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WK
1
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Sat, Dec 2
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WK
2
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WK
3
Fri, Dec 15
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Saskatchewan
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Sat, Dec 16
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Sat, Dec 16
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Sat, Dec 16
22:00:00
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WK
4
Fri, Dec 22
20:00:00
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Fri, Dec 22
21:00:00
Georgia
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Sat, Dec 23
19:00:00
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WK
5
Fri, Dec 29
18:30:00
Philadelphia
Halifax
Fri, Dec 29
19:30:00
Georgia
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Fri, Dec 29
22:00:00
Rochester
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Sat, Dec 30
16:00:00
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Sat, Dec 30
21:00:00
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Sat, Dec 30
21:00:00
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Colorado
Sun, Dec 31
20:00:00
Albany
Saskatchewan
WK
6
Sat, Jan 6
19:00:00
Halifax
Albany
Sat, Jan 6
19:30:00
Panther City
Georgia
Sat, Jan 6
19:30:00
Colorado
Buffalo
Sun, Jan 7
15:00:00
New York
Philadelphia
WK
7
Fri, Jan 12
18:30:00
Toronto
Halifax
Fri, Jan 12
22:00:00
San Diego
Las Vegas
Sat, Jan 13
19:00:00
Buffalo
Rochester
Sat, Jan 13
19:00:00
Saskatchewan
Philadelphia
Sat, Jan 13
19:30:00
Panther City
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Sat, Jan 13
19:30:00
Albany
Georgia
Sat, Jan 13
21:00:00
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Sat, Jan 13
22:00:00
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WK
8
Fri, Jan 19
19:30:00
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Buffalo
Sat, Jan 20
19:00:00
Georgia
Toronto
Sat, Jan 20
19:00:00
San Diego
Albany
Sat, Jan 20
20:00:00
Vancouver
Saskatchewan
Sat, Jan 20
21:00:00
Calgary
Colorado
WK
9
Fri, Jan 26
22:00:00
Colorado
Vancouver
Sat, Jan 27
18:00:00
Rochester
Halifax
Sat, Jan 27
19:00:00
Buffalo
Toronto
Sat, Jan 27
19:30:00
Georgia
New York
Sat, Jan 27
19:30:00
San Diego
Philadelphia
Sat, Jan 27
22:00:00
Panther City
Las Vegas
WK
10
Fri, Feb 2
19:00:00
Halifax
Philadelphia
Fri, Feb 2
19:30:00
Vancouver
Georgia
Fri, Feb 2
21:00:00
New York
Calgary
Sat, Feb 3
19:00:00
Las Vegas
Albany
Sat, Feb 3
19:30:00
Rochester
Buffalo
Sat, Feb 3
20:00:00
Panther City
Saskatchewan
Sat, Feb 3
21:00:00
Toronto
Calgary
Sun, Feb 4
18:00:00
Colorado
San Diego
WK
11
Fri, Feb 9
18:30:00
Las Vegas
Halifax
Fri, Feb 9
20:00:00
Colorado
Panther City
Sat, Feb 10
19:00:00
Georgia
Rochester
Sat, Feb 10
19:00:00
Calgary
Toronto
Sat, Feb 10
19:30:00
San Diego
New York
Sat, Feb 10
22:00:00
Saskatchewan
Vancouver
WK
12
Fri, Feb 16
18:30:00
Buffalo
Halifax
Fri, Feb 16
22:00:00
Philadelphia
Las Vegas
Sat, Feb 17
19:00:00
Colorado
Albany
Sun, Feb 18
19:00:00
Halifax
Calgary
WK
13
Fri, Feb 23
21:00:00
New York
Colorado
Fri, Feb 23
22:00:00
Georgia
San Diego
Sat, Feb 24
19:00:00
Las Vegas
Rochester
Sat, Feb 24
19:00:00
Vancouver
Toronto
Sat, Feb 24
19:30:00
Albany
Buffalo
Sat, Feb 24
20:00:00
Halifax
Saskatchewan
Sat, Feb 24
21:00:00
Philadelphia
Calgary
Sun, Feb 25
16:00:00
Georgia
Panther City
WK
14
Fri, Mar 1
19:00:00
Georgia
Halifax
Fri, Mar 1
20:00:00
San Diego
Panther City
Fri, Mar 1
22:00:00
Toronto
Las Vegas
Fri, Mar 1
22:00:00
Buffalo
Vancouver
Sat, Mar 2
13:00:00
Calgary
Philadelphia
Sat, Mar 2
19:00:00
New York
Albany
Sat, Mar 2
21:00:00
Saskatchewan
Colorado
Sat, Mar 2
22:00:00
Toronto
San Diego
Sun, Mar 3
16:00:00
Rochester
Panther City
WK
15
Fri, Mar 8
19:00:00
Vancouver
Albany
Fri, Mar 8
19:30:00
Calgary
Georgia
Fri, Mar 8
19:30:00
Saskatchewan
Buffalo
Sat, Mar 9
17:00:00
Colorado
Toronto
Sat, Mar 9
19:00:00
Albany
Rochester
Sat, Mar 9
19:30:00
Las Vegas
New York
Sat, Mar 9
22:00:00
Halifax
San Diego
Sun, Mar 10
15:00:00
Panther City
Philadelphia
WK
16
Fri, Mar 15
18:30:00
Panther City
Halifax
Fri, Mar 15
21:00:00
San Diego
Calgary
Fri, Mar 15
22:00:00
Las Vegas
Vancouver
Sat, Mar 16
19:00:00
Rochester
Albany
Sat, Mar 16
19:00:00
Toronto
Buffalo
Sat, Mar 16
19:30:00
Philadelphia
Georgia
Sat, Mar 16
20:30:00
New York
Saskatchewan
WK
17
Fri, Mar 22
20:00:00
Buffalo
Panther City
Fri, Mar 22
21:00:00
Albany
Calgary
Sat, Mar 23
19:00:00
Halifax
Toronto
Sat, Mar 23
19:00:00
Vancouver
Philadelphia
Sat, Mar 23
19:30:00
Saskatchewan
New York
Sat, Mar 23
21:00:00
Rochester
Colorado
Sat, Mar 23
22:00:00
Las Vegas
San Diego
Sun, Mar 24
17:30:00
Saskatchewan
Georgia
WK
18
Sat, Mar 30
13:00:00
Buffalo
Philadelphia
Sat, Mar 30
19:00:00
Halifax
Rochester
Sat, Mar 30
19:30:00
Toronto
New York
Sat, Mar 30
22:00:00
Vancouver
Las Vegas
WK
19
Fri, Apr 5
21:00:00
Saskatchewan
Calgary
Fri, Apr 5
21:00:00
Buffalo
Colorado
Fri, Apr 5
22:00:00
Panther City
San Diego
Fri, Apr 5
22:00:00
Halifax
Vancouver
Sat, Apr 6
19:00:00
New York
Rochester
Sat, Apr 6
19:00:00
Toronto
Albany
Sat, Apr 6
19:30:00
Las Vegas
Georgia
Sat, Apr 6
20:00:00
Calgary
Saskatchewan
Sun, Apr 7
16:00:00
Philadelphia
Panther City
WK
20
Fri, Apr 12
21:00:00
Philadelphia
Colorado
Sat, Apr 13
19:00:00
Rochester
Toronto
Sat, Apr 13
19:30:00
Calgary
Buffalo
Sat, Apr 13
20:00:00
San Diego
Saskatchewan
Sat, Apr 13
22:00:00
Colorado
Las Vegas
Sat, Apr 13
22:00:00
New York
Vancouver
Sun, Apr 14
16:00:00
Albany
Panther City
WK
21
Fri, Apr 19
19:30:00
Rochester
Georgia
Fri, Apr 19
22:00:00
Vancouver
San Diego
Sat, Apr 20
18:00:00
Colorado
Halifax
Sat, Apr 20
19:30:00
Albany
New York
Sat, Apr 20
20:00:00
Toronto
Saskatchewan
Sat, Apr 20
21:00:00
Panther City
Calgary
Sat, Apr 20
22:00:00
Buffalo
Las Vegas
Sun, Apr 21
15:00:00
Philadelphia
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Five Nll Players To Watch In 2015

With the new National Lacrosse League season finally underway, Ty Pilson highlights a handful of talented pros to keep an eye with his five NLL players to watch in 2015 on Inside Lacrosse. Check out the former NLL Media Person of the Year’s expert opinion on which laxers are primed for a big season this year.

1. D&D, CALGARY ROUGHNECKS

No, not the fantasy game. Well, come to think of it, if you’re playing the NLL fantasy game, you’d want these two. 

For my Fantasy money, Curtis Dickson and Dane Dobbie are the best 1-2 goal-scoring punch on any team in the league because they complement each other so well.

One’s a righty, one’s a lefty.

One loves the ball in his stick, the other prefers to play without it.

One is know for his down-low post moves — arguably the best one-on-one player in the league — and a filthy underhand shot, especially on a fadeaway or cutting to the centre.

The other scores outside sidearm or overhand (often top corner, far-side on that one) and is money in tight, taking feeds in traffic on cuts or from picks. 

Dickson and Dobbie — The Dynamic Duo.

Dobbie led the league with 51 goals in 2014 while Dickson finished third with 44 after an ice-cold start to the year where he only potted five goals in his first five games. 

While John Grant Jr. and Adam Jones likely would have combined for more goals last year than Dobbie and Dickson had Jones not got injured and missed a handful of games, what makes D&D unique is their vastly contrasting styles that make life very tough for defences.

Being on opposite sides of the floor, both create space for each other just by being out there, especially as defences usually key on Dickson with their top shutdown defender giving Dobbie room to get open on cuts.

On an offence that also features former MVPs Shawn Evans, a righty,  and southpaw Jeff Shattler, the Roughnecks attack, as whole, is impressive to watch. Often silky smooth in their execution, they led the league in scoring last season.

Evans’ deft passing ability certainly helps both Dickson and Dobbie. When you have one of the league’s best (if not best) passer feeding two of its best goalscorers, it’s the perfect combination. 

Dobbie was the only player to top 50 goals last season and it’s a good bet that both he and Dickson will top that benchmark in 2015. 

How high could they go?

You could certainly see one or both topping the elusive 60-goal plateau. 

One thing is for sure, Roughnecks fans will again enjoy watching the Dynamic Duo fill the net.

(Dobbie had four goals and Dickson had a hat-trick in Calgary’s season-opening loss).

2. DILLON WARD, COLORADO MAMMOTH

The NLL has never been kind to young goalies.

The jump from junior to the pros for a ’tender — or even one with some senior experience — is massive.

To that end, it’s no surprise this league has chewed up and spit out many promising young goalies over the years. Without naming names, there has been no shortage of young stars who flame out quickly, those who had a promising season or two before fading away.

Which is why all eyes will be on Ward this season.

He entered the league with plenty of hype. At 6-foot-5 and 200 pounds, he had the height but still the agility to cover a lot of net and move quickly. Colorado president and GM Steve Govett said he simply couldn’t pass up Ward when he took him third overall in the 2013 draft.

Ward was the first goalie to be drafted in the top three since Gee Nash was taken second overall in 1999.

Govett wanted a dominant franchise goaltender, not easy to find or groom even in a nine-team loop.

Early last season Ward hit some bumps adjusting to the NLL, magnified by his team’s struggles in front of him. After spinning on a carousel withTye Belanger in and out of the Mammoth net he eventually won the starter’s job.

Ward ended up with a 7-7 record, playing 901:31. He had the fourth best save percentage and total saves at .773 and 592, respectively, and had the fifth-best GAA at 11.58.

His play was one of the main reasons — if not the main reason — for the Mammoth’s mid-season turnabout that saw them make the playoffs before losing in overtime to the Roughnecks in a game Ward made 42 saves in, many jaw-droppers.

And if he needed more of a confidence boost coming into this season, he got that when played net for Team Canada at the world field championships, helping them win gold.

(Ward made 35 saves in Colorado’s win over Minny Saturday).

3. JOHNNY POWLESS, VANCOUVER STEALTH

The ‘kid’ is just 21 years old.

He’s already won three Champion’s Cups in his three seasons in the league.

He’s also won two Mann Cup titles and a Minto Cup, turning the trifecta in 2014 with a Champion’s, Mann and Minto. 

That impressive feat earned him a nomination for the Lou Marsh Award, given annually to Canada’s top athlete. 

No big deal, right?

The other nominees were tennis phenoms Milos Raonic and Eugenie Bouchard, L.A. Kings star defenceman Drew Doughty and Olympic gold medallist and eventual Marsh winner Kaillie Humphries.

The nomination came as a surprise to Powless and much of Canada. Let’s face it, lacrosse is still off most people’s radars and many that read his bio likely could not appreciate how incredible his 2014 year was.

After winning his third title with the Knighthawks, Powless wanted to be a bigger part of an offence and reportedly requested a trade, being dealt in a blockbuster to the Vancouver Stealth.

Before even stepping on the floor for the Stealth, he’s invigorated a team and fanbase coming off a disappointing season and helped forge closer ties between the club and the large West Coast native population.

While all that would be a lot of pressure for most player, Powless isn’t most players.

He’s a rare phenom and not yet even close to the prime of his career.

Last season he scored 30 goals and had a career-high 53 points. He has racked up 78 goals and 144 points in 50 games since coming into the NLL as the fifth-overall pick in 2011 at the ripe old age of 18.

Of course, he became part of a blockbuster trade before he even played a single game, being dealt from Calgary (their pick) to Rochester in return for package that included Shawn Evans. 

With Lewis Ratcliff having an off-season in 2014, the Stealth were desperate for some added scoring punch up front. Last season the team relied on the The Rhys Duch Show for nearly 20% of their goals.

Powless seems primed to take the next step from star to superstar in Vancouver and it should be fun to watch.

(Powless was held without a goal but had three assists in his first game with the Stealth)

4. ADAM JONES, COLORADO MAMMOTH

He. Is. Ridiculously. Talented.

With 106 goals and 220 points in his first three NLL campaigns, you get the feeling Jones is ready to explode this season.

Had he not suffered an injury last season which sidelined him for five games, we might have already seen the full breakout. He had 23 goals in seven games before being sidelined. 

He had 12 goals in the final six games of the season after returning and scored five times in Colorado’s playoff loss to Calgary.

He transitioned from the NLL season to the world field championships and played a significant role in Team Canada’s gold-medal win.

Drafted third overall in 2011 behind Kevin Crowley and Stephen Keogh, he won the 2012 rookie of the year award and has steadily improved as a pro.

Listed at a modest 5-foot-11 and 175-lb., Jones has deceptive quickness and a knack for knowing where the ball will be. A great outside shot combined with incredible hands in tight makes him the total package.

Playing on the right side of the floor with fellow southpaw John Grant Jr. doesn’t hurt either. 

Teams have to key on Junior which can leave a little bit of open floor for Jones, who capitalizes on that.

On a team with scoring standouts including Drew Westervelt and Athan Iannucci, Jones is the second biggest threat to score for the Mammoth behind Junior and is the future of the franchise up front.

He could very easily lead the league in goalscoring this season.

(Jones had a stellar start to 2015, scoring five goals and seven points in Colorado’s win over Minny Saturday).

5. KARSEN LEUNG, CALGARY ROUGHNECKS 

People don’t realize how good Leung is. 

If I had a buck for every NLL GM, coach, player or former player who said that to me and raved about Leung’s play, I’d probably have $15 or $20.

That’s a ton of money, really, given the small NLL brotherhood and the fact heady praise isn’t often heaped on rookies or players from other teams!

Most transition players, by their nature, are the unheralded guys in the league. The top forwards get most of the ink, the goalies come next and the shutdown defenders after them.

If your name isn’t Geoff Snider or Brodie Merrill, you often fade into the background.

A shame, really, given that teams need top transition players to be successful: guys who can play defence — really well — and score at the game’s highest level. They’re not easy to come by anymore. 

Leung notched 11 goals and 29 points in his rookie season to go with 93 loose balls and 13 forced turnovers.

His senior A experience with the Victoria Shamrocks combined with his athleticism and lacrosse acumen had him playing the game with veteran poise and savvy by the end of the season.

While Logan Schuss was certainly a deserving winner of the rookie of the year award, some thought Leung should have won it given how he excelled at a position difficult for newcomers to the league.

With a great set of hands, you could easily see Leung taking more offensive shifts one day, much like teammate Jeff Shattler, Buffalo’s Mark Steenhuis or Minny’s Jordan MacIntosh.  

In the meantime, the Roughnecks will look to Leung to make an impact in his transition role and hopefully improve on the 11 goals he scored in 2014. (Leung picked up an assist and looked solid in Calgary’s season-opener).​

Photo by Brad Watson.

NLL