Williams pleaded guilty to aggravated assault in the case, [4] and was sentenced on February 23, 2010. Williams would remain owner of the Storm until the franchise folded after the 2005 season.

For the first time in league history, a team changed arenas midseason, as the Ottawa Rebel left the Corel Centre for the smaller Ottawa Civic Centre. [5] There were two home games left in the season at the time of the move.

Teams

Black pog.svg Central Division Blue pog.svg East Division Red pog.svg North Division
2002 National Lacrosse League
DivisionTeamCityArenaCapacity
Central Albany Attack Albany, New York Pepsi Arena 14,236
Buffalo Bandits Buffalo, New York HSBC Arena 18,690
Columbus Landsharks Columbus, Ohio Nationwide Arena 18,136
Montreal Express Montreal, Quebec Molson Centre 21,273
Rochester Knighthawks Rochester, New York Blue Cross Arena 10,662
East New Jersey Storm East Rutherford, New Jersey Izod Center 19,040
New York Saints Uniondale, New York Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum 16,234
Philadelphia Wings Philadelphia, Pennsylvania First Union Center 19,519
Washington Power Landover, Maryland Capital Centre 18,130
North Calgary Roughnecks Calgary, Alberta Pengrowth Saddledome 19,289
Ottawa Rebel Ottawa, Ontario Corel Centre
Ottawa Civic Centre 		18,500
10,550
Toronto Rock Toronto, Ontario Air Canada Centre 18,800
Vancouver Ravens Vancouver, British Columbia General Motors Place 18,514

Milestones

Final standings

Regular season

Reference: [8]

Central Division
PTeamGPWLPCTGBHomeRoadGFGADiffGF/GPGA/GP

1 Albany Attack –xyz16142.8750.07–17–1252194+5815.7512.12
2 Rochester Knighthawks –x16133.8121.08–05–3261202+5916.3112.62
3 Montreal Express 1688.5006.04–44–4237227+1014.8114.19
4 Buffalo Bandits 1688.5006.04–44–4210215−513.1213.44
5 Columbus Landsharks 16511.3129.02–63–5198230−3212.3814.38
East Division
PTeamGPWLPCTGBHomeRoadGFGADiffGF/GPGA/GP

1 Washington Power –xy1697.5620.06–23–5253243+1015.8115.19
2 Philadelphia Wings –x1688.5001.06–22–6222237−1513.8814.81
3 New York Saints 16511.3124.02–63–5200249−4912.5015.56
4 New Jersey Storm 16511.3124.03–52–6178232−5411.1214.50
North Division
PTeamGPWLPCTGBHomeRoadGFGADiffGF/GPGA/GP

1 Toronto Rock –xy16115.6880.08–03–5223176+4713.9411.00
2 Vancouver Ravens –x16106.6251.06–24–4236192+4414.7512.00
3 Calgary Roughnecks 16412.2507.02–62–6224264−4014.0016.50
4 Ottawa Rebel 16412.2507.01–73–5202245−4312.6215.31

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

Playoffs

First Round Semifinals Championship
3 Washington 11
3 Washington122 Toronto12
6 Philadelphia 11 2 Toronto13
1 Albany 12
4 Rochester 10
5 Vancouver 10 1 Albany14
4 Rochester11

All Star Game

The 2002 All-Star Game was held on April 21 at the Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Connecticut, where the North team (all of the Canadian teams plus Rochester) beat the South 14–10. The MVP was Toronto's Steve Toll, who scored three goals. At the time, this also marked Paul Gait's final professional lacrosse game, as he retired after this season. However, Gait was convinced by his brother Gary to come out of retirement during the 2005 season, and played four games for the Colorado Mammoth before retiring once again.

All-Star teams

North Team starters South Team starters
John Grant, Jr., Rochester Paul Gait, Washington
Colin Doyle, Toronto Gary Gait, Washington
Chris Gill, Vancouver Josh Sanderson, Albany
Pat Coyle, Toronto Cam Woods, Albany
Jim Veltman, TorontoPaul Cantabene, Philadelphia
Bob Watson, Toronto (goalie)Rob Blasdell, Albany (goalie)
North Team ReservesSouth Team Reserves
Tracey Kelusky, MontrealGary Rosyski, Albany
Ryan Painter, Ottawa Roy Colsey, Buffalo
Peter Morgan, Vancouver John Tavares, Buffalo
Steve Toll, TorontoGewas Schindler, Columbus
Kaleb Toth, Calgary Gavin Prout, New York
Shawn Williams, Rochester Kevin Finneran, Philadelphia
Derek Malawsky, Rochester Tom Marechek, Philadelphia
Bruce Codd, Montreal Jim Moss, Albany
Darren Reisig, VancouverJamie Hanford, New Jersey
Mike Hasen, RochesterPat McCabe, New York
Dwight Maetche, Vancouver Steve Dietrich, Buffalo (goalie)
Pat O'Toole, Rochester Dallas Eliuk, Philadelphia (goalie)

Awards

AwardWinnerTeam
MVP Award Paul Gait Washington
Rookie of the Year Award Blaine Manning Toronto
Coach of the Year Bob McMahon Albany
GM of the Year Award Dave Evans Vancouver
Executive of the Year Award Tom Mayenknecht Vancouver
Defensive Player of the Year Award Pat Coyle Toronto
Goaltender of the Year Award Rob Blasdell Albany
Sportsmanship Award Jim Veltman Toronto
Championship Game MVP Colin Doyle Toronto

Weekly awards

In 2002, the NLL expanded its weekly player awards from one to four. There are now awards for the best overall player, best offensive player, best defensive player, and best rookie.

WeekOverallOffensiveDefensiveRookie
1 Matt Disher Dan StroupMatt Disher Blaine Manning
2 Tracey Kelusky Tracey KeluskyBruce Codd Blaine Manning
3Tracey Kelusky Paul Gait Dwight MaetchePeter Morgan
4 Tom Marechek Roy Colsey Dallas Eliuk Gavin Prout
5 Gary Gait Gary GaitSteve DietrichAndrew Leyshon
6Kyle GoundreyKyle GoundreyRob BlasdellPeter Morgan
7 Shawn Williams Kaleb Toth Jesse PhillipsBilly LeFeuvre
8 Derek Malawsky Derek MalawskyDevin Dalep Kasey Beirnes
9Gewas SchindlerGewas Schindler Pat Coyle Mike Miron
10Peter Morgan John Tavares Devin DalepPeter Morgan
11Paul GaitPaul Gait Bob Watson Kasey Beirnes
12Gary Gait Jake Bergey Bruce CoddBlaine Manning
13Chris GillChris GillRob BlasdellRyan Painter
14 Josh Sanderson Shawn WilliamsMatt RoikGavin Prout
15John TavaresJohn TavaresJesse PhillipsMike Miron
16 Jeff Ratcliffe Jeff Ratcliffe Anthony Cosmo Blaine Manning
17Paul GaitPaul Gait Curtis Palidwor Steve Penny
18 John Grant, Jr. John Grant, Jr.Chris SandersonBlaine Manning
19Tom MarechekJohn TavaresRob BlasdellRyan Painter

Monthly awards

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

MonthOverallRookie
Nov/DecTracy Keluskynone selected
JanPaul GaitKasey Beirnes
FebChris GillGavin Prout
MarPaul GaitBlaine Manning

Statistics leaders

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

StatPlayerTeamNumber
GoalsPaul GaitWashington54
AssistsJosh SandersonAlbany68
PointsPaul GaitWashington114
Penalty MinutesBrian ReeseWashington78
Loose BallsJim VeltmanToronto203
Save PctRob BlasdellAlbany77.5

Attendance

Regular Season

Home TeamHome GamesAverage AttendanceTotal Attendance [9]
Toronto Rock815,689125,513
Philadelphia Wings813,668109,342
Vancouver Ravens810,21181,689
Rochester Knighthawks88,94571,559
Calgary Roughnecks88,78170,249
Montréal Express87,96963,755
Buffalo Bandits87,44859,582
Ottawa Rebel85,93747,498
New Jersey Storm85,67745,414
New York Saints85,25942,074
Columbus Landsharks84,12933,029
Albany Attack83,50828,066
Washington Power83,33026,638
League1047,735804,408

Playoffs

Home TeamHome GamesAverage AttendanceTotal Attendance [9]
Toronto Rock114,44214,442
Philadelphia Wings110,04110,041
Rochester Knighthawks18,2668,266
Albany Attack27,18214,363
League59,42247,112

See also

Footnotes

  1. ↑ Philly, R.A. (February 14, 2002). "Fatal shooting at Jayson Williams' estate". Outsider's Guide to the NLL. Archived from the original on March 3, 2007. Retrieved February 4, 2007.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  2. ↑ Philly, R.A. (February 25, 2002). "Williams charged with reckless manslaughter". Outsider's Guide to the NLL. Archived from the original on August 25, 2007. Retrieved February 4, 2007.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  3. ↑ Reilly, Matthew (May 22, 2004). "Prosecutor: We'll retry Williams on key charge". The Star-Ledger . Retrieved February 4, 2007.
  4. ↑ Schweber, Nate (January 11, 2010). "Jayson Williams Pleads Guilty in Shooting of Driver". The New York Times. Archived from the original on January 19, 2010. Retrieved January 23, 2010.
  5. ↑ Philly, R.A. (February 15, 2002). "Rebel going downtown after Saturday". Outsider's Guide to the NLL. Archived from the original on September 26, 2007. Retrieved February 4, 2007.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  6. ↑ Mehling, Vaun (November 24, 2001). "Records shattered in Express' 32–17 romp". Outsider's Guide to the NLL. Archived from the original on August 8, 2007. Retrieved February 4, 2007.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  7. ↑ McAllister, Deb (January 5, 2002). "Malawsky's eleven assists set record in big K'Hawks win". Archived from the original on August 8, 2007. Retrieved February 4, 2007.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  8. ↑ "National Lacrosse League - 2002 Regular Season - Standings". NLL.com. Retrieved May 3, 2012.
  9. 1 2 "2002 Season". nllstats.com. Retrieved June 16, 2023.

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References

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