2015 NLL season

Last updated
2015 NLL season
League National Lacrosse League
Sport Indoor lacrosse
DurationJanuary 2 – June 5, 2015
Number of games18
Number of teams9
Regular Season
Top seed Toronto Rock
Season MVP Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Shawn Evans
Top scorerShawn Evans
Playoffs
Eastern champions Toronto Rock
  Eastern runners-up Rochester Knighthawks
Western champions Edmonton Rush
  Western runners-up Calgary Roughnecks
Finals
Champions Edmonton Rush (1st title)
  Runners-up Toronto Rock
Finals MVP Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Mark Matthews
NLL seasons

The 2015 National Lacrosse League season, the 29th in the history of the NLL, began on January 2, 2015, [1] and ended with Game 2 of the Champion's Cup Finals series on June 5, 2015. [2] In the finals, the Edmonton Rush defeated the Toronto Rock two games to none to win their first-ever Champion's Cup.

Contents

Teams

Blue pog.svg East Division Red pog.svg West Division
2015 National Lacrosse League
DivisionTeamCityArenaCapacity
East Buffalo Bandits Buffalo, New York First Niagara Center 19,070
Minnesota Swarm Saint Paul, Minnesota XCEL Energy Center 18,064
New England Black Wolves Uncasville, Connecticut Mohegan Sun Arena 7,074
Rochester Knighthawks Rochester, New York Blue Cross Arena 10,662
Toronto Rock Toronto, Ontario Air Canada Centre 18,800
West Calgary Roughnecks Calgary, Alberta Scotiabank Saddledome 19,289
Colorado Mammoth Denver, Colorado Pepsi Center 18,007
Edmonton Rush Edmonton, Alberta Rexall Place 16,839
Vancouver Stealth Langley, British Columbia Langley Events Centre 5,276

Milestones and events

Pre-season

Regular season

Playoffs

League business

Final standings

Reference: [52]

East Division
PTeamGPWLPCTGBHomeRoadGFGADiffGF/GPGA/GP

1 Toronto Rock xyz18144.7780.07272230185+4512.7810.28
2 Rochester Knighthawks x18126.6672.07254205173+3211.399.61
3 Buffalo Bandits x18117.6113.07245236208+2813.1111.56
4 Minnesota Swarm 18612.3338.03636185226−4110.2812.56
5 New England Black Wolves 18414.22210.02727186249−6310.3313.83
West Division
PTeamGPWLPCTGBHomeRoadGFGADiffGF/GPGA/GP

1 Edmonton Rush xy18135.7220.06372241177+6413.399.83
2 Colorado Mammoth x1899.5004.06336212218−611.7812.11
3 Calgary Roughnecks x18711.3896.04536212217−511.7812.06
4 Vancouver Stealth 18513.2788.03627211265−5411.7214.72

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

Overall seeds

TeamWinsLossesPct.Seed
Toronto Rock 144.7781
Edmonton Rush 135.7222
Rochester Knighthawks 126.6673
Buffalo Bandits 117.6114
Colorado Mammoth 99.5005
Calgary Roughnecks 711.3896
Minnesota Swarm 612.3337
Vancouver Stealth 513.2788
New England Black Wolves 414.2229

Playoffs

Division semifinals Division finals (3-game series) Finals (3-game series)
         
E1 Toronto2
East Division
E2 Rochester1
E2 Rochester14
E3 Buffalo 11
E1 Toronto 0
W1 Edmonton2
W1 Edmonton2
West Division
W3 Calgary 1
W2 Colorado 6
W3 Calgary11

Division Finals and Champion's Cup Finals individual game results

East Division Finals

Saturday, May 16 - Game 1 at Blue Cross Arena, Rochester, New York: Rochester Knighthawks 10, Toronto Rock 9 [37]
Saturday, May 23 - Game 2 at Air Canada Centre, Toronto, Ontario: Toronto Rock 11, Rochester Knighthawks 8 [40]
Saturday, May 23 - Game 3 at Air Canada Centre, Toronto, Ontario: Toronto Rock 8, Rochester Knighthawks 2 [40]
Toronto wins series, 2–1.

West Division Finals

Friday, May 15 - Game 1 at Rexall Place, Edmonton, Alberta: Edmonton Rush 10, Calgary Roughnecks 8 [35] [West 1]
Saturday, May 23 - Game 2 at Scotiabank Saddledome, Calgary, Alberta: Calgary Roughnecks 12, Edmonton Rush 9 [43] [West 1]
Saturday, May 23 - Game 3 at Scotiabank Saddledome, Calgary, Alberta: Edmonton Rush 4, Calgary Roughnecks 1 [43] [West 1]
Edmonton wins series, 2–1.

Champion's Cup Finals

Saturday, May 30 - Game 1 at Air Canada Centre, Toronto, Ontario: Edmonton Rush 15, Toronto Rock 9 [46]
Friday, June 5 - Game 2 at Rexall Place, Edmonton, Alberta: Edmonton Rush 11, Toronto Rock 10 [48]
Edmonton wins series, 2–0.

Notes:

  1. 1 2 3 The Edmonton Rush gave up home-floor advantage in the West Division Finals in the interest of the team's fans instead of hosting Game 2 on Wednesday, May 20, since Rexall Place was not available on the weekend.

Regular-season results table

Reference: [53]

Abbreviation and Color Key:
Buffalo Bandits - BUF • Calgary Roughnecks - CAL • Colorado Mammoth - COL
Edmonton Rush - EDM • Minnesota Swarm - MIN • New England Black Wolves - NE
Rochester Knighthawks - ROC • Toronto Rock - TOR • Vancouver Stealth - VAN
Win Loss Home
ClubMatch
123456789101112131415161718
Buffalo Bandits NEEDMVANTORMINROCCALROCROCCOLTORTORMINNEMINVANNENE
8–129–814–1311–1315–1211–1715–14 (OT)10–1512–13 (OT)14–1015–1210–11 (OT)12–811–1212–917–920–920–10
Calgary Roughnecks VANCOLEDMTORBUFVANVANROCEDMROCNETORCOLCOLEDMEDMMINVAN
14–1816–17 (OT)8–1611–1214–15 (OT)9–1316–1311–1212–11 (OT)7–1320–910–128–9 (OT)14–99–89–1110–614–13
Colorado Mammoth MINCALVANVANEDMEDMNEBUFTORMINVANVANCALCALROCROCEDMEDM
20–1317–16 (OT)20–913–167–117–1314–1210–149–1712–814–1112–69–8 (OT)9–145–1411–1012–1310–13
Edmonton Rush BUFMINCALNECOLCOLTORCALVANTORROCVANVANCALCALCOLMINCOL
8–910–1416–818–911–713–715–16 (OT)11–12 (OT)19–711–916–315–14 (OT)17–108–911–913–1216–1213–10
Minnesota Swarm COLEDMNEBUFROCTORTORVANNECOLBUFNENEROCBUFCALEDMROC
13–2014–1019–1312–157–6 (OT)4–169–1415–219–108–128–1213–912–82–109–126–1012–1613–12 (OT)
New England Black Wolves BUFROCMINEDMROCTORCOLMINCALMINMINBUFVANTORROCBUFTORBUF
12–817–713–199–1810–1512–13 (OT)12–1410–99–209–138–1212–119–1112–156–149–207–1010–20
Rochester Knighthawks TORNETORBUFMINBUFNEBUFCALCALEDMTORMINCOLCOLVANNEMIN
12–137–178–617–116–7 (OT)15–1015–1013–12 (OT)12–1113–73–1611–710–214–510–1113–914–612–13 (OT)
Toronto Rock ROCVANBUFROCCALMINMINNEEDMCOLBUFBUFEDMCALROCVANNENE
13–1220–1113–116–812–1116–414–913–12 (OT)16–15 (OT)17–912–1511–10 (OT)9–1112–107–1114–715–1210–7
Vancouver Stealth CALTORBUFCOLCOLCALCALMINEDMCOLCOLEDMEDMTORNEROCBUFCAL
18–1411–2013–149–2016–1313–913–1621–157–1911–146–1214–15 (OT)10–177–1411–99–139–1713–14

Player statistics

Scoring leaders

The following players lead the league in regular season points at the conclusion of games played on May 3, 2015. [54]

PlayerTeamGPGAPtsPIMLB
Shawn Evans Calgary Roughnecks 1847831303996
Mark Matthews Edmonton Rush 185362115664
Ryan Benesch Buffalo Bandits 185558113699
Dhane Smith Buffalo Bandits 1839681071175
Rhys Duch Vancouver Stealth 1841621031063
Josh Sanderson Toronto Rock 1819831021090
Mark Steenhuis Buffalo Bandits 173659952568
Curtis Dickson Calgary Roughnecks 184846941658
Adam Jones Colorado Mammoth 165142931673
Robert Church Edmonton Rush 17375592475

Leading goaltenders

The following goaltenders lead the league in regular season goals against average at the conclusion of games played on May 3, 2015. [55]

PlayerTeamGPMPWLGASVSV%GAA
Aaron Bold Edmonton Rush 181016:54125160565.7799.44
Matt Vinc Rochester Knighthawks 181003:58106161655.8039.62
Nick Rose Toronto Rock 18432:526270285.8039.70
Brandon Miller Toronto Rock 18654:1082113431.79210.36
Frankie Scigliano Calgary Roughnecks 18734:0266136463.77311.12

Awards

Annual awards

AwardWinnerOther Finalists
Most Valuable Player Shawn Evans, Calgary [56] Mark Matthews, Edmonton
Ryan Benesch, Buffalo [57]
Goaltender of the Year Matt Vinc, Rochester [56] Aaron Bold, Edmonton
Brandon Miller, Toronto [58]
Defensive Player of the Year Kyle Rubisch, Edmonton [56] Chris Corbeil, Edmonton
Steve Priolo, Buffalo [59]
Transition Player of the Year Joey Cupido, Colorado [56] Brodie Merrill, Toronto
Karsen Leung, Calgary [60]
Rookie of the Year Ben McIntosh, Edmonton [56] Jeremy Noble, Colorado
Miles Thompson, Minnesota [61]
Sportsmanship Award Kyle Buchanan, New England [56] Jordan Hall, Rochester
Curtis Hodgson, Vancouver [62]
GM of the Year Terry Sanderson, Toronto [56] Steve Dietrich, Buffalo
Curt Styres, Rochester [63]
Les Bartley Award John Lovell, Toronto [56] Mike Hasen, Rochester
Derek Keenan, Edmonton [64]
Executive of the Year Award Bruce Urban, Edmonton [56] Scott Loffler, Buffalo
Lewis Staats, Rochester [65]
Tom Borrelli Award Steve Ewan, The Province [66]

Monthly awards

Awards are presented monthly for the best overall player and best rookie.

MonthOverallRookie
January [67] Josh Sanderson Ben McIntosh
February [68] Rob HellyerMiles Thompson
March [69] Aaron BoldJeremy Noble
April [70] Ryan BeneschBen McIntosh

Stadiums and locations

Buffalo Bandits Minnesota Swarm New England Black Wolves Rochester Knighthawks Toronto Rock
First Niagara Center Xcel Energy Center Mohegan Sun Arena Blue Cross Arena Air Canada Centre
Capacity: 19,070Capacity: 17,954Capacity: 7,700Capacity: 11,200Capacity: 18,819
HSBC Arena Lacrosse.jpg Box Lacrosse.jpg Mohegan Sun Arena.jpg Rochester Blue Cross Arena - NW Exterior.jpg Air Canada Centre and CN Tower from Bay St.jpg
Calgary Roughnecks Colorado Mammoth Edmonton Rush Vancouver Stealth
Scotiabank Saddledome Pepsi Center Rexall Place Langley Events Centre
Capacity: 19,289 Capacity: 18,007Capacity: 16,839Capacity: 5,276
Pengrowth Saddledome lacrosse.jpg Denver Pepsi Center 1.jpg Edmonton Rush versus Toronto Rock February 2010.jpg LangleyEventsCentreExterior.jpg

Attendance

Regular Season

Home TeamHome GamesAverage AttendanceTotal Attendance [71]
Colorado Mammoth914,787133,091
Buffalo Bandits914,316128,847
Calgary Roughnecks911,642104,785
Toronto Rock910,01190,102
Minnesota Swarm98,69978,291
Rochester Knighthawks97,05163,465
Edmonton Rush96,57859,207
New England Black Wolves93,91435,234
Vancouver Stealth93,73433,610
League818,970726,632

Playoffs

Home TeamHome GamesAverage AttendanceTotal Attendance [72]
Colorado Mammoth116,02716,027
Calgary Roughnecks212,78525,570
Edmonton Rush29,98219,965
Toronto Rock39,89229,677
Rochester Knighthawks26,16712,335
League1010,357103,574

See also

References

  1. "2015 NLL schedule announced". NLL.com. August 28, 2014. Retrieved December 18, 2014.
  2. "National Lacrosse League". NLL.com. Retrieved 6 June 2015.
  3. Fogg, Jon (August 5, 2014). "NLL's Philadelphia Wings to move to Connecticut, play at Mohegan Sun Arena". The Baltimore Sun . Retrieved January 23, 2015.
  4. "Mohegan Sun introduces New England Black Wolves for 2015". NLL.com. September 19, 2014. Retrieved January 23, 2015.
  5. "League expands playoff format". NLL.com. September 22, 2014. Retrieved January 23, 2015.
  6. "Knighthawks trade Powless & McCready to Stealth, swap picks". NLL.com. September 22, 2014. Retrieved January 23, 2015.
  7. "Stealth's Sorensen out for 2015". NLL.com. October 23, 2014. Retrieved January 23, 2015.
  8. "Rock captain Doyle to miss entire 2015 NLL season due to injury". NLL.com. October 29, 2014. Retrieved January 23, 2015.
  9. "Longtime Roughneck Scott Ranger retires after decade in NL[sic]". NLL.com. November 21, 2014. Retrieved January 23, 2015.
  10. "League mourns passing of Rock general manager Terry Sanderson". NLL.com. November 27, 2014. Retrieved January 23, 2014.
  11. "Former NLL Commissioner Jim Jennings passes away at age 53". NLL.com. December 7, 2014. Retrieved January 23, 2014.
  12. "Stealth's Powless finishes as one of five Lou Marsh Award finalists". NLL.com. December 11, 2014. Retrieved January 23, 2014.
  13. "Rush announce GM & head coach Keenan to take leave of absence". NLL.com. December 15, 2014. Retrieved January 23, 2014.
  14. Stamp, Stephen (January 3, 2015). "Wendy Keenan succumbs to pancreatic cancer". Inside Lacrosse. Retrieved January 23, 2014.
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  18. "Trade: Swarm sends Suitor to Black Wolves for White". NLL.com. March 30, 2015. Retrieved March 30, 2015.
  19. "Packed Up: Black Wolves Down Bandits on Road, 12-11". NLL.com. April 4, 2015. Retrieved April 21, 2015.
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  21. "Best of Seven: Rock Double Up Stealth, 14-7". NLL.com. April 10, 2015. Retrieved April 21, 2015.
  22. "Postseasoned: Knighthawks down Mammoth, 14-5". NLL.com. April 11, 2015. Retrieved April 21, 2015.
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  31. "Thruway Stop: Knighthawks Send Bandits Home, 14-11". NLL.com. May 8, 2015. Retrieved May 9, 2015.
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  33. "Lights Out: Roughnecks Surge past Mammoth, 11-6". NLL.com. May 9, 2015. Retrieved May 12, 2015.
  34. "Calgary 11, Colorado 6". NLL.com. May 9, 2015. Retrieved May 12, 2015.
  35. 1 2 "Defense First: Bold, Rush Shut Down Roughnecks, 10-8". NLL.com. May 15, 2015. Retrieved May 18, 2015.
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  50. "Rush's Matthews Named Champion's Cup Finals MVP". NLL.com. June 6, 2015. Retrieved June 7, 2015.
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  58. "2015 NLL Goaltender of the Year". NLL.com. June 18, 2015. Retrieved July 21, 2015.
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  60. "2015 NLL Transition Player of the Year". NLL.com. June 17, 2015. Retrieved July 21, 2015.
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  64. "2015 NLL Head Coach of the Year (The Les Bartley Award)". NLL.com. June 22, 2015. Retrieved July 21, 2015.
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  66. "2015 NLL Media Person of the year: Steve Ewan". NLL.com. July 6, 2015. Retrieved July 21, 2015.
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  68. "NLL announces monthly awards for February". NLL.com. March 6, 2015. Retrieved March 6, 2015.
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