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Breaking: League Adopts Unified Standings Format & Updated Playoff Structure for 2023-24 Season

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WK
1
Fri, Dec 1
19:00:00
Saskatchewan
Halifax
Fri, Dec 1
22:00:00
Albany
Las Vegas
Fri, Dec 1
22:00:00
Panther City
Vancouver
Sat, Dec 2
19:00:00
Calgary
Rochester
Sat, Dec 2
19:30:00
Philadelphia
New York
WK
2
Sat, Dec 9
19:00:00
Philadelphia
Toronto
Sat, Dec 9
19:00:00
Buffalo
Albany
Sat, Dec 9
19:30:00
Colorado
Georgia
Sat, Dec 9
20:00:00
Rochester
Saskatchewan
Sat, Dec 9
22:00:00
Calgary
San Diego
Sun, Dec 10
16:00:00
Las Vegas
Panther City
WK
3
Fri, Dec 15
22:00:00
Saskatchewan
Las Vegas
Sat, Dec 16
13:00:00
Albany
Philadelphia
Sat, Dec 16
19:30:00
Halifax
New York
Sat, Dec 16
19:30:00
San Diego
Buffalo
Sat, Dec 16
22:00:00
Georgia
Vancouver
WK
4
Fri, Dec 22
20:00:00
Toronto
Panther City
Fri, Dec 22
21:00:00
Georgia
Colorado
Sat, Dec 23
19:00:00
Vancouver
Rochester
WK
5
Fri, Dec 29
18:30:00
Philadelphia
Halifax
Fri, Dec 29
19:30:00
Georgia
Buffalo
Fri, Dec 29
22:00:00
Rochester
San Diego
Sat, Dec 30
16:00:00
New York
Toronto
Sat, Dec 30
21:00:00
Las Vegas
Calgary
Sat, Dec 30
21:00:00
Vancouver
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
New York
Sat, Jan 13
19:30:00
Albany
Georgia
Sat, Jan 13
21:00:00
San Diego
Colorado
Sat, Jan 13
22:00:00
Calgary
Vancouver
WK
8
Fri, Jan 19
19:30:00
New York
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
Rochester
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Il Indoor Top 50 Nll Players: #11-15

The 2016 NLL season is almost upon us and Inside Lacrosse is counting down the Top 50 NLL Players on IL Indoor ahead of the start of the National Lacrosse League’s 30th anniversary year on New Year’s Day. Get ready for the new year by previewing players ranked #11-15 by IL staffers Bob Chavez, Marty O’Neill and Stephen Stamp and stay tuned as the top 10 pros in the game today are unveiled in the coming days.

15) Stephan Leblanc (Toronto Rock)

It’s difficult to believe Stephan Leblanc first burst on to the NLL scene as a rookie in 2010.

But here we are, 6 National Lacrosse League seasons and 455 points later, and there’s no question Leblanc is one of the game’s finest snipers. And whether this left-hander out of Dundas, Ontario, is leading the way for the Toronto Rock, the Oakville Rock of Major Series, or Team Canada at the WILC, he’s a force which which to be reckoned.

As was already pointed out, 2015 was a busy year for Leblanc, who established himself from the outset with 36 goals as a rookie. Since, he’s scored more than 30 goals in 4 of his 6 seasons and the production last season, 86 points on 31 goals and 55 assists, helped lead the Rock to the NLL finals.

In the NLL playoffs, he posted 19 points (6-13) in 5 games as Toronto’s goal of winning it all came up just short against Edmonton. Still, Leblanc continued to display the versatility in his game, whether he can be counted on as a secondary line of production, or lead the team as a frontline man as it deals with injuries.

“Leblanc is about as consistent as a guy can be over the last six years for the Rock with points and man games played. Stephan’s size and the way he plays contributes to everyone’s success offensively in Rockland. Of course you can’t be a No. 1 set-up or pick guy without the ability to finish in tight and Leblanc has a soft touch in front of the net which clocks in at around 30 goals per year. Leblanc never stops coming and that work ethic in the trenches has paid off for Toronto and Leblanc. Stephan is a driving force for Rock offensive success and the ultimate complementary player on a top NLL team.” – Marty O’Neill

14) Brodie Merrill (Toronto Rock)

It’s pretty much just gotten to the point where all you have to say is the name, Brodie Merrill.

And when people hear that, they know the conversation is about one of the best all-around players in the game of lacrosse today. Whether it’s putting the clamps down on defense, covering the floor in a few strides in transition or putting the finishing touch on a rush, Merrill’s not only one of the most complete players today, he’s been that for years. Ergo, his name remains high on ILIndoor’s Top 50 list.

Hyperbole isn’t uncommon when it comes to discussion of lacrosse exploits, especially in a setting like this where the subjective nature of “the greatest” is the topic. But with Merrill, a left-hander out of Orangeville, Ontario, it’s no exaggeration.

In the back end, he remains one of the game’s elite defenders with precision footwork and timely checks, be they with the body or stick. But for many, it’s his work in transition that defines Merrill. It’s so effortless, the way he glides across the floor with his head up, waiting and looking for the opportunity to make a decision.

“It would be easy to take Brodie Merrill for granted because he’s been playing at such a consistently high level in the NLL for a decade now. But he’s still the prototype for what a transition player should be. The first job of anyone playing out the back door is to play good defence: Merrill is good enough that he was named the league’s defensive player of the year in 2006, before an award existed for the top transition player, which he has won twice. He still plays excellent defence, he’s still one of the very best loose ball trackers in lacrosse and he still contributes intelligently in the offensive zone when it’s called for.” – Stephen Stamp

13) Rob Hellyer (Toronto Rock)

Ever watch a pot of water come to a boil? At first, the bubbles are tiny and sporadic. But then they start to pick up the pace, more and more bubbles, faster and faster until before you know it, it’s a rolling boil of H2O that no one can touch.

That’s kind of how it’s gone for Rob Hellyer.

The young right-hander out of Lions Head, Ontario, is no stranger to the National Lacrosse League. He first appeared with Toronto in 2011 but over 3 seasons, played in 13 games. Still, you got the sense that something special was on the way.

Hellyer finally got his chance in 2014 with a full time role and did not disappoint, with 79 points over 18 games. And when the 2015 season unfolded, it was all anyone could wonder but my goodness, what took so long?

“Before Hellyer went out with an injury last year and had to miss four games, he was on pace to score 119 points, which would have broken the old single-season record. As it was, he wound up with 90 to set a personal best and continued his evolution into one of the top players in the NLL. Hellyer’s blossoming owes a lot to the patience and talent evaluation skills of Terry Sanderson and the Toronto Rock coaches. They waited through his first three years, in which Hellyer played just 13 games and scored 24 points while he was still of junior age. His fourth year proved their faith in him to be justified when he scored 29 goals and 50 assists. Who knew that would be just a warmup act for the remarkable 2015 season he would have? Hellyer has shown excellent floor vision and precision passing ability, combined with good enough shooting to force teams to respect his shot. It’s a dangerous combination that makes it look like Hellyer will be contributing to Toronto’s offensive success for the long term.” – Stephen Stamp

12) Rhys Duch (Vancouver Stealth)

The argument often centers on quality vs. quantity. But for Rhys Duch, it’s both.

It’s been an amazing 7 National Lacrosse League seasons for the right-hander out of Victoria, B.C. He burst out of the gates with a rookie record 89 points in 2009 and hasn’t slowed down a bit. In 2015, he had career bests of 41 goals and 62 assists for 103 points.

Amazingly, Duch is the first Stealth player to clear the 100-point plateau since Colin Doyle did it in San Jose in 2009, Duch’s rookie season. It helped that the Stealth traded for left-hander Corey Small, pulling some of the defense to his side to clear space for Duch. The offensive ability of Duch has never been in question, but having help like he got with Small and other quality shooters kept opposing defenses honest and that not only helped Duch, it helped the Stealth.

That’s why Duch was able to produce even more than what we’ve come to expect from him. Having Small as a summer teammate will no doubt prove beneficial for the 2016 NLL season as well. Duch scored 75 points for the Victoria Shamrocks in the regular season, then added 34 points in the WLA playoffs before adding 15 points in 6 games to help the Shamrocks win the 2015 Mann Cup.

“Duch has been a mainstay on the Stealth for seven seasons and is an NLL elite player for sure. Since Duch was selected No. 3 overall at the 2008 draft, he has been nothing short of a superstar in every NLL season he has played. This regularity in points generated proves that Vancouver’s offense goes through Duch and that his decision-making skills are strong. Quick feet and a deadly outside shot make Rhys a wanted man by the opposition. Should be interesting to see how Billings and Duch share the spotlight in 2016.” – Marty O’Neill

11) Matt Vinc (Rochester Knighthawks)

Save percentage, goals-against, wins, championships. All of these and more are part of the discussion when it comes to players where they stand among the greats.

They’re also part of the discussion about Matt Vinc, the goalie who many believe is the best in the game today. Of course, it’s all subjective, but what is not subjective is the track record of Vinc. Whether you think he’s the best or not doesn’t really matter because when it comes to the Top 50 in the game today, there’s no doubt Vinc belongs.

Whether it’s textbook form for positioning or athleticism being used to recover and move from post to post, Vinc has it all. He’s been named Goalie of the Year in the National Lacrosse League in 5 of the last 6 seasons and his OLA hardware is an impressive list of MVPs.

With the Rochester Knighthawks, this Hamilton, Ont., native enjoyed one of his better seasons stats-wise in 2015 and considering what he’s done over the years, that’s quite a statement. His .803 save percentage was the second time in 3 seasons he’s been at 80% and his goals-against of 9.62 was just slightly off of his 9.56 of 2014.

“Vinc fits the classic goalie mode of really finding his game in his late 20s. His breakthrough came in 2010, the season he entered at age 27. Starting with that season, Vinc has won five of the last six NLL goalie of the year awards. The debate always exists whether it’s the goalie making the defence look good or vice versa. Since he came to Rochester, there’s little question that it’s both. Vinc and his defenders have found a synergy that has allowed them to consistently allow among the fewest goals in the league. Vinc actually seems to enjoy facing a fairly high quantity of shots, as long as they are coming from spots where he’s comfortable seeing and squaring up to them. But for anyone who would argue that his excellence is attributable primarily to the defensive system in front of him, just watch some of the highlight reel saves he’s made when there have been defensive breakdowns and you’ll change your mind. He’s a hybrid of an angles goalie who takes away shooting spots with an athletic mover when he has to be. It’s a sensational combination.” – Stephen Stamp

Check back to follow the full Inside Lacrosse countdown of the NLL Top 50 Players on IL Indoor.

NLL Top 50: #16-20
NLL Top 50: #21-25

NLL Top 50: #26-30
NLL Top 50: #31-35
NLL Top 50: #36-40
NLL Top 50: #41-45
NLL Top 50: #46-50

NLL