Albany FireWolves forward Alex Simmons, the National Lacrosse League (@NLL) leader among rookies in goals, assists, and points, was selected as the NLL Rookie of the Year the League announced today in advance of Game 1 of the 2024 NLL Finals presented by AXIA Time starting tonight at MVP Arena in Albany (7 p.m. ET, TSN, TSN+, ESPN+, CW23).
While pacing all NLL rookies in every offensive scoring category (38 goals, 58 assists, and 96 points), Simmons ended the regular season with the second-most points by a rookie in NLL history, and finished second overall in the League with 233 shots on goal.
Simmons and fellow Rookie of the Year finalist Tye Kurtz led Albany’s resurgence from a 3-15 squad last year to two wins away from hoisting the NLL Cup as champions this season.
The NLL All-Rookie team is made up of the six first-year players who garnered the most points in the Rookie of the Year selection process, regardless of position:
2023-24 NLL All-Rookie Team:
Alex Simmons, forward, Albany FireWolves (Rookie of the Year)
Owen Grant, transition, Vancouver Warriors
Callum Jones, defense, New York Riptide
Tye Kurtz, forward, Albany FireWolves
Brayden Laity, defense, Vancouver Warriors
Thomas McConvey, forward, Rochester Knighthawks
Below are the all-time winners of the NLL Rookie of the Year Award:
2024 – Alex Simmons, Albany FireWolves
2023 – Jonathan Donville, Panther City Lacrosse Club
2022 – Jeff Teat, New York Riptide
2020 – Tyson Gibson, New York Riptide
2019 – Austin Staats, San Diego Seals
2018 – Jake Withers, Rochester Knighthawks
2017 – Tom Schreiber, Toronto Rock
2016 – Randy Staats, Georgia Swarm
2015 – Ben McIntosh, Edmonton Rush
2014 – Logan Schuss, Minnesota Swarm
2013 – Mark Matthews, Edmonton Rush
2012 – Adam Jones, Colorado Mammoth
2011 – Curtis Dickson, Calgary Roughnecks
2010 – Stephan Leblanc, Toronto Rock
2009 – Rhys Duch, San Jose Stealth
2008 – Craig Point, Minnesota Swarm
2007 – Ryan Benesch, Toronto Rock
2006 – Brodie Merrill, Portland Lumberjax
2005 – Ryan Boyle, San Jose Stealth
2004 – Taylor Wray, Calgary Roughnecks
2003 – Brian Langtry, Colorado Mammoth
2002 – Blaine Manning, Toronto Rock
2001 – Tracey Kelusky, Columbus Landsharks
2000 – John Grant Jr., Rochester Knighthawks
1999 – Jesse Hubbard, Baltimore Thunder
1998 – Colin Doyle, Ontario Raiders
1997 – Jeff Wilfong, Boston Blazers
1996 – Darren Fridge, Boston Blazers
1995 – Charlie Lockwood, New York Saints
1994 – Tom Marachek – Philadelphia Wings
1993 – no award given
1992 – Derek Keenan, Buffalo Bandits
1991 – Gary Gait, Detroit Turbos
2023-24 NLL Awards announcement schedule and summary:
Monday, May 13
Executive of the Year – John Catalano, President and Chief Executive Officer, Halifax Thunderbirds
Tom Borrelli Award (Media Person of the Year) – Adam Levi, NLL.com, Inside Lacrosse
Tuesday, May 14
Sportsmanship Award – Lyle Thompson, Georgia Swarm
Teammate of the Year (via NLLPA) – Zack Greer, Las Vegas Desert Dogs
Wednesday, May 15
Les Bartley Award (Coach of the Year) – Glenn Clark, Albany FireWolves
General Manager of the Year – Glenn Clark, Albany FireWolves
Thursday, May 16
Offensive Player of the Year – Josh Byrne, Buffalo Bandits
Defensive Player of the Year – Ryan Dilks, Vancouver Warriors
Transition Player of the Year – Jake Withers, Halifax Thunderbirds
Goaltender of the Year – Nick Rose, Toronto Rock
Friday, May 17
Most Valuable Player and the 2023-24 All-NLL First and Second Teams
Finalists for each award, announced last week, as well as selection criteria can be found here.
