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ALL-STAR PROFILE: MARK STEENHUIS

Buffalo's Mark Steenhuis close to becoming All-Star scoring leader

03/13/2008

In the last two weeks, Buffalo's Mark Steenhuis has been named an NLL All-Star, won back-to-back Transition Player of the Week awards, and pulled into second in the league's points race, trailing only teammate John Tavares. Many professional athletes would be basking in the limelight, but Steenhuis avoids the attention, choosing to focus on team success and the pursuit of the Championship. Many players say 'It's all about the team', but Steenhuis is truly humble about his abilities and his accomplishments, to the point that he blushed with embarrassment when asked about all his achievements.

In four All-Star appearances, Steenhuis has scored 14 goals (trailing only Tavares' 15 on the all-time leaders), and is the only player to be named All-Star MVP twice.

"Once you get a goal or two the guys see that you are hot, and they start to feed you," said Steenhuis. "Last year me and Ryan Powell (on the West team) both had four goals, and the guys on the bench were all saying to get me the ball so I could beat him. I just kept shooting and got a couple of lucky breaks."

Steenhuis is currently second in the league's scoring race with 26 goals, and has a career-high 35 assists, with five games left on Buffalo's regular season schedule. Despite all of his accomplishments, Steenhuis has never won a league All-Pro Award, and 2008 will mark the first time he is named one of the starting six in the All-Star Game.

"It's an honor to be voted in as a starter," said Steenhuis. "For me the All-Star Game lets me know that I can compete with the best players in the league."

Steenhuis was quick to turn the attention to Buffalo's four-game winning streak, and pointed out several other Bandits teammates that deserved to be All-Stars. However, when pressed, he did admit he would like one individual accomplishment.

"To get one record away from Tavares would be nice," he said, regarding Tavares' 15 career All-Star Game goals. "He is such a great player. All the guys in the All-Star Game are the best players in the world, and to be able to go out there and play with them is amazing."

Barring injury, 2008 will be a career-year for Steenhuis, but he'd gladly give up all his personal accomplishments for a chance to raise the Champion's Cup with the Bandits.

For all that he has accomplished and all he does for the community, it is a struggle to keep the conversation about him. Every chance he gets, he starts talking about his team, and maybe that is what truly makes him an All-Star.

--Cubby Phillips/NLL.com