2006 NLL season

Last updated

2006 NLL season
NLL 20.jpg
League National Lacrosse League
Sport Indoor lacrosse
DurationDecember 30, 2005 – May 13, 2006
Number of games16
Number of teams11
Regular season
Season MVP Steve Dietrich (Buffalo Bandits)
Top scorer Josh Sanderson (Toronto Rock)
Playoffs
Eastern champions Buffalo Bandits
  Eastern runners-up Rochester Knighthawks
Western champions Portland LumberJax
  Western runners-up Colorado Mammoth
Champion's Cup
Champions Colorado Mammoth
  Runners-up Buffalo Bandits
Finals MVP Gavin Prout (Colorado)
NLL seasons

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.

Contents

The defending champion Toronto Rock were once again the favourite to win the Champions' Cup, [1] but a slow start plus a dismal performance in the semifinal game against Rochester removed the Rock from contention. The Colorado Mammoth, under first-year head coach Gary Gait, won their first title since winning the first ever title in 1987, as the Baltimore Thunder.

Highly touted Portland rookie Brodie Merrill lived up to his hype, winning both the Defensive Player of the Year and the Rookie of the Year awards. Portland continued its domination of the post-season awards with Derek Keenan, himself a former Rookie of the Year Award winner (1992 with Buffalo), winning both the Les Bartley Award for coach of the year and the GM of the Year Award, and owner Angela Batinovich winning the Executive of the Year Award.

Team movement

The season featured the debut of two expansion teams; the Edmonton Rush and the Portland LumberJax, both in the Western Division. Portland beat the expansion team odds and won its division, finishing with an 11–5 record, while Edmonton did not fare so well. The Rush finished the season 1–15, their only win coming at the hands of their provincial rivals, the Calgary Roughnecks.

Before the 2006 season, the Anaheim Storm folded not being able to attract enough fans in their two years in Southern California moving from their original home of New Jersey after the 2003 season where, for two seasons, they were not able to attract enough fans.

Milestones

Final standings

Regular season

Reference: [4]

East Division
PTeamGPWLPCTGBHomeRoadGFGADiffGF/GPGA/GP

1 Buffalo Bandits –xyz16115.6880.06–25–3193167+2612.0610.44
2 Rochester Knighthawks –x1697.5622.06–23–5196180+1612.2511.25
3 Toronto Rock –x1688.5003.05–33–5182179+311.3811.19
4 Minnesota Swarm –x1688.5003.03–55–3158171−139.8810.69
5 Philadelphia Wings 1688.5003.05–33–5184184−-011.5011.50
West Division
PTeamGPWLPCTGBHomeRoadGFGADiffGF/GPGA/GP

1 Portland LumberJax –xy16115.6880.05–36–2188177+1111.7511.06
2 Colorado Mammoth –x16106.6251.06–24–4200172+2812.5010.75
3 Calgary Roughnecks –x1697.5622.04–45–3183178+511.4411.12
4 Arizona Sting –x1688.5003.04–44–4198199−112.3812.44
5 San Jose Stealth 16511.3126.03–52–6151174−239.4410.88
6 Edmonton Rush 16115.06210.00–81–7150202−529.3812.62

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 gameToronto won the 3-way tiebreaker with Minnesota and Philadelphia

Playoffs

Divisional Semifinal Divisional Final Champion's Cup Final
         
1 Buffalo11
4 Minnesota 10
1 Buffalo15
Eastern Division
2 Rochester 10
3 Toronto 8
2 Rochester16
W2 Colorado16
E1 Buffalo 9
1 Portland 10
4 Arizona14
2 Colorado13
Western Division
4 Arizona 12
2 Colorado18
3 Calgary 17

All-Star game

The 2006 All-Star Game was held at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto, Ontario on February 25, 2006. The West Division defeated the East Division 14–13. The MVP of the game was Lewis Ratcliff of the Calgary Roughnecks, who scored 4 goals, including the game winner. This marked the second straight year that a Roughneck player was All-Star Game MVP, with Tracy Kelusky having won it in 2005.

All-Star teams

Eastern Division starters Western Division starters
John Grant, Jr., Rochester Gavin Prout, Colorado
Colin Doyle, Toronto Tracey Kelusky, Calgary
John Tavares, Buffalo Craig Conn, Arizona
Steve Toll, Rochester Jay Jalbert, Colorado
Thomas Hajek, Philadelphia Brodie Merrill, Portland
Pat O'Toole, Rochester (goalie) Anthony Cosmo, San Jose (goalie)
Eastern Division ReservesWestern Division Reserves
Marshall Abrams, Rochester Dan Carey, Colorado
Jake Bergey, PhiladelphiaBruce Codd, Arizona
Ryan Cousins, MinnesotaJonas Derks, Arizona
Glenn Clark, Philadelphia Dallas Eliuk, Portland (goalie)
Steve Dietrich, Buffalo (goalie) Peter Lough, Arizona
Blaine Manning, Toronto Derek Malawsky, San Jose
Dan Marohl, Philadelphia Lewis Ratcliff, Calgary
Josh Sanderson, TorontoScott Self, Arizona
Phil Sanderson, TorontoRyan Sharp, Portland
Mark Steenhuis, Buffalo Kaleb Toth, Calgary
Shawn Williams, Rochester Andrew Turner, Edmonton
Jim Veltman, Toronto Taylor Wray, Calgary

Awards

Annual

AwardWinnerTeam
Jet Blue MVP Award Steve Dietrich [5] Buffalo
Edge Active Care Rookie of the Year Award Brodie Merrill [6] Portland
Les Bartley Award (Coach of the Year) Derek Keenan [7] Portland
GM of the Year Award Derek Keenan [8] Portland
Executive of the Year Award Angela Batinovich [9] Portland
Defensive Player of the Year Brodie Merrill [10] Portland
RBK Goaltender of the Year Award Steve Dietrich [11] Buffalo
Bowflex Sportsmanship Award Sean Greenhalgh [12] Philadelphia
Championship Game MVP Gavin Prout [13] Colorado

All-Pro Teams

First Team

Second Team

All-Rookie Team

Weekly awards

The NLL gives out awards weekly for the best overall player, best offensive player, best defensive player, and best rookie.

WeekOverallOffensiveDefensiveRookie
1Sean GreenhalghSean GreenhalghMatt RoikSean Greenhalgh
2Jonas DerksJonas DerksChris Levis Jeff Zywicki
3 Mark Steenhuis Mark Steenhuis Steve Dietrich Shawn Evans
4Nick Patterson Jake Bergey Dallas Eliuk Brodie Merrill
5 John Grant, Jr. John Grant, Jr. Pat O'Toole Brodie Merrill
6 Craig Conn Craig ConnNick PattersonDan Carey
7Chad CulpChad CulpNick PattersonSean Greenhalgh
8 John Tavares Brodie Merrill Pat Campbell Brodie Merrill
9 Aaron Wilson Aaron Wilson Bob Watson Sean Greenhalgh
10 Matt Disher John Grant, Jr.Matt DisherShawn Evans
11Sean GreenhalghJohn Grant, Jr.Matt KingJeff Zywicki
12 Jay Jalbert Ryan Ward Jeff ZywickiJay Jalbert
13Mark SteenhuisMark SteenhuisMatt KingRoger Vyse
Brodie Merrill (tie)
14Brodie MerrillJay JalbertSteve DietrichBrodie Merrill
15 Colin Doyle Colin DoyleDallas EliukSean Greenhalgh
16 Dan Dawson Dan DawsonSteve DietrichSean Greenhalgh

Monthly awards

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

MonthOverallRookie
JanJohn Grant, Jr.Sean Greenhalgh
FebNick PattersonBrodie Merrill
MarGavin ProutBrodie Merrill

Statistics leaders

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

StatPlayerTeamNumber
Goals John Grant, Jr. Rochester54
Assists Josh Sanderson Toronto69
Points Josh Sanderson Toronto98
Penalty Minutes Rob VanBeek Philadelphia72
Shots on Goal John Grant, Jr. Rochester277
Loose Balls Jim Veltman Toronto226
Save Pct Steve Dietrich Buffalo80.8
GAA Steve Dietrich Buffalo9.97

Attendance

Regular Season

Home TeamHome GamesAverage AttendanceTotal Attendance [14]
Colorado Mammoth816,543132,347
Toronto Rock816,538132,306
Buffalo Bandits812,11896,946
Philadelphia Wings811,93695,491
Calgary Roughnecks811,77794,217
Edmonton Rush810,36782,938
Rochester Knighthawks89,98879,906
Minnesota Swarm88,37266,981
Portland LumberJax88,00664,055
Arizona Sting86,47751,820
San Jose Stealth85,60844,868
League8810,703941,875

Playoffs

Home TeamHome GamesAverage AttendanceTotal Attendance [15]
Colorado Mammoth212,98125,963
Buffalo Bandits311,70335,111
Portland LumberJax110,84310,843
Rochester Knighthawks17,2957,295
League711,31679,212

See also

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References

  1. ↑ "Toronto opens 2006 as Experts' top pick". Outsider's Guide to the NLL. January 4, 2006. Archived from the original on March 2, 2007. Retrieved November 7, 2006.
  2. ↑ Philly, R.A. (February 22, 2006). "Record-tying Tavares named Player of Week". Outsider's Guide to the NLL. Archived from the original on March 2, 2007. Retrieved February 4, 2007.
  3. ↑ Philly, R.A. (March 4, 2006). "NLL Week Ten Roundup". Outsider's Guide to the NLL. Archived from the original on March 2, 2007. Retrieved February 4, 2007.
  4. ↑ "National Lacrosse League - 2006 Regular Season - Standings". NLL.com. Retrieved May 3, 2012.
  5. ↑ "Dietrich Wins 2006 Jet Blue MVP Award". NLL website. May 11, 2006. Retrieved November 7, 2006.
  6. ↑ "Merrill Wins Edge Active Care Rookie of the Year". NLL website. May 9, 2006. Archived from the original on October 6, 2007. Retrieved November 7, 2006.
  7. ↑ "Derek Keenan Wins Les Bartley Award". NLL website. May 4, 2006. Archived from the original on October 7, 2007. Retrieved November 7, 2006.
  8. ↑ "Derek Keenan Wins Vonage GM of the Year". NLL website. May 5, 2006. Archived from the original on July 14, 2011. Retrieved November 7, 2006.
  9. ↑ "Batinovich Named Executive of the Year". NLL website. May 8, 2006. Retrieved November 7, 2006.
  10. ↑ "Merrill Wins Belmont.com Defensive Player of the Year". NLL website. May 2, 2006. Archived from the original on October 19, 2007. Retrieved November 7, 2006.
  11. ↑ "Steve Dietrich Named RBK Goaltender of the Year". NLL website. May 3, 2006. Retrieved November 7, 2006.
  12. ↑ "Greenhalgh Wins Bowflex Sportsmanship Award". NLL website. May 1, 2006. Archived from the original on July 14, 2011. Retrieved November 7, 2006.
  13. ↑ Knight, Ben (May 13, 2006). "Mammoth stampedes over baffled Bandits". Outsider's Guide to the NLL. Archived from the original on March 2, 2007. Retrieved November 7, 2006.
  14. ↑ "National Lacrosse League - attendance | Pointstreak Sports Technologies".
  15. ↑ "National Lacrosse League - attendance | Pointstreak Sports Technologies".
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