Congratulations go out to Wayne Paddick for guessing our 200,000th visitor. Wayne’s guess was May 22 / 2008 at 10:15 am. Wayne was almost a full day late (or the visit was early depending on your view), but he was still one day closer than Bill Midwinter and Wendy (sorry no last name was given).

For winning this contest, Wayne will now receive an LITG prize pack.

Thanks to all for participating, and keep checking the site as we will be having another contest very soon.

Marksy

All photos are courtesy of www.m40images.com
The Buffalo Bandit players, and fans alike have waited twelve years since their last NLL Championship. Saturday night (May 17/08), I’m certain everyone in Buffalo cared less about the wait. The Bandits, in thrilling fashion, defeated the surging Portland Lumberjax 14-13 to capture the 2008 Champions Cup, their first since 1996.

The announced crowd of 18,690 were as loud as I’ve ever heard, and they did not stop from the time the lights dimmed for intros, until well after the game was over into the streets. I have to admit that in the past three weeks, having seen Bandit Land, I now have a new appreciation for what fans of a sports team can really do for their team. I actually had chills during the pregame introductions, and made sure the camera was rolling. I decided to share this with everyone to hopefully allow them to get a feel for the electricity in the building Saturday night.

The game itself was an absolutely terrific match. If the National Lacrosse League was looking to showcase their game, then this one did the NLL proud. Fast paced action from start to finish, some brilliant goaltending, and some highlight reel goals. The best part of the game from my perspective, not cheering really for either team, was that with 22 seconds left in the game, I still did not know who the winner would be. Portland never led in the game, but Buffalo never had more than a three goal lead either, and a three goal lead in lacrosse is nothing. I cannot tell you who the referees were, which is my way of saying they did a great job. This truly was a great game to see. I am only glad I was there live to see it.

In the end, Buffalo rode the hot goaltending of Mike Thompson in the fourth quarter of the game to secure the win. With a 13-10 lead late in the third quarter, Peter Morgan scored for Portland on the Power Play to close the gap to two goals. Just over a minute into the fourth quarter, Dan Dawson scored and it was a one goal game. From there, Mike Thompson made some incredible saves as Portland came hard looking to tie and win the game. Thompson’s heroics held the Jax at bay, until Mark Steenhuis scored with under six minutes to play to make it a two goal game again.

With under a minute and Portland goalie Matt Disher on the bench Portland’s Derek Malawsky scored to ensure Portland still had life. With twenty-two seconds remaining Portland again came hard at the Bandits, but Thompson shut the door and secured the win.

The next video is roughly fourteen minutes in length, showing some second half goals and the last minute or so of the game. It also hopefully will detail the intensity that was in the building during that last bit of the game.

The next little piece is a short clip of the Bandits getting together for the Championship picture out on the floor:

Lastly, I had the chance to speak with Kevin Dostie, Assistant Coach Jeff Dowling, Mark Steenhuis, and Captain Rich Kilgour on the win:

On the Buffalo win:

The Bandits really were a team of destiny on 2008. Surviving through a rash of injuries like they did, winning big games throughout, they certainly built a ton of character. What was great about the Bandits is that while they have the All-Time Scoring Leader in John Tavares, their offense is very well spread out. Week one of the playoffs, Mike Accursi stole the show, week two Mark Steenhuis was in the spotlight, and week three Steenhuis, Kevin Dostie, Tavares all shouldered the load.

In Mike Thompson and Ken Montour the Bandits had a goaltending tandem that played great in the Championship run, with each playing an integral part along the way.

Lastly, Darris Kilgour has a team that does not stop. The Bandits have inherited his former “in your face” traits when he was on the floor. Kilgour played the two goalies perfectly in the situations where they best fit and it worked.

Buffalo is a veteran team and they showed it in the run to the Cup.

On the Portland loss:

Many talkers were questioning Coach Derek Keenan when the trade deadline came and went, and none of the Portland so called rental players were dealt to so called contenders. Well that non deal of anyone got Portland to the final game.

The Lumberjax were a goal short of a sudden death Overtime for the Champions Cup. After a 6-10 regular season this squad turned it up winning two games on the road for the right to play in Buffalo.

They played exciting lacrosse and if they can somehow hold onto these players for next season, this experience and war they went through will do nothing but help them in 2009.

Below are the Qualifier Schedules for the coming weekend (May 17-19). My hope is to update these Excel sheets as the scores come in (in the East anyway). So please check back for updates.

East Schedule

West Schedule

After starting the season 0-3 and at 1-4 after five games, there were not many Portland Lumberjax fans expecting a post season appearance in 2008.

But after defeating Calgary in Alberta last night 16-12, the Jax are now one game away from completing a major comeback season, and a Champions Cup victory, with potentially all three playoff wins coming on the road.

In front of just over 9000 fans, the Lumberjax used a strong first and fourth quarter to end Calgary’s chances at a Championship appearance. Dan Dawson, possibly the hottest player playing the last couple of weeks, ended the night with five goals (on nine shots) and five assists, while Peter Morgan and Ryan Powell both scored four. Singles were scored by Brodie Merill, Derek Malawsky, and Rich Morgan. Malawsky also had seven assists and Merill scooped up 13 loose balls on the night. Dallas Eliuk who came in in relief of recently acquired Matt Disher, stopped 35 of 43 shots.

For Calgary, Kaleb Toth and Jeff Shattler both scored three, Scott Ranger and Curt Malawsky each had two, while Josh Sanderson and Tracey Kelusky both scored once. Steve Dietrich stopped 33 of 47 shots.

The loss eliminates the Roughnecks and sends Portland to Buffalo next weekend for the Champions Cup final against the Bandits. If they can win next week, the Lumberjax, who tied for the second worst regular season record at 6-10, will have pulled of a huge feat.

In an interesting final game, the Bandits who have ridden their loyal fans to the Cup, will face the road warrior Jax, who have not had the opportunity of having a home date throughout the playoffs.

In what I expected to be an absolute barn burner of a game, the 2008 Eastern Championship game ended up a somewhat lopsided affair. The 2008 Champions Cup be will hosted by the Buffalo Bandits after their 19-12 win against the New Your Titans Saturday night.

Most of the first half appeared to be more of an “Air Gait” competition than an indoor box lacrosse game. With, by my count five goals scored, and another two disallowed in the first two quarters, much of both teams offense was coming from behind the goal.

New York came out strong and held early leads of 3-1 and 4-2 in an extremely high tempo, and emotional first 30 minutes. I was thinking that early on, this was the game plan for New York; to use their youth and their speed to wear down the veteran Bandit team. But a four goal run started by Buffalo in the late 1st quarter, and a 4-1 second quarter gave them a lead that they would not relinquish. The score at the half was Buffalo 9 and New York 5.

The teams played a close third quarter with New York edging Buffalo 5-4, but again the Bandits box and playoff experience showed in a penalty laden fourth quarter which saw the Bandits outscore New York 6-2.

Mark Steenhuis was magic on the night scoring seven goals and adding an assist. It seemed that everything he was throwing at the New York net was going in. John Tavares added two goals and ten helpers, while Brett Bucktooth and Kevin Dostie each had hat tricks. Last week’s hero Mike Accursi had two goals, Roger Vyse and Billy Dee Smith both added a single score. Ken Montour stopped 41 of 53 shots and pretty much shut the door in the fourth quarter.

For New York Brendan Mundorf and Pat Maddalena both scored three goals, while Casey Powell had two. Singles went to Jarret Park, Greg Peyser, Jeff Ratcliffe and Mike McLellan. Matt Vinc did not have his greatest game stopping 15 of 30 shots and being replaced by Erik Miller for most of the fourth frame.

It was a very spirited affair and definitely playoff lacrosse. The one thing that stood out to me, is that the refs let the players play. But it appeared the players on both sides quickly saw that and began to take liberties on one another relatively early in the game. With the built up frustrations from the game itself as well as the dislike for each from earlier this season, the fourth quarter saw a few fisticuffs and player ejections.

While we were unable to get down for the pregame, we did catch a bunch of video which can be seen below:

Hands down, with a seven goal night, the player of the game was Mark Steenhuis of the Bandits, and he was nice enough to join me after the game for a few words:

Here is the week 3 Field Lacrosse Schedule for the East. With all due respect to the West teams, I cannot seem to get scores so until I do, I won’t be posting the schedules.

Our “Circa Pictures “Minor Star of the Week is back for 2008 and our first recipient is Drew Bartlett. Drew plays lacrosse in the Whitby Minor Lacrosse House League Major Peewee division. Drew was nominated by his Coach Brad Bain, and had the following to say:

On Friday 2 May 2008, my team (WMLA Major Peewee Team #4) the Knights, played Team #5. We started very sluggishly and into the second period were losing 7 - 0.

For his never say quit approach to the game and the fine example he displayed to his teammates, Drew Bartlett is most worthy of Minor Star of the Week.

For his efforts Drew will receive an LITG T-Shirt and wristband. Congratulations Drew and best of luck the rest of the season!

We thank Circa Pictures for their continued support of our Minor Star of the Week program.

OK, so we were off one week, but we are back. Unfortunately those jobs get in the way of what we really want to do with our time. Anyway, a short but sweet week 17, that includes some discussions on the NLL, Junior B, Junior A, Major Series and kids Field Lacrosse.

Already looking forward to Saturday night in Buffalo while Tommy Frank covers the game in Calgary.

In what turned out to be a good old fashioned “shootout”, the Portland Lumberjax defeated the San Jose Stealth for the right to move on to the 2008 NLL Western Division final. The Jax will now travel to Calgary, who Saturday night defeated the Colorado Mammoth.

In a game some expected to be a defensive battle, the two teams combined for 34 goals, with Portland winning 18-16. What makes this score a little misleading is that there were only two penalties called during the entire game, so this game was an all out slug fest with a number of offensive stars taking centre stage.

Dan Dawson, by Head Coach Derek Keenan’s own admission “was an absolute monster out there”. Dawson scored seven goals and added five assists. Ryan Powell scored four goals and added four assists. Brad McDoanld and Brodie Merrill each scored twice, with singles going to Scott Stewart, Peter Jacobs and Rich Morgan.

For San Jose, Jeff Zywicki led the way with four goals and three assists, while Colin Doyle had three goals and two assists. Peter Veltman and Frank Resetarits each scored twice, with singles going to Paul Dawson, Ton johnson, Cam Sedgwick, Kyle Sorenson and Gary Rosyski.

In chatting further with Keenan he had this to say about the game:

“given the history of the 3 games this year and the parity between the 2 teams (33 goals each) I did not expect this type of offensive explosion. It was a phenomenal lacrosse game and we were happy and fortunate to have come out on the winning side!”

Parity in the National Lacrosse League at least means one thing. As we’ve said all year anyone can beat anyone else, anywhere, any week. You might call last nights victory by the Calgary Roughnecks in Colorado an upset; I call it parity.

The Riggers have taken their spot in the Western Final with an impressive 15-13 win at the Pepsi Centre in front of over 15,000 Colorado fans. Calgary will now either host Portland or travel to San Jose, pending the outcome of this afternoons last game of the first round.

The game was back and forth all night with Colorado holding a 4-1 1st quarter lead, and Calgary holding a 6-5 halftime lead. Colorado again would be up 10-9 after three. But three goals in under a minute and a half in the fourth quarter, and a total of six in the final frame appeared to be the difference.

Calgary scoring was well spread out with Jeff Shattler and Kaleb Toth each netting three, while Tracey Kelusky and Kelly Hall each scored twice. Singles went to Scott Ranger, Josh Sanderson, Mike Carnegie, Curt Malawasky, and Chris Seller.

For Colorado Gavin Prout, Chris Gill, Jamie Shewchuk, and Jason Wulder all scored two, with singles going to Brian Langtry, Nick Carlson, Nenad Gajic, Jim Moss and Jordan Cornfield.