PHILADELPHIA, May 25, 2023 – The National Lacrosse League (@NLL), the largest and most successful professional lacrosse property in the world, today announced the winners of the Transition Player of the Year, Goaltender of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year.
Zach Currier, 28, (Peterborough, ON) becomes the fourth player to win back-to-back Transition Player of the Year awards, joining Challen Rogers, Jordan MacIntosh, and Brodie Merrill, and the fifth player to win twice (Joey Cupido in 2015 and 2018). This season, Currier finished with 15 goals, 18 assists, 228 loose ball recoveries (second in the NLL), 43 caused turnovers (second in NLL) and 18 blocked shots. Currier, one of the most consistent players in the NLL on any given night, finished the 2021-22 campaign with similar numbers with 10 goals, nine assists, 237 loose ball recoveries, 62 caused turnovers and 11 blocked shots.
- Zach Currier – 440 points
- Challen Rogers – 264 points
- Reid Bowering – 179 points
Christian Del Bianco, 25 (Coquitlam, BC) is taking home his first Goaltender of the Year trophy. He is the first Calgary goaltender to win the award since Mike Poulin in 2012. Del Bianco finished the season with the best save percentage among goalies with at least 120 minutes played and finished fourth in total saves. His 9.28 goals against average was second to Nick Rose, the only two players with a sub-10 goals against average. With Del Bianco in net, he helped lead Calgary to a franchise best 13-5 record, playing a league record 1080:19 minutes between the pipes. He is also a finalist for the Most Valuable Player award with the winner announced shortly.
- Christian Del Bianco – 594 points
- Nick Rose – 441 points
- Matt Vinc – 276 points
Latrell Harris, 25, (St. Catharines, ON) makes it back-to-back seasons for the Rock taking this award, with teammate Mitch de Snoo winning last season. Among defenseman, he led the league in points with 30 on 10 goals and 20 assists. He is the fourth member of the Rock to win the award, joining de Snoo, Sandy Chapman and Pat Coyle. Harris finished the season with 108 loose ball recoveries, 24 caused turnovers, 10 blocked shots and only committing four penalty minutes on the team that allowed a league low, 9.11 goals per game.
- Latrell Harris – 357 points
- Graeme Hossack – 293 points
- Brad Kri – 162 points
Below are the all-time winners of the Transition Player of the Year Award
- 2023 – Zach Currier, Calgary Roughnecks
- 2022 – Zach Currier, Calgary Roughnecks
- 2020 – Challen Rogers, Toronto Rock
- 2019 – Challen Rogers, Toronto Rock
- 2018 – Joey Cupido, Colorado Mammoth
- 2017 – Brodie Merrill, Toronto Rock
- 2016 – Brad Self, Rochester Knighthawks
- 2015 – Joey Cupido, Colorado Mammoth
- 2014 – Jordan MacIntosh, Minnesota Swarm
- 2013 – Jordan MacIntosh, Minnesota Swarm
- 2012 – Andrew Suitor, Minnesota Swarm
- 2011 – Jeff Shattler, Calgary Roughnecks
- 2010 – Brodie Merrill, Edmonton Rush
- 2009 – Brodie Merrill, Portland Lumberjax
- 2008 – Mark Steenhuis, Buffalo Bandits
- 2007 – Steve Toll, Rochester Knighthawks
Below are the all-time winners of the Goaltender of the Year Award
- 2023 – Christian Del Bianco, Calgary Roughnecks
- 2022 – Matt Vinc, Buffalo Bandits
- 2020 – Doug Jamieson, New England Black Wolves
- 2019 – Matt Vinc, Rochester Knighthawks
- 2018 – Matt Vinc, Rochester Knighthawks
- 2017 – Dillon Ward, Colorado Mammoth
- 2016 – Evan Kirk, New England Black Wolves
- 2015 – Matt Vinc, Rochester Knighthawks
- 2014 – Matt Vinc, Rochester Knighthawks
- 2013 – Matt Vinc, Rochester Knighthawks
- 2012 – Mike Poulin, Calgary Roughnecks
- 2011 – Matt Vinc, Rochester Knighthawks
- 2010 – Matt Vinc, Orlando Titans
- 2009 – Ken Mountour, Buffalo Bandits
- 2008 – Bob Watson, Toronto Rock
- 2007 – Anthony Cosmo, San Jose Stealth
- 2006 – Steve Dietrich, Buffalo Bandits
- 2005 – Steve Dietrich, Buffalo Bandits
- 2004 – Gee Nash, Colorado Mammoth
- 2003 – Pat O’Toole, Rochester Knighthawks
- 2002 – Rob Blasdell, Albany Attack
Below are the all-time winners of the Defensive Player of the Year Award
- 2023 – Latrell Harris, Toronto Rock
- 2022 – Mitch de Snoo, Toronto Rock
- 2020 – Graeme Hossack, Halifax Thunderbirds
- 2019 – Graeme Hossack, Rochester Knighthawks
- 2018 – Graeme Hossack, Rochester Knighthawks
- 2017 – Jason Noble, Georgia Swarm
- 2016 – Ryan Dilks, Saskatchewan Rush
- 2015 – Kyle Rubisch – Edmonton Rush
- 2014 – Kyle Rubisch – Edmonton Rush
- 2013 – Kyle Rubisch – Edmonton Rush
- 2012 – Kyle Rubisch – Edmonton Rush
- 2011 – Pat McCready, Rochester Knighthawks
- 2010 – Sandy Chapman, Toronto Rock
- 2009 – Billy Dee Smith, Buffalo Bandits
- 2008 – Ryan Cousins, Minnesota Swarm
- 2007 – Ryan Cousins, Minnesota Swarm
- 2006 – Brodie Merrill, Portland Lumberjax
- 2005 – Andrew Turner, Rochester Knighthawks
- 2004 – Cam Woods, San Jose Stealth & Taylor Wray, Calgary Roughnecks
- 2003 – Jim Moss, Albany Attack
- 2002 – Pat Coyle, Toronto Rock
For the latest scores and developments in the National Lacrosse League, please visit: NLL.com and find the NLL on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and TikTok.
About the National Lacrosse League
The National Lacrosse League (NLL) is North America’s premier professional lacrosse league. Founded in 1986, the NLL is comprised of 15 franchises across the United States and Canada: Albany FireWolves, Buffalo Bandits, Calgary Roughnecks, Colorado Mammoth, Georgia Swarm, Halifax Thunderbirds, Las Vegas Desert Dogs, New York Riptide, Panther City Lacrosse Club (TX), Philadelphia Wings, Rochester Knighthawks, San Diego Seals, Saskatchewan Rush, Toronto Rock, and Vancouver Warriors.
For more information, visit NLL.com and find the NLL on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and TikTok.
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Media inquiries contact:
Ryan Ireland, NLL, [email protected], 303-902-3373
