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EAST WINS GAME TWO, SWEEPS ALL-STAR SERIES

World's greatest lacrosse players in Australia on Oct. 23-24

10/24/2009

If there were any doubts over the players commitment to win the LeasePlan National Lacrosse League All-Star Series, they were quashed in the second game at Hisense Arena tonight, with a series a bit hits and fights highlighting a one point win for the East over the West, 20-19.

The victory secured the East All-Star team the inaugural LeasePlan Cup, following their dominance in the first game last night..

Trading blows in the first period, neither team could get the winning edge, heading into the quarter time break all locked up at five goals apiece.

Rochester Knighthawks forward Shawn Evans opened up the scoring after just a minute of play for the East, and followed up with an impressive behind the back shot in the seventh minute. A spectacular through the legs goal from Calgary Roughnecks' Dane Dobbie highlighted the quarter for the West.

With eight goals to make up from the first game on Friday night, the West turned up the heat, piling on the first six goals of the second term to take a 11-6 lead. Not to be outclassed, Evans responded once again for the East All-Stars scoring their first goal of the quarter in the eighth minute.

The class of the East offense, including All-Star game one MVP Mark Steenhuis and 2007 league MVP John Grant Jnr., responded to reduced the margin back to two goals at the main break (10-12).

The physicality reached fever pitch in the third term, with an all-Australian clash between Williamstown lacrosse player Wes Green and Eltham defender Keith Nyberg sending the pair to the penalty box.

With both teams adding five goals onto their tally in the first ten minutes of the third term, the goals dried up towards the end of the quarter as the tight checking of the defense began to dictate play.

Heading into the final term with a 17-15 lead, the West needed to expand on their lead to claim the LeasePlan Cup but the East were too good, winning the final term by three goals to finish the game 20-19.

A three goal effort by Grant in the final term secured the 35-year-old the MVP honors, finishing the final game of the series with six goals.

""We didn't want to lose the game," said Grant.

"We knew we had a bit of a jump in score from last night, but we wanted to win both and send those west boys home with a sad face. We did what we needed to do tonight."

Over 7,000 people enjoyed the action-packed, fast flowing and hard hitting lacrosse action over the two games at Hisense Arena.

The East won the opening game, defeating the West by a score of 24-16. Mark Steenhuis scored 6 goals to lead the East. At halftime, the East held a 12-7 lead. In first half scoring, John Grant and Luke Wiles each scored 3 goals for the East. Mark Steenhuis scored twice, and Gary Gait has scored a goal in the first half. Geoff Snider won 15 out of 21 faceoffs. For the West, Jeff Shattler and Dane Dobbie each scored twice in the first half. Tim Fry of the Eltham Lacrosse Club has also scored twice, tops among the Australian national players in the contest.

Check out photos from the second game in the series here.

NLL All-Star Series Player Blog

Jordan Hall, Orlando Titans transition player
Monday, October 19, 11:00PM ET

Now I have just read my work associates' (Kyle Ross and Bruce Codd) respective blogs and my thoughts are similar. Although am I the only one that will step out and question is the juice worth the squeeze?

I have worked out the travel time from door to door from arriving at Vancouver international to estimated hotel arrival in Melbourne where I will be staying for the week. Total travel time equates to about 27 and half hours including layovers and flight time. Like any big decision in my life I made a list of pro's and cons for the trip to decide if this much travel time would be worth the stay. The list looked like this:

Pro: Seeing a country I have never been to before and is by all accounts one of the prettiest in the world

Con: 27.5 hours of recycled air

Pro: Playing lacrosse with some of the NLL's best in front of screaming local Australians who fall in love with the sport

Con: 27.5 hours of the crying baby

Pro: Possibility of free drinks for the 15 hour potion of international flight time

Con: Possibility of free drinks for 15 hours

Pro: Traveling with some of the guys I know from summer lacrosse and getting to know them better during the flight time

Con: Kyle Ross' inevitable bad Aussie accent for 27.5 hours

Pro: Being the one with the Canadian accent like my college lacrosse days in Delaware

Con: Not being able to laugh when they ask "are you from Minnesota?"

Pro: The thought the NLL could have an international fan base one day and have preseason games in Australia, England, the Czech Republic or Japan.

My list of Cons ended there and my pros went on and on (including crocodile hunter RIP and Crocodile Dundee's quote running through my head all trip, "that's not a knife").

If you haven't figured out my list of pros and cons is bogus by now, get with it. In the NLL we don't make enough to turn down fantastic opportunities like this one. I also think most guys in the league try and help grow the game as much as possible. A long flight and bad travel, that is free is like making out with either one of the Duff sisters..... you can't complain.


Kyle Ross, Boston Blazers defenseman
Monday, October 19, 4:00PM ET

Hey lax fans,

I have been asked to share some of my experiences with you guys as I travel to Australia and participate in the All Star Series. Before we get started, let me just say that I am extremely proud and honored to be taking part in the games next weekend with some of the best players in the world.

It's been a long week of prep and excitement leading up to my flight Monday evening. Truth be told I have had a hard time looking at my lacrosse gear since losing a heart breaking game seven in the Canadian National men's Championship this summer. However, I think this trip is exactly the thing I need to put it all behind me.

I will be travelling with two of my summer teammates; Ian Hawksbee and Tyler Richards. It's always a good thing when you can carpool to the airport. Then it's Vancouver to LA , LA to Sydney, and finally Sydney down to Melbourne. All in all roughly 20 hours in the air. Hopefully my PSP and a new book will make it seem a little shorter.

Lots of my friends and family have been sharing their Aussie experiences with me, so I can't wait to get there and live some of my own. I'll be checking in throughout the week so check back often.

Kyle Ross


Bruce Codd, Calgary Roughnecks defenseman
Monday, October 19, 9:00AM ET

Hey Everybody,

As I get set to jet off to Melbourne for the NLL All-Star series, I thought it might be a good idea to try my hand at writing a few blogs and share this unique experience with you all.

I am very excited and grateful to have the opportunity to showcase our great game to the people in the land Down Under and see how the other side of the world lives.

Having been to almost every province and state in North America some people would say I have travelled a lot, but surprisingly I have never been abroad. Leave it to lacrosse to open the door for another great life experience. Since winter starts the first week of October out here in Cow Town (Calgary), this will also be a good time to take off the shirt and get this chalky white skin some much needed Vitamin D.

However, I am not looking forward to the 18 hour journey to get there. Myself and Andrew McBride start in Calgary Monday night where we take the short flight to Vancouver, then on to Sydney before finally arriving in Melbourne on Wednesday. I think I am ready with a few DVDs, a freshly purchased Theo Fleury Autobiography to read and my old travel companion "Brian Urlacher" neck pillow.

Well that's all for now, I will check back when we are settled in Melbourne.

BC


Check back to NLL.com throughout the week as players share their experiences from the All-Star Series in Australia.