Shawn Williams (lacrosse)

Last updated
Shawn Williams
Shawn Williams.jpg
Born (1974-06-20) June 20, 1974 (age 50)
Scarborough, Ontario, Canada
Height5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)
Weight200 pounds (91 kg)
ShootsLeft
PositionForward
NLL teams Edmonton Rush
Rochester Knighthawks
Buffalo Bandits
Toronto Rock
Ontario Raiders
MLL teams Hamilton Nationals
MSL team Brooklin Redmen
Pro career 19982014
NicknameWillie
NLL Hall of Fame, 2021

Shawn Williams (born June 20, 1974 in Scarborough, Ontario) is the inaugural General Manager and Head Coach of the Las Vegas Desert Dogs in the National Lacrosse League (NLL). [1] He is a former Canadian lacrosse player who played for the Ontario Raiders, Toronto Rock, Buffalo Bandits, Rochester Knighthawks and Edmonton Rush of the NLL and the Hamilton Nationals of Major League Lacrosse. He was also previously a scout for the Buffalo Bandits and assistant coach with the Colorado Mammoth. He was inducted to the NLL Hall of Fame in 2021 as a first ballot nominee. [2]

Contents

NLL career

Williams started his NLL career in 1998 with the Ontario Raiders. The Raiders moved to Toronto the next year, becoming the Toronto Rock. Following the 1999 season, Williams was traded to the Buffalo Bandits for a draft pick, and played two seasons in Buffalo. On May 18, 2001, Williams was traded again, this time to the Rochester Knighthawks as part of a seven player blockbuster deal.

Williams played his best season in 2004. When Knighthawk star John Grant, Jr. went down with a season-ending knee injury, Williams picked up the slack, finishing 8th in the league in points with 81, 3rd in goals with 45, and was named to the first All-Pro team. He was named Overall Player of the Week three times all in the last four weeks of the season and Offensive Player of the Week five times.

Williams has played in six NLL All-Star games, in 2002, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, and 2009 scoring the overtime winning goal in the 2008 game. [3] [4]

After ten seasons in Rochester, Williams was traded in October 2011 along with Aaron Bold to the Edmonton Rush for Ryan Cousins, Alex Kedoh Hill, and Andy Secore. [5]

Williams was traded from Edmonton to Minnesota for two second round picks in the 2013 NLL Entry Draft. Minnesota then sent him to Buffalo with Brendon Doran, a 2012 first round pick, and two 2012 second round picks for the third overall pick in 2012. [6]

MSL / WLA Career

Williams has been a member of the Brooklin Redmen of the MSL since 1996, other than 2003, when he played one year in the WLA for the Coquitlam Adanacs. He was a member of the Mann Cup-winning Redmen in 2000. He has won the Bucko McDonald Memorial Trophy as the top scorer in the MSL three times, in 1999, 2001 (co-winner with Josh Sanderson), and again in 2004. Williams also holds the MSL record for most points in a game 21, set on July 26, 1999 against the Ohsweken Wolves.

Field lacrosse

Williams is also an accomplished field lacrosse player, and has been a member of Team Canada at the last two World Lacrosse Championships. He also served as the coach for Brock University. On June 9, 2009, Williams was inducted into the Brock Badgers Hall of Fame. [7]

Statistics

NLL

Reference: [8]

Shawn Williams Regular SeasonPlayoffs
SeasonTeamGPGAPtsLBPIMPts/GPLB/GPPIM/GPGPGAPtsLBPIMPts/GPLB/GPPIM/GP

1998 Ontario Raiders 1215213638123.003.171.00
1999 Toronto Rock 115111626151.452.361.362112601.003.000.00
2000 Buffalo Bandits 102119406844.006.800.401000600.006.000.00
2001 Buffalo Bandits 1446317710005.507.140.00
2002 Rochester Knighthawks 164035756844.694.250.252156803.004.000.00
2003 Rochester Knighthawks 162745728344.505.190.252347903.504.500.00
2004 Rochester Knighthawks 1645368191245.065.691.501123423.004.002.00
2005 Rochester Knighthawks 1633508374125.194.630.752527703.503.500.00
2006 Rochester Knighthawks 1631498068145.004.250.882336503.002.500.00
2007 Rochester Knighthawks 163655916985.694.310.503613191826.336.000.67
2008 Rochester Knighthawks 162555806425.004.000.13
2009 Rochester Knighthawks 162667938545.815.310.251156206.002.000.00
2010 Rochester Knighthawks 162346697644.314.750.25
2011 Rochester Knighthawks 162354776424.814.000.131134504.005.000.00
2012 Edmonton Rush 161652684184.252.560.50321113744.332.331.33
2013 Buffalo Bandits 161946654264.062.630.38
2014 Buffalo Bandits 181336494482.722.440.443145721.672.330.67
2574447081,1521,1011314.484.280.512325537884103.393.650.43
Career Total:2804697611,2301,1851414.394.230.50

GPGames played; GGoals; AAssists; PtsPoints; LBLoose balls; PIMPenalty minutes; Pts/GPPoints per games played; LB/GPLoose balls per games played; PIM/GPPenalty minutes per games played.

Canadian Lacrosse Association

  Regular Season Playoffs
SeasonTeamLeagueGPGAPtsPIMGPGAPtsPIM
1990 Scarborough OLA Jr B 14610168----------
1991ScarboroughOLA Jr B18702595551122153747
1992ScarboroughOLA Jr B187944123401228245218
1992 Brampton OLA Jr A 12020----------
1993ScarboroughOLA Jr A1947459218----------
1994ScarboroughOLA Jr A22626712966----------
1994 Owen Sound MSL 6710179----------
1995BramptonOLA Jr A20453378143491310
1996 Brooklin MSL1934154913548126
1997BrooklinMSL2025305510447112
1998BrooklinMSL18333770135511160
1999BrooklinMSL1641499061015153010
2000BrooklinMSL18455196171529184712
2001BrooklinMSL1857369321027285510
2002BrooklinMSL102728554101719364
2003 Coquitlam WLA 1424325661011233417
2004BrooklinMSL1846781241141017274
2005BrooklinMSL1633518410----------
Junior A Totals--------------------
Junior B Totals--------------------
Senior A Totals--------------------

Awards

Preceded by NLL Sportsmanship Award
2010
Succeeded by

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References

  1. Tutka, Paul (2022-04-26). "Las Vegas Desert Dogs: Newly named franchise hires Williams as GM & coach". The Lax Mag. Retrieved 2022-11-22.
  2. Kirk, Alexander (2021-06-03). "John Grant Jr among 4 from Mammoth elected into NLL Hall of Fame". KUSA.com. Retrieved 2022-11-22.
  3. "East All-Stars Win In Overtime, 17-16". NLL.com. March 16, 2008. Retrieved 2008-03-16.
  4. "All-Star reserves announced". NLL.com. February 19, 2009. Retrieved 2009-03-05.
  5. Jenner, Teddy (October 9, 2011). "Rush and Knighthawks make Thanksgiving day swap". ILIndoor.com. Archived from the original on October 12, 2011. Retrieved 2011-10-10.
  6. mnswarm.com (July 27, 2012). "Swarm acquire third overall pick in 2012 Draft". mnswarm.com. Retrieved 2012-07-27.
  7. "Brock Athletics announces 2009 Hall of Fame Inductees". Brock University web site. April 10, 2009. Retrieved 2009-04-21.
  8. "Player National Lacrosse League". NLL.com. Retrieved March 9, 2020.